All our yesterdays...

[DaveB]

Ah.. the old Simson S50! Never what you'd call pretty but functional I'm sure

This was mine.. http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/ ... f8a052.jpg

Did just over 21k on it with only 1 engine rebuild in that time
ATB
DaveB

[Tako_Kichi]

We appear to have a lot in common Dave as the Suzuki GT185 was my first bike too, although mine was the earlier version with the drum brakes on the front instead of the disc.

[Garry Russell]

Those of us of a similar age do have things in common.

We're all old gits for a start ...

[Jon.M]

I didn't have anything as exotic as a Simson. I had the commonest sport moped a Yamaha FS1-E or Fizzy. Mine was an early SS one like this:

http://youtu.be/QowhdFK2FFc

It must have left an impression as I still have a Yamaha today.



An MT-03. Here in it's preferred habitat of the mountains.



It has superb handling and good brakes but not much power. The Akropovic exhausts have removable baffles that make it so loud I only rode it once without them. This was a reaction to my previous bike a Z750 which had a great engine with plenty of power but the chassis and brakes weren't up to the job.

Jon

[J0hn]

Ah, the Fizzy!

All the teenagers slated them and their owners, yet secretly all wanted to own one! Your MT looks very aggressive - not my taste as I didn't like the sudden fashion switch to the short tail style, but I'm sure it's a capable machine in the right hands

Well, I did 70+ miles on the Bonnie today (pics up tomorrow) and I'm sorry to say, we won't be getting one. However, I may well be persuaded to get another Tiger, though the 800 this time around. The salesman wanted me to test ride both Tigers (as per engine size) after the Bonnie, but I was far too knackered!

The Bonnie is great, really, and if I just wanted it for round town and solo, I would have one. But my XYL didn't like it. She felt very insecure on it (though I'm sure a large part of that was just not having the top box to lean back on) and kept finding her right foot was on the exhaust. Then on the way back to Peterbohorror there was a brisk Northerly in my face all the way and anything over 60mph was hell. At 90mph it felt like I was hanging onto the back end of a Lightning on a vertical climb record attempt. When I got back onto my GPZ for the ride home I was amazed at how comfy it felt.

Unfortunately, the hot engine started pinking very badly and did so all the way home. That's hot as in repeated hard acceleration to the red line in the Saturday afternoon traffic on wide A-roads (and thanks to the oncoming traffic on the A1073 for warnings about the GATSO van!).

It's barely past 9pm and I'm off to bed already. I must be getting old or something...

[DaveB]

Yes.. all things considered, it makes you wonder how folk rode them for miles back in the day. I guess that's pretty much all there was though so the Bonnie would have been much of a muchness. It's hardly surprising the Japs trounced all before it with the 750!! It's a shame it started pinking. You shouldn't really get pinking in this day and age
I'm sure the Tigers are nice to ride but they're just not me.

ATB
Dave

[J0hn]

Well, Dave, I was sceptical about the Tiger until I rode one. I was on my way to the BMW dealer to buy an R1100GS (ugly but very capable), when I was riding passed the Triumph dealer and spotted the Tiger demo bike outside. I stopped off for a look and the rest, as they say, is history!

5 years I had that bike - and my usual maximum is 2. I only sold it when I thought my biking days were over. Mind you, the first thing I did was ditch the imitation knobbly tyres and put some stickier Avons on. Was great for throwing it from side to side round the B-roads and roundabouts. Luvvly jubbly.

The new one is a totally different beast, of course, but it might be even better, as the weight is lower and the triple is much more refined.

Anyway, here's some pic's from yesterday, of the 2014 standard Bonnie (with the louder cans on):







Nice, minimal dash - does the job nicely:



The seat still doesn't look overly comfy - but actually it was the width that was a problem. Felt like riding a horse!



At 66 miles and about to head back to Peterboro' - do I look tired?



