bonneville electrics

[tommym]

Morning,
I'm planning a year on a bonneville around the american continent.
A modern bike, 2002-2003 I reacon.
What I'm considering is a couple of electrical additions.

I've been pondering this; LEDs last forever and if I can avoid blown bulbs thats a load less glass to pack/break. Plus less power consumption. So I think I'd like to add a LED conversion for the head and tail lights.
Does anyone know of any companies already building conversions?
Not necessarily a bonneville but a generic design that would be easy to fit.

Also adding a 12v outlet or two. Again does anyone know a source?
Or a basic web site that could provide a circuit and components that will prevent the battery draining or blowing fuses throughout the loom.

Any other suggestions for modifications?
under sump neons?
wheel valve leds? ha haaaaa ha. classic.

[oldbmw]

It will probably be worth taking a very close look at all the wiring, especially the connectors in and around the headlamp

[Mike]

I can't help with modifications but I definitely vote for taking the Bonnie.

On a bog-standard 2006 with MetalMule panniers but no other mods, I've just passed 10,000 miles on this trip - from the UK to Murmansk and then slowly (on a Bonnie, it's always slow!) round the coast of Europe.

I've just arrived in Estonia. It's snowing. Damn!

--Mike

[tommym]

Yeah I'll get hold of some schematics and check out the wiring.
As with a lot of ideas you'll always find someones had it full production for years.

Hows Estonia? The winters finally kicked in the UK.
Have you had any serious problems with the bonnie?
Whats are the most common faults?
I'm building up a spares list as we speak and just wandering what would be in your top 10?
Chain/sprockets
bulbs/wire/connectors/fuses
inner tubes
plugs
puncture repair
extra chain links
oil/filter(s)
epoxy resin
instant gasket
grease
jubilee clips/petrol pipe
Anything out of the ordinary? I dont think theres a massive triumph support network down in the Americas so the more recommendations the better.

plus tools, including a spoke key for the classic look.
Any special tools needed to work on the bonnie? (other than the regular hammer and screwdriver, persuasive tooling)

[Mike]

Tommy

I take my hat off to you. But I'm afraid I'm the least qualified person to talk about this kind of thing. You'd be scared/ surprised if you knew how little I know about bike maintenance.

The idea for this route came first -- but I realised pretty quickly that i would always be *reasonably* close to a Triumph dealer and/ or someone who would understand the bike much better than I ever will. So I've been lazy and not learned things myself.

I've had two minor problems -- the throttle got very sticky; front brake became 'juddery' -- both apparently not unusual on the new Bonnies. First was fixed with a quick adjustment of the throttle positioning and a quick shot of Magic Fix Everything Spray; the second was replaced under warrenty during a (scheduled) service in Sweden.

It's about -3 tonight but will be -10 tomorrow. Sleet has given way to persistant snow. The informed guess is that it could thaw early next week so I may have a window to get south and find better weather. Otherwise the bike may be stuck here til April. There are worse places to be - Tallinn is quite a place,

Keep us posted on yr preparations and I hope you don't mind if I 'borrow' any good ideas you come up with!

--Mike

[tommym]

Well well well
I made it to Seattle.
I found a 2003 T100 Bonnie in Renton just outside of Seattle.
I spent the last month getting all my gear together and the bike equiped.

Its not the usual set up.
I'm planning on strapping a travel rucksack (you can pack away the shoulder straps) onto the back of my seat, like a holdall. Then a rack to strap down my sleeping bag/tent/fuel.

I originally ordered the engine bars and rack from newbonneville.com but they have a massive and uncertain delay on the Renntec products. I was tripping up to Vancouver, to try and get up to Whistler snowboarding, and found some Renntec gear on the shelf so I've just have it fitted. Nice one.

I hope to continue tasting the rockandroll life style of the West Coast but hopefully find the sun pretty soon, the -8C is even colder with the wind chill. And when your blood rushed back into your fingers that really does burn like a mother...

So anyhow I hope to get down to Mexico by the New Year.
Take it easy,


.....my internet cafe minutes are running low..........