2006 Triumph reviews

Over the years I have had many different motorcycles, but my heart has always remained with Triumph. Although the early models were somewhat non oil retainers and not very reliable, Triumph has stepped up to the plate with the new Bonneville. It took a long time for me to decide to go back to a Bonneville, as I had ridden many thousand K's on my previous one in the hot Pilbara heat of Australia, and spent a lot of time repairing and rebuilding the old girl. Reluctant as I was, I dived in and purchased the 2006 model, and believe me, what a fantastic bike it is. If you want something that is a real bike to ride without all the modern technology that will make even a 17 year old look good, buy a japanese sports bike. But if you want a bike that feels like a motorcycle, rides like a motorcycle, and dosesn't cost a kings ransom to maintain, then this is the bike for you. The good lady and I go touring on the Trumpy, fully loaded saddle bags and tank bag, and guess what, it's the perfect bike for cruising through the southwest or doing long stints at a time just soaking up the scenery. If you want to go a heck of a lot faster, book a plane ticket. For me, I will stay with Triumph's Bonneville until I am unable to ride. Show less

Riding since 1971 at age 4. I thought off-road would be forever then @18 the sport bikes until this year. Cruising can be so rewarding with this bike and no sacrifice if I choose to change up to a 1/4 mile set-up. No compromises can be found with this bike. Comfortable using 100% of the tread and occasional grind on the peg feelers. Show less

I'm approaching one year and 11,000 miles and I'm still very happy. Not a single problem (and didn't expect one). A great sport tourer with a little more emphasis on the sport side. I'm still looking for a taller screen for the 500+ mile days. The new hard bags are fantastic. The easiest to pop on and off that I have ever had. Water tight and lots of room. I have the off road pipe which really gives the bike a little more kick and the sound is outstanding. Love the ABS. I am looking to change from the Power bronze to the flip lip wind screen and will also get the high bar kit all for the comfort of the long haul-big trip planned at the end of the summer! Show less

I've owned a 64 Triumph TT since the mid 70's. I had this one delivered in Jan. Just finished my first good road trip 2 weeks ago. 850 miles up the blue ridge parkway and skyline drive. Bike handles and performs perfectly. Show less

This is actually my daughter's Speedmaster which she purchased when I bought a 2007 Rocket III Classic Tourer. However, I put some of the break in miles on it for her plus a few hundred more and was most impressed with this machine. It is light handling, quick, comfortable and built for boulevard cruising, Tail of the Dragon twisties and long haul touring. Paint, fit and finish is excellent but some of the chrome bolts suggest early corrosion. We rode to Daytona Bike Week this year from Pensacola via Enterprise, AL, a 500+ mile day trip each way. I had to pull alongside her on the return leg to ask her to slow down from 90 MPH. The Speedmaster turns heads and commands interest wherever we parked. My daughter is a former Harley owner who traveled throughout eastern and western Europe on a 2002 Superglide but she loves her Speedmaster. I told her I'd buy it if she ever got tired of it. I still have my 1967 Triumph 650 TR6C and the Speedmaster would look great in my garage alongside the old girl. Show less

I have had my Rocket for 1 year now, I have put exactly 5500 miles on it to date. I returned it to the dealer once for an idle correction, otherwise it has been problem free. The Rocket is a good fit for big guys. It gets you away from the V-twin norm and has more power than most bikes on the road, definitely the most power in its class. Show less

At 47 years young, the 2006 America is the first bike I've had since a Honda CB500/4 in the late 1970s. I've had the America for just over 12 months and mostly ride it on weekends. It's an absolute pleasure to ride. Very comfortable and surprisingly manouverable for a bike of around 500lbs. Whilst some professional reviewers say it needs a tad more power (and the 2007 model delivers this), the 2006 America has more than enough get up n' go for my liking. It's a bike I'll keep and enjoy for a long time. Simply brilliant! Show less

I bought mine in Chicago and rode it back to the DC area. Within the first 100 miles I knew that I had a winner. Right out of the box this is the best bike I've ever owned. I came from a Yamaha FZ-1 that I dumped thousands of dollars in to make it the bike I wanted. When it was all said and done, the bike was great, but it had no character. The Sprint has it in spades. The engine makes sweet sounds, the dash is perfect, it eats up miles, handles great, is incredibly stable, and very comfortable for what it is. The only thing that's going to get me to buy a Corbin is the ease of removal compared to stock. If you're looking at a sport-tourer this IS the bike to buy. Consider what you're getting for the price. Nobody else can match this bike. If the build quality matches the reliability then I'm set for a very long time. I couldn't even begin to express how much I love this bike! Show less

I just picked up my America today and rode it home about 45 miles in the rain. It rode beautifully and I have no complaints. In town it was a blast to ride as it was nimble, the clutch feel was excellent pulling away from stoplights hard, and the brakes have a good feel to them. The best thing about the bike in town is the clutch. It has the best feel of any cruiser I have ridden thus far. Out on the road in the rain I was cruising about 80 at just under half throttle. The wind did not push the bike around like I expected it to. So far so good. Show less

After 30-plus years without a bike, I chose the Bonneville because I had one as a as a teenager and loved it. The tangerine and opal white was similar to the one I had way back then. I bought the bike sight unseen after considering the Speedy and the America. When I picked it up, I knew I had made the right choice as I prefer the upright seating position and the extra punch of the 360 degree crank. After two victory laps around the dealership parking lot, I felt so comfortable that I made the 90-mile trip home without a stop. The first time I twisted the throttle, I knew it had enough pucker factor for my 55 years. Pucker factor is still effective after over 5K miles of getting used to it, and the bike will kick a Harley Sportster to the curb. Much to its credit, this bike is lighter than the basic cruiser, very stable, and handles well in any kind of traffic from 30 mph stop-and-go to 80 mph on the interstate surrounded by 18-wheelers. I have had two 400-miles plus days with no discomfort. I have had no mechanical problems, period. As far as the above ratings go, comfort level becomes a five with the addition of a King and Queen seat from Triumph. I also added the Triumph high-back sissy bar, which is not untastefully high. Quality also becomes a five with the changing of the headlamp to a sealed beam. The extreme angle differential between low and high beam of the factory lamp does not provide safe, adequate lighting for both settings. A brighter bulb did not solve this problem. I am surprised this setup passed DOT muster. I just love this bike, and highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a sound, reliable, comfortable motorcycle; especially the Baby Boomer who always wanted a Triumph. Show less