Still, it was, all in all, an enjoyable day. Next time I'm taking the XYL with me, though, so we can try the two Tigers around the Peterbog area, rather than having to face the die-straight A-16 into the wind.

[DaveB]

Ah.. didn't realise the Arrow was a 2 into 1. Presumed they'd just put Arrow cans on the end

It's a nice lookin' bike

When I had that SE courtesy bike, I was riding a 955i Daytona (in for a service) which was a portly old bird and no mistakin'. Getting on the SE felt like like getting on a Fizzie.. I couldn't believe how small it was By comparison to the 955i, the Daytona 675 feels very petite and very slim When I took it to have 2 new boots a couple of weeks ago, the owner of the business has a new Tiger and looks aside, I couldn't believe how much of it there was. He has two chuffin' great metal panniers fitted which probably didn't enhance it any! My first thought was.. I'd never get it through the back step onto the yard for it's winter sojourn Being an 800, it should be less revvy than the earlier versions and that's always a bonus (looking for extra gears again when in 6th!)

One thing of note regarding the Bonnie.. SWMBO cocked her leg over the back and commented how much easier it was than my ZX9R.. the last bike she'd been on the back of. She also liked the more relaxed sitting position.. her knees weren't next to her ears She didn't actually go anywhere on the Bonnie mind you.. she doesn't do that sort of thing anymore. Crash helmets mess her hair up The 955i didn't come with a rear seat.. I had to buy one. Fortunately.. ebay was my friend and I picked up a brand new one for £25.. this without grab rail. To get a grab rail, one had to buy a seat with it and I couldn't be arsed. My daughter went on the back of the 955i and enjoyed it. She's also been on the back of the 675 but found that rather uncomfortable (knees around the ears syndrome). Still.. no such problem now as I've taken the rear seat off and put the 'hump' on. I've also taken the rear pegs off so it looks altogether 'cleaner'

Did the Bonnie have a helmet lock?? Neither the 955i or 675 have such 'unnecessary' addons

ATB
Dave

[J0hn]

To be honest, Dave, I really don't know. I don't use them, so it's not something I look for. I either put it in the box, or carry it around in a helmet sack. I wouldn't trust the local yokels not to do something unpleasant with it (a sad state of affairs, I know, but nevertheless...).

When I got rid of the scooter I had previously and bought the GPZ, SWMBO was complaining about the heels round ears factor, but funnily enough she's quite okay with it now. She certainly never used to complain about it with my first one. I chopped in the first GPZ for an RGV250P (pocket rocket) and she really disliked that one. With the stepped seat, she could see over my head for the first time and was literally terrified every trip! Especially whilst 'filtering' through the lanes.

That's why I had to sell the RGV250 - and I bought the Zephyr 750, which she really liked (as did I). She soon got used to the ZZR600 we got next - mostly for touring - and then a BMW F650ST, which was great little traffic-basher. Her legs were more comfy on that, despite the increased height getting on and off.

When I brought home the Tiger 900, she nearly had a heart attack, although she had already had a few rides on a BMW R1100GS, which is even bigger. But when she got on, she found it very comfy - as I did. Definitely the best so far and hence the thinking behind getting another one. That and the wicked fun, throwing it from ear to ear!

[J0hn]

Ah, Dave, on re-reading the info on the Bonnie page, I note this sentence that I missed before:

The Bonneville's new seat design consists of twin contrasting vinyl and an improved filler material for even better comfort.

As HERE

That will explain why it wasn't too big an issue (my GPZ still felt comfier, though).

I've been trying to find reasons to buy this after all - that's apart from the price difference, with it being the cheapest in the range, at £6599. Maybe if we went for the bottle-can exhaust, her shoes wouldn't be resting on it. Also, if we put a topbox on it (yuk on this bike - but maybe a necessity) she would have some support - and then I could put a screen on it to keep most of the wind off.

Hmmm. It's just that the engine is a real peach, makes me really want one!