New Bonnevilles

[LAS VEGAS DAVE]

I bought a new Bonnie in 1959, it was the fastest thing around back then and I loved it. I then bought a new Bonnie in 2005 and beat the hell out of it. I never did break it and it never leaked oil, it really impressed me. I bought my Rocket Touring six months ago and I love it. My bet is the new Bonnies will be great. If Carpenter gets the kind of HP you guys think they will the bikes just might become famous again.

 

[IMFASTTOO]

I bought a new Bonnie in 1959, it was the fastest thing around back then and I loved it. I then bought a new Bonnie in 2005 and beat the hell out of it. I never did break it and it never leaked oil, it really impressed me. I bought my Rocket Touring six months ago and I love it. My bet is the new Bonnies will be great. If Carpenter gets the kind of HP you guys think they will the bikes just might become famous again.

l I had a 1955 VINCENT BLACK SHADOW with lightning cams ,pistons,and the 2 inch racing exhaust and that was the fastest bike in our area I ran an 11.6 1/4 mile @ 118 mph and it was much faster than any of the modified TRIUMPHS the VINCENT was a cool bike very light smooth and it would rev to 8000 rpm

 

[sonny]

Doing some rough calculations and still having a lot more to look into, it is real possible to pull around 120hp. The crate motors sold by wiseco are pulling 109 hp. I do not know if this is with a 270 degree crankshaft or a 360 degree crankshaft. Yes with highly modified heads and cams and proper crankshaft 120hp and or greater may be a real possibility. Need to do some more homework.

 

[LAS VEGAS DAVE]

l I had a 1955 VINCENT BLACK SHADOW with lightning cams ,pistons,and the 2 inch racing exhaust and that was the fastest bike in our area I ran an 11.6 1/4 mile @ 118 mph and it was much faster than any of the modified TRIUMPHS the VINCENT was a cool bike very light smooth and it would rev to 8000 rpm

l I had a 1955 VINCENT BLACK SHADOW with lightning cams ,pistons,and the 2 inch racing exhaust and that was the fastest bike in our area I ran an 11.6 1/4 mile @ 118 mph and it was much faster than any of the modified TRIUMPHS the VINCENT was a cool bike very light smooth and it would rev to 8000 rpm

I had a Shadow and a Rapide and neither one was anything to brag about. My Rapide won the WORLD VINCENT MEET and the 1952 Shadow was bought new by a friend of mine who I got it from. The stock 1960 bonnie that I got new in late 59 would easily beat the shadow. I never seen 8000 rpm on a shadow before. Vincent's were only 61 cu inches but in the late forties and early fifties nothing was really fast so they stood out. In the late fifties the Triumphs were the bike to beat and even Harley finally came out with the 58 XLCH which at only 55 cu inches was easily faster than a Vincent.

 

[sonny]

I really do not see a big return of the bonnies like in the fifties. My uncle rode several bonnies during the fifties and the pictures are sharp. probably kind of inspiring me to build one among other inspirations.Have a long ways to go on getting a solid background and checking up on what can be done and what can not be done. The machine work will be done by a outside source but the bike itself I plan on doing the work myself. Do not want a bike that someone else built. I am not a mechanic by trade but we have spent a lot of time working on bikes. This is going to be a lot of fun. Thought hard about building the fatboy up but Harley's are a dime a dozen. Never seen a hot rod Thruxton around these parts.