So, is the Triumph Bonneville the bad ass British bike? As in:
He once owned a Harley Davidson and a Triumph Bonneville.
Counted his friends in burned-out spark plugs
and prays that he always will.
As far as I can determine, this one needs opinions.
Moved from GQ to IMHO.
samclem GQ moderator
It’s a matter of opinion, especially musically.
“now nortons and indians and greeves won’t do
they don’t have a soul like a vincent ‘52”
Yeah - Too Old to Rock’n’Roll Too Young to Die!
Actually, samclem, this is a Cafe Society question, and doubly so since we’re talking about both a Jethro Tull lyric and about cafe racers.
Bonnevilles are nice, but I’d say that Nortons are the real badass British bike. Commandos came as both 750 and 850cc twins, and with an open exhaust and proper carburation could more than hold their own with the Japanese fours of the time. Back in 1983, I passed up buying a Norton Atlas (the 750 Commando engine in a featherbed frame) for $450, and I still want to kick myself whenever I think about it.
yabob, Black Shadows are exotic beasts that any rocker would give his eyeteeth for, but I’d say that they’re a little to exotic to be considered “the” badass British bike. I’ll take a Norton anytime.