04-25-2016, 03:44 AM
Went down to my local Triumph dealer on Saturday to finally take a good long look at the new Bonneville T120s they got in. Man, what a beautiful bike. Was just as gorgeous after a long inspection as it was at the preview last December. I loved my '12 Bonnie, and these new models are head-and-shoulders above the old versions in every class. The attention to detail and fit and finish are just remarkable, especially in comparison. Very, very, tempting...!
In the midst of the usual bunch of bike talk (the guys there are awesome, and have become good friends), one of the sales guys says, "here let me to toss you the keys to something I want you to ride", and points to a sporty looking Zero. I kind of internally rolled my eyes, as even though I appreciate the idea, I really have no interest in the electric bikes. He must have sensed my hesitation, because he said something like, "just check it out...obviously no obligation, you've just got to try it once". OK, I'm game for most anything bike-wise, so off we went out the front door, key in hand.
He gave me a quick rundown of what TO and what NOT to do - like "hit the kill switch whenever you're done riding, because the bike makes no noise when it's technically ON, so if you don't, and you accidentally hit the throttle, the bike's going to take off, whether you're ready or not!" Well, needless to say, you didn't have to tell me that twice! He then showed me the three riding modes, which are easily toggled through by a switch on the right handgrip (right where the starter button is located on most bikes): "eco", which is obviously down on power, but gives about a 200 mile riding range, and "sport" which is, well, just the opposite of "eco" in every way. There was also a "custom" mode, which we didn't touch on, but I assume you can set that one up yourself anywhere between the other two options.
He instructed me to pull out of the lot in "eco" to get used to it all, and at the stop sign at the end of the block, switch over to "sport", and just get on the thing...so I did.
In "eco", everything's pretty benign, yet very linear in power - maybe comparable to something like a 300cc sportbike. It felt extremely lightweight and "tossable", and swerving down the street at city speeds, it felt very nimble and responsive in the handing department. Ergos are what I'd call semi-sportbikish. Lower bars, but not too hunched over, pegs are higher than the CB11, but not to where I felt like my heels were digging into my backside. Actually, it's quite acceptably comfortable for what's supposed to be the sporty bike of their line. The complete quiet of the power unit is bizarre, though. You hear a small bit of tranny whine and tire noise, but otherwise it's almost like riding in a vacuum - pretty surreal. And I know lots of guys have sworn by their automatic transmission-ed bikes over the years, but it's very strange to me, not shifting...maybe that's something that would become more acceptable with use?
So I got to the stop sign, and toggled over to "sport" - which I have to add, was quite simple, even with my aging eyesight, with no glasses on - and decided to "give it a bit of willy" as our Brit brothers would put it. And...OH HOLY HE** AND DA*NATION! It was like someone strapped a Saturn V rocket onto my crotch, then kicked me in the arse with a metal-toed, size 15 boot! I quite literally almost lost my grip on the bars, and the front tire lofted easily off the ground. It was a tough sensation to comprehend, because the bike felt so small and light, there just seemed to be no way that much power was being wielded upon you like a sledgehammer.
Now, I'm not saying that it was the kind of power that say a Yamaha R1 or Ducati Panigale would have, but I truly was not ready for that instant, right NOW surge of power from what seemed like such a smallish, lightweight motorcycle. To be honest, I was also not holding on in the way I should have been; it was just that completely unexpected. You just can't understand that immediate rush of response that an electric motor has over the way any internal combustion engine (usually) gradually builds power. It is amazing. Even when already moving, roll-on acceleration is astounding. Power is always there, no matter when you ask for it.
So, of course I repeated the performance at every successive stop.
I literally re-entered their parking lot laughing out loud. What a hoot. I highly recommend that every rider at least try one out!
Bottom line is that I don't know if it's something I'd ever have in my garage; at $13-14K for this model they're not cheap (lesser-powered versions are much cheaper, at $8-9K), and it's a very odd experience. Lost is a lot of the...mmm..."visceral" experience of motorcycling. No intoxicating engine sound. No listening to the revs to choose your shifting point (how many long-time riders ever check their tach for that info???). No rumble or vibration through the seat or bars. No reaching for the clutch lever, accompanied by the synchronized dance with the left foot on the shifter lever...but as I said, perhaps these are things that you find odd now, but would eventually accept, or even learn to love with regular use. I can certainly see it being a very fun commuter bike, if your commute was a reasonable length (range decreases in "sport" mode, when driven on the freeway, etc.)
