Faults:

Nothing, unless you count the front tire (true spoke rims) losing air on the ride home, LOL.

Could use a center stand at the expense of cluttering up the clean looks a bit.

General Comments:

My brother Steve and I had been after one of the new Triumph Bonnie Thuxtons for some time before finding this low mile, U.K. made example in the Portland area.

The classic look, slim waistline, and indescribable sound make me wonder why there aren't many, many more on the road.

The low rise bars can put a little strain on your wrists or back if you were to spend too much time around town. But around town isn't what this bike is about. This slender beauty is meant for back roads. You will want curves just tight enough to be fun, but not so tight as to slow you down and keep you shifting below fourth very often. A little wind over the bars will help take some of the weight off your wrists and back.

In the used market it makes no sense (to me) to settle for less than the T-100 Bonnie. The larger motor, full instrumentation, and two tone paint won't command much more than the cost of a sandwich over the standard model when shopping used.

And if gravity hasn't just yet won its endless war on your posture, the Thruxton, with its lower bars, is even better. The upswept pipes and checkered flag stripe treatment on the tank make this one of those rare bikes that you could put in your living room and just stare at. Your wife would even understand. Okay that's probably not true, but in this age of absurd gas prices, the 40 plus MPG returned by the Bonneville make it an easy sell to the Mrs.

For you and I though, it's something entirely different. It's the intangible. The thing that can't be defined. When you have just returned from a ride down your favorite road and you can't recall the little things that have been eating at you the past week, you'll understand.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

Great ergos & handling.

Controls, clutch are light & easy.

Smooth power in any gear.

Feels solid & well built.

Gets attention wherever we go.

45+ mpg without babying it.

Faults:

There was a bit of trouble keeping the primary chain (from the motor sprocket to the transmission) adjusted.

General Comments:

Was very nice. We shaved the flywheels, lightened the valve train, changed the cams, lowered the sprocket one tooth, raised the compression ratio to 9.5 to 1, and held on.

Pretty good for a 40 c.i. push-rod twin.

It was extremely fast. Did the 1/4 in 10.5 seconds at 135 mph, but not with me on it.

Faults:

Absolutely nothing has gone wrong. Everything works, everything fits, runs well in any weather.

General Comments:

This is the best bike I have ever owned. The handling has taught me a lot about riding, in that is so very capable. It cruises at any sane speed, and will run 700 km a day, in complete comfort.