hello.
I've been visiting here, wanderlust raging...been watching the Scrambler leaning folk...I don't see it. Styling for market niche is different than real world use. a couple reasons I think the Bonneville is the better choice:
1. high pipes don't accept metal mule or any worthwhile carrying ability...while a Swiss Army knife does wonders, one really needs to carry more than that.
2. long distance requires a change of position...high pipes negate forward pegs...which in my case of horrible knees, is a luxury.
3.the high pipes make the right carb access impossible.
4. 270 firing is no answer to me when 360 is 98.5% of the question.

I just got rid of an 02 BMW RT in trade for this '07 T100. I know folks rave BMW...I didn't fall in love. too sophisticated for the boonies...too heavy...dealers suck...and I wasn't having fun changing 8 hydraulic brake circuits, and pulling it apart at 14K to see if the trans input spline was going out...only to find a weeping clutch slave...at 28K when the carbon buildup from too lean a mix became an issue, I had the last of that $17K "elite" machine. I understand the 05 dual spark fixed that issue, but I go by "fool me once, shame on you...twice, and you're fired"...bring me the liver with some fatha beans and a nice Chianti.

I did like the protection the RT offers, and the comfy...I hated the inacessability of full fairing to do any minor TB syncs ect...say a small stone gets into the throttle cable at the pulley...an impossible quick fix unless you do a tear down for a minor minor minor issue...how silly is that surrounded by cannibals at twilight with a gale approaching. travel should be pack light and live light...leave as many problems alone as possible.

"a man is rich in proportion to the things he can afford to leave alone"

here's the skid plate I just made up for the Bonneville that allows for all the up side of a Bonneville over the Scrambler.








I wanted to post here...because here is where apparently the hard core mc people lurk, and where my ideas belong.

and lastly, when you're far from the factory, wouldn't it make sense parts-wise to have a more popular model? I heard somewhere 3 out of 4 new Triumph sales are Bonnevilles. I've loved the Tiger from afar since '94 or so...even took a test ride...absolutely loved it...but it too is too sophisticated for repairs in the mud...which according to Hoyle is what's out there.

give me the simple, the fixable, the lightweight, and the workable...I'm not out to impress anymore...I just want to make it there and back safe and sound...with whatever is in my control.

when these tires wear, this will get some better dirt-ish tires.

my point is, if you're looking at a Scrambler, look again at the Bonneville.