As for me, I have to say that this bike is at a barrel-full-of-monkeys level of fun, and if it was in the $7-8K price range, I would very seriously consider it, and it might have even come home with me that day.
In the midst of the usual bunch of bike talk (the guys there are awesome, and have become good friends), one of the sales guys says, "here let me to toss you the keys to something I want you to ride", and points to a sporty looking Zero. I kind of internally rolled my eyes, as even though I appreciate the idea, I really have no interest in the electric bikes. He must have sensed my hesitation, because he said something like, "just check it out...obviously no obligation, you've just got to try it once". OK, I'm game for most anything bike-wise, so off we went out the front door, key in hand.
He gave me a quick rundown of what TO and what NOT to do - like "hit the kill switch whenever you're done riding, because the bike makes no noise when it's technically ON, so if you don't, and you accidentally hit the throttle, the bike's going to take off, whether you're ready or not!" Well, needless to say, you didn't have to tell me that twice! He then showed me the three riding modes, which are easily toggled through by a switch on the right handgrip (right where the starter button is located on most bikes): "eco", which is obviously down on power, but gives about a 200 mile riding range, and "sport" which is, well, just the opposite of "eco" in every way. There was also a "custom" mode, which we didn't touch on, but I assume you can set that one up yourself anywhere between the other two options.
He instructed me to pull out of the lot in "eco" to get used to it all, and at the stop sign at the end of the block, switch over to "sport", and just get on the thing...so I did.
In "eco", everything's pretty benign, yet very linear in power - maybe comparable to something like a 300cc sportbike. It felt extremely lightweight and "tossable", and swerving down the street at city speeds, it felt very nimble and responsive in the handing department. Ergos are what I'd call semi-sportbikish. Lower bars, but not too hunched over, pegs are higher than the CB11, but not to where I felt like my heels were digging into my backside. Actually, it's quite acceptably comfortable for what's supposed to be the sporty bike of their line. The complete quiet of the power unit is bizarre, though. You hear a small bit of tranny whine and tire noise, but otherwise it's almost like riding in a vacuum - pretty surreal. And I know lots of guys have sworn by their automatic transmission-ed bikes over the years, but it's very strange to me, not shifting...maybe that's something that would become more acceptable with use?
So I got to the stop sign, and toggled over to "sport" - which I have to add, was quite simple, even with my aging eyesight, with no glasses on - and decided to "give it a bit of willy" as our Brit brothers would put it. And...OH HOLY HE** AND DA*NATION! It was like someone strapped a Saturn V rocket onto my crotch, then kicked me in the arse with a metal-toed, size 15 boot! I quite literally almost lost my grip on the bars, and the front tire lofted easily off the ground. It was a tough sensation to comprehend, because the bike felt so small and light, there just seemed to be no way that much power was being wielded upon you like a sledgehammer.
Now, I'm not saying that it was the kind of power that say a Yamaha R1 or Ducati Panigale would have, but I truly was not ready for that instant, right NOW surge of power from what seemed like such a smallish, lightweight motorcycle. To be honest, I was also not holding on in the way I should have been; it was just that completely unexpected. You just can't understand that immediate rush of response that an electric motor has over the way any internal combustion engine (usually) gradually builds power. It is amazing. Even when already moving, roll-on acceleration is astounding. Power is always there, no matter when you ask for it.
So, of course I repeated the performance at every successive stop.
I literally re-entered their parking lot laughing out loud. What a hoot. I highly recommend that every rider at least try one out!
Bottom line is that I don't know if it's something I'd ever have in my garage; at $13-14K for this model they're not cheap (lesser-powered versions are much cheaper, at $8-9K), and it's a very odd experience. Lost is a lot of the...mmm..."visceral" experience of motorcycling. No intoxicating engine sound. No listening to the revs to choose your shifting point (how many long-time riders ever check their tach for that info???). No rumble or vibration through the seat or bars. No reaching for the clutch lever, accompanied by the synchronized dance with the left foot on the shifter lever...but as I said, perhaps these are things that you find odd now, but would eventually accept, or even learn to love with regular use. I can certainly see it being a very fun commuter bike, if your commute was a reasonable length (range decreases in "sport" mode, when driven on the freeway, etc.)
As for me, I have to say that this bike is at a barrel-full-of-monkeys level of fun, and if it was in the $7-8K price range, I would very seriously consider it, and it might have even come home with me that day.