2009 Triumph Bonneville SE 865cc 5 Speed Special Edition Old School Style! 7k Miles! $4,995

With a wheelbase of 57.2 inches, and rake/trail figures of 27 degrees and 4.2 inches the Bonneville SE feels stable and planted, not at all twitchy like some sportbikes or lazy like a cruiser. During that day of aggressive riding I pushed the Triumph as hard as I dared and found that the engine generates linear (if not strong) power as its tach needle climbs rather lazily from 2,500 to 8,000 rpm, where its power is instantly cut by the ignition system.

A trip to the Jett Tuning Dynojet dyno revealed that this parallel twin has a flat torque curve and is already churning out 40.9 lb-ft of torque at 2,600 rpm at the rear wheel, and it remains above that figure all the way to 7,600 rpm, with its peak coming at 44.7 lb-ft at 6,500 rpm. In terms of power the Bonneville is making 40 horsepower by 5,000 rpm, 50 by 6,000 rpm and peaks at 58.6 horses at 7,400 rpm. The technically inclined will note that, by today’s standards, this is rather understated power as any self-respecting 600cc, four-cylinder sportbike will crank out more than 100 rear-wheel horsepower and will leave the Triumph weeping in its pints. Still, with a wet weight of just 500 pounds the agile Triumph is fun to ride—so long as your definition of fun does not include tire-smoking burnouts and block-long wheelies.