I changed the rear wheel sprocket for one with 45 teeth on it. This is because, with the stock 47T sprocket, I often found myself reaching for another gear when cruising at about 60 – 70mph. The engine felt “busy” and wanted to change up another cog.
Getting the old sprocket off was a bastard of a job, because the hex heads of the sprocket retaining nuts are too close to the hub boss to get a socket spanner fully onto. I had to do the job with a 14mm socket that just managed to bite onto the top of each nut, which were already slightly rounded from previous butchery. I was able to get them off, but only just.
Next time around, it will be a case of “out with the nail punch” to use brute force and ignorance, and be sure to have a new set of nuts on standby.
The taller gearing suits the bike better. Around town, 4th has become the “official” gear for just pobbling along at 30mph whilst minding out for little old ladies at pedestrian crossings. In 5th at 60mph the bike is only just getting into its stride, and cruising at 80mph now feels very do-able. There’s still more than enough mid-range grunt for getting up hills or passing other traffic.
Accelerating up a long incline at 70mph on this bike is about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on. Nay-sayers will tell you “ride your Meriden Triumph hard and it won’t last very long”, but surely a few less revs on taller gearing will help a bit? The bike begs to be ridden hard. I don’t know if it’s possible to ride a Bonneville slowly. It seems such a waste.
My Ariel 350 single is a much better bike for riding along slowly. It is unexciting, but satisfying. Arriving at one’s destination brings a sense of achievement, yet you never doubt that it will get you there. It’s a little bike with a big heart.
By way of stark contrast, spirited riding on a Bonnie using plenty of throttle is definitely one of life’s pleasures.
