Triumph motorcycle advice needed

[shadowfox]

Any Triumph rider here?
I need some advice in this three areas:

1. Which model (and year) would you suggest and why?

Criteria:
- Standard -style only please, I'm no racer, nor am I a cruiser, or chopper kinda guy 🙂
- Planning to ride for commutes only, no highway or long-distance cruising.

2. Ease of maintenance of the said model (no.1)
3. Riding-fun rating of the said model

Thank you in advance!

 

[j.scooter]

I would recommend the Speed or Street Triples, they are awesome bikes.
One of these days I am going to buy a Speed Triple, if I could only stop buying cameras....

 

[shadowfox]

I really like the Bonneville T100 simple, uncluttered look.
Anyone has one of these?

 

[Keith]

The Bonneville would be a great choice ... I know a lot of people who own them and they all have nothing but praise for them. The motor has exceptional longevity apparently to the point where they don't really start to free up until they've done around twenty thousand K's or more.

 

[fergus]

Scrambler! Best bike I've had.

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2006models/2006-Triumph-Scrambler.htm

 

[shadowfox]

The Bonneville would be a great choice ... I know a lot of people who own them and they all have nothing but praise for them. The motor has exceptional longevity apparently to the point where they don't really start to free up until they've done around twenty thousand K's or more.

That's good to hear.
In my corner of USA, motorcycles are common enough that you'll see at least one every day on the road, but they are uncommon as a main transportation, so even 20K is considered "high-mileage"

Back in Asia when I was young, motorcycles with 100K is not uncommon at all.

 

[shadowfox]

Scrambler! Best bike I've had.

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2006models/2006-Triumph-Scrambler.htm

What would be the difference between this an the Bonneville/Thunderbird series, other than that striking exhaust pipes?

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Never owned one (have had forty-plus Japanese or Italian bikes but never did the British trip - how I wish I had, though). But.

If I had the pick of any Triumph twins, it would be a 1968 or 69 Bonnie. Maybe, at a pinch, a 70 model in Hi Fi scarlet. A cheaper option would be a Lincoln Green Daytona 500. Best looks, 12 volt electrics, better reliability and build than the Seventies 650 & 750 models that followed, no conical hub front brake. Ease of maintenance not as good as later Hinckley Triumphs, of course - fun factor - out of this world.

Also the satisfaction of knowing you have the original not the imitation. The retro styling of latter-day Triumphs is very effective and they look quite attractive, until you see a Sixties twin, some models of which I think were some of the prettiest bikes ever produced.

 

[fergus]

What would be the difference between this an the Bonneville/Thunderbird series, other than that striking exhaust pipes?

Seating position, slightly longer suspension, different engine (270 degree crank)...

... and that whole Steve McQueen thing... I find myself whistling the tune from 'the great escape' more often than I should admit! 😛

 

[shadowfox]

I never knew about the Steve McQueen thing on these bikes 🙂
I just like them because they reminded me of my dad's bike back when I was little, and I loved that style.

Anyways, I popped into the dealership yesterday and gave the floor models a try. They feel definitely heavier than what the pictures on the internet suggest. The Bonneville SE fits me the most (two feet flat on the road), but I think the T100 would work also.

The only thing I don't like about these new is the price tag 😛

Time to find used ones.

 

[shadowfox]

Since this *is* a photography community:

Straight from the horses mouth: http://www.triumph.co.uk/images/bonnevilleT100_2009_popup_1.jpg

 

[fergus]

I never knew about the Steve McQueen thing on these bikes 🙂

Triumph will even sell you a replica numberplate 🙂