| | | | Road Test : 2007 Triumph Bonneville America-Engine boost to Triumph’s America |  Written: 30/08/2007 : 11:04. Read 12805 times (38/day). | | The integrality of this filed article is for Premium Members. | One of Triumph’s best kept secrets may just be the Bonnie America. Very rarely do we hear about it, but in 2007 the America got Triumph’s latest 865cc parallel twin engine.
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Over the years I have tested the whole Triumph modern classics and cruiser range. All but one that is, I had blissfully ignored the America. I had already tested the new 865 in the Bonneville T100 and Thruxton 900. Still people kept asking me whether I could test the America. The very first press bike I ever picked up from the Hinckley press fleet was one Speedmaster around 5 years ago.
The America is the most laid-back in the range with forward mounted foot pegs, raked-out fork and a comfortable seat. The comfortable seat is the first thing that I did notice along with the relaxed forward mounted foot pegs. The engine is also very quiet so I lulled myself into cruiser mode after kicking up into fifth gear which is the top gear on the America.
There is one thing that keeps surprising me about the 54bhp 865cc parallel twin engine and that is how little vibrations there are. Everything is just smoother than smooth. I am a bit tempted to say that the big Triumph is a bit like a Honda in that respect, but I didn’t say it did I? I know how these engines really come to life just by replacing the stock exhaust with Triumph’s aftermarket items so I’ll shut my gob. So the engine is up to 865cc from the 790 from last year but still fed by two carburettors rather than fuel injection. The carburettors are of the electrically heated type to avoid icing in cold weather. As it happens I got a rough deal on my one long journey on the America. Returning from the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the South of England I rode all the way up to the North We(s)t in constant rain showers. All the way it rained and rained. After more than 120 miles of constant riding at motorway speeds it seemed that the carburettors just drowned in rain somehow and burrrp, the engine died right there on the M40 in the rain. I had a déjà vu moment there from pre-fuel injected Harleys that threatened me to stop in the same way without actually doing it. I am not sure exactly what happens, but it seems to happen if the throttle has been opened fully for a number of miles in pissing rain with little fuel left in the tank. I left it for a minute or so and hit the starter button ag ...
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