Triumph Bonneville - a classic motorcycle

My Bonnie - by Phillip Kimber
0419 434 665
I had been in search of the classic motorbike, both functional, quick, comfortable and not unduly expensive.

Back in January 2011 a little loose change was rolling around in my pocket, and I'd been eyeing off the Triumph Bonneville.

At the bike shop the price was $14,000 new, but having expressed my interest to buy a 2nd hand one with only a few km, the owner pointed me in the direction of a gentleman in Moonah, Mr Kroall.

Discussions centred around the fantastic quality of this retro motorbike, a 2009 Triumph Bonneville, with 5,000 km on the clock. All historical legacies had been ironed out: no oil drips, fuel injection replaced unreliable carbies, light, low and smooth, with beautiful paint work - metallic silver.

A fair discount of the $14,000 new price, shake of hand, and I rode away from Florence Street, heart pumping, at about 5.30pm that Tuesday afternoon in the mid summer of Hobart -

The first trip was to follow the next week, with friend Andy on his Suzuki 1300 Bandit, and a group of Hobart motorcyclists, to the West Coast, up north to the old mining town of Waratah - where we all stayed overnight in the local pub. 25 motorcyclists and their bikes, and great pub food, many beers, and when it came time to shut, the publican was so enjoying it, he held her open until 2am.

That didn't make for the most fuzzyfree Sunday!

From Waratah, in the fog and light rain, uncharacteristic of Summer but usual on the West Coast, we headed for Stanley, and there separated from the rest of the group, having time constraints.

Andy and I raced along the north coast, swapped bikes for a while down through Longford, Cressy and over the Central Highlands, and descended into Hobart via Great Lakes, Bothwell and Baghdad.

That was to be the start of a long enjoyable time with Triumph Bonneville. Now with some longer mainland trips planned, and having enjoyed a recent tour of Victoria on the Bonnie, I've bought a new BMW, and am torn as to whether to keep the Triumph for local riding, or 'get real', and let her go.