2005 TRIUMPH reviews

I've been riding motorcycles off and on since I was a kid, I'm 56 now. It's been about 15 years since the last one. I looked at several HD, Yamaha, Victory and a few others then I looked at Triumph. Right away I fell in love with the looks and feel of a 2005 Speedmaster 900 (865cc). I demoed several other motorcycles and none gave me the ride this Triumph did for a mid size cruiser. I've got just over 10,000 miles and it's been nothing but fun. As others mentioned, I ride with a mixed group mostly HD's and get nothing but compliments and I never have a problem keeping up with them. The performance is excellent. I changed out the pipes, added an air box and high performance spark plug with a noticable difference in sound and performance. I was looking for another motorcycle, something larger, but decided to keep this one and go with a 904cc big bore kit. It has plenty of power but I want a little more. I don't see any down side to this Speedmaster. Show less

The bike is everything I wanted in a bike, the power, the handling, the weight, and definitely the look. Mine is all black, I couldn't wait on the Mulberry, just had to have the bike then. I wasn't even aware the old Bonnies were still being made, pulled up behind a guy riding one at stoplight, flagged him down, looked at the bike, talked to him, and literally bought the America the very next morning. I have always wanted a Bonnie ever since I was a kid, but this is a Bonnie with some attitude which is even better. The guys I ride with are all Harley guys, they even are green with envy, oh they rib me about how quiet it is, but they love it too. And I can outrun them, or at least I could before putting on the windshield, that may have changed now. The bike does need some noise, not a lot, but it's just too quiet, I'll be changing pipes right away. Triumph did it right, I've had zero problems, and have had lot of looks and stares, and when fueling it up, I get a lot of conversation. A great classic bike with some balls. Show less

I love this motorcycle. I bought it used two weeks ago and I have fallen in love with it. The bike is already to go just change the front sprocket to a 19 tooth so you don't keep trying to put it in 6th gear (there is no 6th gear). Show less

The first review I wrote was at the end of my initial long ride of 500 kilometres. Since then I have done a couple of short hops of 100 Kilometres and a ride of 760 Kilometres in 2 days to get the bike its first service. My thoughts on the comfort and handling of this bike has not changed. It is comfrotable for long runs and if needed you can do a lot of kilometres in a day. The bike handles well in corners at speed and at the lower end of the speed spectrum. I noticed the first reviewer in this section stated that the bike is dangerous in the front end with it "diving" during operation. I have encountered this but only on sharp braking at low speeds. I think this is to be expected as the brakes at 120 kph are good slowing the bike quickly and smoothly. If the brakes are good at stopping the bike/rider combination of 300 kilograms at this speed, it makes sense that a sharp application of the brakes at low speed would see the bike dive. At higher speed the inertia of the bike is enough to prevent the brakes locking the tire so as forward momentum is maintained it allows the bike to slow quickly with the suspension slightly compressed. Go to low speed with less momentum and grab the brakes and the bike wants to stop suddenly due to the force of the brakes and lack of forward inertia. In this case the forward momentum is absorbed by the only part that can give and this is the front shocks. If you apply front and rear brakes sparingly, the bike will handle as well at low speeds as at the higher end. As for other accessories I will probably look at boards with a heel toe shifter as I think it would relax riding a bit more. There's my 10 cents worth! Show less

The bike was a demo that only had 55 miles on it at the time, so I bought it. The bike bothers your wrist at fist but I put a lot of miles on since May of this year. The bike now has over 8600 miles, and I must say I have no wrist problems now. The position is very nice it helped in getting rid of the tendonidus in my shoulders. The bike just takes a little bit to get use to and I will tell you people love to look at it. Show less

I got one of these little doozies this year, I absolutely love it, the wrist factor isn't all that bad, takes getting used to, but I found that strecthing really good before any long ride helps a ton. It handles like a madman, very nice in corners, and the looks, well.....lets just say I get more looks on this bike than HD's I see out there. Show less

Just had the first service done and to date all that I have read on the triumph america in the reviews section leaves little more to add. Except to say all eyes are turning when you cruise on by. Stopping for gas always invites comments and positive remarks. Way to go Triumph. Tomorrow I will be heading out to the black hills...wave if you see a mullberry/graghite america cruising on by, I'm the one grinning. Show less

Excellent reliability, performs well after mods. Seat had to go! Installed low profile (1&3/4" lower)seat. Smokes the H/Ds after jet job. Sold H/D Eagle Duece as it would not handle like the America. Flat-tracked Bonneys years ago. Makes me and every other older rider remember the old days! Mine is 13 months old with 11,000 miles on it now. Show less

I got this bike new in 04 and it was my first street bike, I have put over 10000 miles on it already and I am lovin it. The bike corners like my dads monster yet rides as comfortable as a sport touring. The seat is lower but ok for the taller fellas. Super comfy. CONS: not enough torque however for a first training bike, thats about it. I have since upgraded the intake, exhaust, carbs, mirrors and filters along with removing the emmisions kit and now I got a deap throaty sound with more torque and a topspeed of about 128mph. not bad. It jumps up there well fast enough but lacks the power to lift the heavy front end. I would trust this bike with my life..... Show less

The Bonneville makes an excellent choice for anyone wanting a super daily commuter or back road cruiser. The standard seating position offers excellent control and the shorter wheelbase gives great turning radius. While not an off-road bike per se, it has handled grass, gravel and back country hard-pack roads with aplomb. A super go-anywhere bike. Gets compliments from everybody. The off-road pipes give the bike a nice throaty sound without being obnoxious. Triumph... continue to go your own way. Show less