Classic Triumph Bonneville

[Mr. Dazzle]

Vibes probably make it down that far anyway.

[Skub]

There's some neat cracking on the tyre sidewall.....

[Mr. Dazzle]

Aye they're a bit of the old side.

Can't remember who it was but someone here recommend Avons over the period looking TT100s.

[KungFooBob]

Avon Road Riders are pretty good tyres. They just don't have that period look. Got them on my Bullet.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Well it was gonna be you or Ricey

[mangocrazy]

Avon Road Riders are what most LC riders go for. Continental do a classic-oriented tyre with super-sticky compounds and modern tech in 'old' sizes, but they are v. spendy.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Seems kinda fitting for an old boy (38!) with an old bike, but I've thrown my back out

Felt a little tweak picking up the - fucking heavy - wheel yesterday, didn't think overly much of it. Come back to bight me now

Long standing sciatica issue. I've got the special exercises and everything! I won't be crouching down for a while though. I even have to use a special self developed technique for getting out of bed.

I need one of them bike lift things.

Think I'll order the new tyres too, especially if I'm significantly improving the front brake. I suppose new tubes are in order as well.

[JackyJoll]

Motorcycle maintenance is very bad for sciatica!

[Buckaroo]

Seems kinda fitting for an old boy (38!) with an old bike, but I've thrown my back out

Felt a little tweak picking up the - fucking heavy - wheel yesterday, didn't think overly much of it. Come back to bight me now

Long standing sciatica issue. I've got the special exercises and everything! I won't be crouching down for a while though. I even have to use a special self developed technique for getting out of bed.

I need one of them bike lift things.

Think I'll order the new tyres too, especially if I'm significantly improving the front brake. I suppose new tubes are in order as well.

I feel your pain!

It's taken me four months to be rid of the severe pain. Just got a leg full of pins and needles now.

Mine was caused by lifting heavy e-bikes in my son's workshop.

[mangocrazy]

Assuming that Abba make an adaptor suitable for a Bonnie, can I recommend a Skylift? Combine that with a seat on rollers and you avoid a lot of the bending and twisting that aggravate back problems. With a different set of adaptors you can use it with the CBR as well. And while the bike is on the skylift it can be moved anywhere in the garage.

I think you've just missed the occasional 10% off that Abba offer, but another one will be along if you can wait.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I've got an Abba stand, brand new, unused in the box! It was a gift from my parents 3 crimbos ago - the idea was that I could start work on my '97 Speed Triple. Restoring that bike is gonna be an engine out job. The even older Triumph is getting in the way though, both figuratively and literally.

I don't have space for a skylift, 'tis the other problem. Every time the garage gets cleared out it becomes a dumping ground for more crap

This sciatica thing happens to me all the time, I'm used to it now. I'm sure it's familiar to a lot of you, you're minding your own business and do something totally innocent and then BAM!, walking like an invalid for 2 months.

[mangocrazy]

If you've got room for a bike, then bike + skylift takes up little more space. I hummed and haahed about it for ages, now I wonder how I ever managed without it. Ask @Skub for a second opinion...

The whole point is that bike + skylift is mobile - you can shunt it into whichever corner of the garage is best.

[roadster]

Not entirely convinced by the way the front wheel is held in, it's stupid easy to undo and get out :lol it's just half moon end caps on the forks and 4 small bolts.

The only problem I’ve heard of, with that sort of attachment is the caps being split by overtightening of the nuts.

As with some handlebar clamps the caps are not necessarily symmetrical. You should check this by holding them against a flat surface to see if both sides sit flat at the same time. If there is a gap on one side then that is the side that should be tightened last after the longer side is torqued down with no gap. If they are symmetrical then its just a matter of tightening progressively and evenly. Its also a good idea to start with everything just nipped up and then bounce the forks up and down to get the legs aligned without stress.

[A_morti]

I had an xj600s and a cb-1 which arrived with Avon Roadriders fitted. In both cases they were shit, with poor wet weather grip, and a too-pointy profile which made them feel like you were falling off a cliff at every turn.

Bridgestone Bt46 may not have the exact look you want, but they're much better tyres.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Bear in mind this bike has tubed tyres though - no idea what's compatible with what in that context.

[JackyJoll]

A lot of people are using Roadriders on old heaps like that and are perfectly happy. Same goes for Dunlop K81 TT100 type. It’s not a big deal.

I’d say stay away from Dunlop K70, because they wear too fast.

[A_morti]

Bear in mind this bike has tubed tyres though - no idea what's compatible with what in that context.

No clue what sizes such a bike takes, but Bridgestone have helpfully noted which Bt46 sizes permit use of a tube.
https://www.bridgestone.com/products/mo ... ail/pr176/

Could also be that the Roadrider MK2 compound is a significant improvement over the MK1, but far as I can see it still has a very steep sidewall so you can still potentially get some exciting handling.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

On supermotos we used to use a tube with anything, never had any problems, the bikes aren't fast enough to get enough heat in the tyre to cause a problem, shame it hasn't got 17" wheels, you could use supermoto race tyres, they heat up very quickly and give mental grip, mileage isn't their strong point, I used to go through a rear in under 500 miles.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Gotta be honest, I'm leaning towards the TT100s just cause they look right

For the amount spent/spending on this bike I could buy a 200bhp supernaked I'd just do that if I was worried about going fast.

In other news, it appears Venhill don't make the front brake cable I need...a 60-2076 with integrated switch. Plenty of others do, but I really like Venhill's PTFE lined "dry" cables. It means you don't need to oil them and it also means there's no oil to get gunged up with crap.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Venhill do a make your own cable kit, I've used them a few times, they're pretty good so long as you follow the instructions and have a powerful soldering iron