Great Black North
The Obsession
The Progression, From Out Of The Crate, Till Now!
The Journey Begins!
Hey!
This is a photo journal of my own introduction, obsession, and purchase, of the 2017 Triumph Bonneville Bobber.
I had been looking for a new bike for awhile. I had almost convinced myself that I should have either, a Harley Breakout, or maybe a Sportster with a big bore kit, and mod it until I liked it.. Then, I was at work one day late in February 2017, when one of my co-works sat next to me at our computer kiosks and logged in to his work space. On his desktop was this BIKE!!, It was more or less exactly what I kept trying to find, had been searching for, with out even knowing it, but, hadn't "seen" it in the real world... The picture was the press release picture of the new 2017 Triumph Bobber with the high bars, short fenders, and this presence that got hold of me and would not let go. I was hooked, and now I had to have one. After thinking about it for almost a month, which almost ended up being a mistake, a marathon phone session to every Triumph dealership in western Canada, culminated with a call to Bentley Motorrad in Kelowna B.C. which was, literally, the last dealership in my part of the world, and it netted me the only remaining Jet Black Bobber being released for the first half of 2017 in Canada. The only catch, It wasn't scheduled to be built until the end of April. the date was was March 23 2017. Papers were signed and payment made on April 12..
Now the waiting begins..
Un-crate Day Bentley Motorrad
June 7 2017: Having WAITED for 2 months, since ordering and paying for this bike in April 2017. I received this from my Guy at Bentley Motorrad. This is when the Obsession takes over. Suddenly it was real.
The Trek To Delivery
June 19 2017: A couple more weeks gone by, and the bike is finally as ready as it was going to get. It's time to make the 1350 KM journey to the dealership.
Bentley Motorrad Kelowna B.C
June 22 2017: This is the sight that greets me as I walked in to the dealership. Had not even ridden the bike yet, and the basic mods had already begun. High bars, short front fender, statement seat, lots of chrome engine accent pieces, and a couple other changes.
Willow River B.C.
June 2017: Having had some time in the saddle it was time for some glamour shots
The Mods Continue
June 29 2017: Having put the requisite 800 KM on the new bike, it was time for the first oil change. I hit up what would end up being my "home base" service center/dealership, Echo Cycle in Edmonton A.B. The oil change included a set of Vance & Hines slip-ons, and the first retune...
New School Vintage
August 2017: Having had a couple months of riding, I have to reiterate what I read, time and time again, before I finally got to ride. This is a sweet bike, it handles like a sport bike, with the torque of a big bore cruiser.
Time To Step It Up
August 2017: After waiting for another month for stock to arrive in Canada, the short rear fender and side plate parts, along with the upgraded front signal lights and rear multi function lights arrived at my door.
Loud Pipes....
September 2017: As alluded to in the first paragraphs, I was a V-Twin guy, one of the reasons behind this is the sound, don't get me wrong the Triumph sounds pretty good right out of the crate, even better with the Vance & Hines pipes, but, in keeping with the adage that loud pipes save lives, the decibels just weren't there, which became very apparent as the temperatures dropped, and people started rolling up their windows. 2 close calls in 2 week prompted the need for louder! Que the British Customs drag pipes and a Free Spirits X-pipe.
Spring 2018
Uhhg Mud..
April 15 2018: Having had to wait for the BC drag pipes to arrive, they didn't get put on until January, so I was chomping at the bit to hear these mods, other than in the garage that is! I managed to hold off until it was almost dry, had taken a drive earlier in the day when it was only + 2 or +3 degrees and thought it was time, boy was I wrong! By the time I got home, uncovered the bike, and got things ready, it had gone up to +10.. I hadn't gone 2 blocks when I found the first muddy water!!! This is the first (and last) time this bike gets this dirty..
After a bath!
Fall 2018 Tinker Time
September 2018: Most of the recent mods have been of the non photogenic type. I have installed a Power Commander and done a dyno tune. The custom tune, done by my friends at Echo Cycle in Edmonton, optimizes the Power Commander to work best with the exhaust, and has resulted in some pretty good numbers. Other than that I have just been putting on miles, as much as the weather has allowed this summer.
Check back, as I have made some purchases that should be arriving any day. Hopefully before the snow..
October 2018: Finally got all the afore mentioned parts installed, Triumph Speedmaster forward controls, and I have to wonder why the bike didn't come stock with this option as it takes the comfort level from very good to exceptional! Trident Exhausts brushed stainless slip-on's, Freespirits Spirit Racing CAI system, Dart Flyscreens Classic Flyscreen. Not sure if the fly screen is going to be a permanent addition though. We'll see if the look grows on me.
Spring/Summer 2019 Level Up Mods
April 2019: Sad chapter in the story of my Bike, and the Motorsport industry in northern Alberta.
News of the end of business for my home base dealer/service center, Echo Cycle Edmonton, reached me in early April. The long time motorcycle enthusiasts and owners decided it was time to retire and move on. They serviced the Motorsport industry in Northern Alberta for many decades and will be sorely missed by many! I wish them health, happiness and long life to enjoy the fruits of their many years of labor.
I would also like to welcome Echo Cycle 2.0, and wish them good luck with their new endeavors!
March 2019: So it's been awhile. But, I have done a few mods over the winter and into early spring. So here we go. First big change was to do a big wiring tidy up and reroute. Then an air box delete, with some custom fab pieces to finish it up. Then a seat and matching bag set from La Rosa Design's. The seat was an easy one, the bag, not so much. After a couple of failed attempts at some custom bracketry, I ended up going with a triumph branded swing arm bag mount, which I would have to wait for, but in the end it worked out pretty good.
After 3 weeks of tinker time, It's back together, and all ready for the snow to go the **** away!
May 2019: Spring ride fever out of my system, It was back to work. After installing the fly screen last fall, and then looking at it all winter, I just wasn't happy with the front end. Many Google searches later I finally settled on a Harley Sportster headlight bezel with built in visor. I think the difference this small change made is remarkable. Also on the early spring list is a real horn! Que one Denali Sound Bomb mini. I also discovered upon the first hard launch of the spring, the cool looking intake runners were great looking, but not so great for hanging on to with my knees,, pulled right out of the throttle bodies, go figure. Anyway, they had to go!
Late June now, and as the previously mentioned Triumph swing arm bag bracket, and hardware, FINALLY arrived, the long anticipated La Rosa bag gets mounted!
The other long procrastinated on job, that was near the top of my original to do list, also got done, No More Reflectors!!
Time for more miles!
Dec 2019: Its been awhile, again, winter doldrums setting in. Have been trying out different looks. Think I'm going to try out the stripped down look for spring. Kinda diggin' the way it seems to fit. Also got a new Alex Leather Craft vintage style seat.
Spring 2020
So, spring 2020. Even with the crazy happening across the globe, the mods march on! After some thinking and trial and error, Intake upgrade Ver. 3.uh,, Oh hell, I don't remember! Anyway, Hereby dubbed Frankentake Ver3, has happened. Polished tuned runners and K&N filters. Along with several small cosmetic changes, tank badges, Euro spec multi-function taillights, "trans" filler cap, internally wired bars, lost the shock gators, and, I'm starting to think its almost there..
Random Favorite Shots Spot
I Know, I know, it's not the Triumph! But it's still a favorite!