I had gone to see the doctor about my persistent shoulder pain. The pain was persistent, resistant to my usual ibuprofen therapy, and made riding my 2001 Triumph Daytona 955i painful. He injected me with cortisone, which I took to mean that I should buy a different motorcycle. So, I went to Lone Star BMW, and traded my Caspian Blue rocket on the more upright Triumph Bonneville T100.

At the time, the T100 was distinguished from the base Bonneville by a larger engine (865 v. 790 cc), a tachometer, spoked wheels, and chromed engine bits. I picked the black/red variant, and motored home.

Triumph still cranks out Bonnevilles, with this year marking another generation with more power, sophistication, and refined looks. My T100 marked the beginning of the “new” Bonnevilles, but the end of the 20th century core motorcycle components. My Bonneville has two Keihin carbs – plain old bowls, needles, and jets mixing that sweet stochiometic air and fuel in pure Venturi style. It’s also air cooled, using the Bronze Age technology of air moving over fins to maintain an optimal (or thereabouts) operating temperature. So retro that electronic ignition seemed an unnecessary concession to the future. Personally, I find more romance in rejetting carbs than in setting point gaps. I took a test drive of a Royal Enfield Bullet around that time, which made the Triumph seem like a Hayabusa, and yet, kick starter and point were part of the package.

My Bonneville is such a friendly bike. It doesn’t want to kill me, it just wants to help me ride my ride. Avuncular handling and analog fuel delivery make it flexible but not demanding. It’ll go around corners just fine, and cruise on a freeway (not too fast) with only the requisite amounts of drama. It’s also a great platform to change all that.

Memorable moments include a trip to the Three Sisters and staying by the Frio River near Leakey. It did it’s job, didn’t miss a beat, and went fast enough.

In the 15 years I’ve owned it, I’ve added Triumph Off Road exhaust (the stock exhaust is heavy and wheezy), rejetted the carbs. I added panniers (The Sixty8 briefcases style bags – real cool briefcase looking cases) for commuting. Bought some M-bars, bar end mirrors, and a center stand from Norman Hyde.

I neglected the Bonnie for a while, and it repaid me by refusing to start. I diagnosed a failed crank position sensor (well, not the first time, but eventually), and gave it a good carb scrub, and ripped out the airbox and added pod style filters. I replaced the fork seals, adding fork gaiters while I was at it. it still needs a new chain and sprockets, and could use some rear shocks, but maybe with next month’s paycheck.

It’s a good canvas, and the Bonneville responds to kindness, and is kind.