Bike Files: Triumph Bonneville

One of the most iconic names in motorcycling is still going strong in the 21^st century…

The Bonnie? I think my granddad rode one of them!

The Bonneville was THE bike back in the day. Launched in 1959, it was the equivalent of a FireBlade or Panigale. The name, Bonneville, came from the fact that Triumph had set a new land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah – clocking over 193mph on a heavily modified 650cc twin back in 1955. They were regarded as the best motorcycles around.

The Bonnie, as it was known, became the quintessential British motorbike of the 1960s. It featured the now classic parallel twin engine with a claimed top speed of nearly 120mph, which is why the official model designation of the Bonneville was T120.

Without a hint of modesty, Triumph themselves dubbed it the ‘Best Motorcycle in the World’ upon launch. The Bonneville soldiered on into (and right through) the 1970s but, despite regular updates, it was now outclassed by more modern designs from Japan. A lack of investment, industrial unrest and increased competition saw Triumph fall on hard times. The Bonneville was an ever present until the demise of the company in 1983.

The name reemerged in 2001, with the new Triumph company faithfully recreating the look of the iconic machine. It’s been a great seller ever since and the latest versions combine totally modern engineering and technology with that classic British design. They’re authentic bikes for the connoisseur. We’re fans!

Do they still rattle and leak oil?

Absolutely not! To be fair, the old ones probably deserved their reputation for leaking oil all over the place, but these ones are as smooth and oil tight as they come.

Doesn’t sound anything like a Bonneville!

A few years ago we might say that the modern Bonnie was a bit bland but the clever boffins at Triumph have spent a lot of time engineering character into their icon. Things like the exhaust sound and the piston firing order have engineered plenty of character into Triumph’s Modern Classic range (it’s got a 270° crankshaft firing order, if you want some pub ammo). They’re not teeth chattering like the originals, but they’ve got a cool vibe (but not vibration) to them.

^{A poser's bike, but one for rider's too.} 

A ‘range’ of Bonnevilles? What’s that all about?

Triumph likes to make lots of derivatives of its motorbikes, in a bid to broaden the appeal and to make something to suit the tastes of all riders. There are two main engines, a 900cc and a 1200cc parallel twin, which power the T100 (900) and T120 (1200) Bonnevilles. There’s also the slightly less traditionally styled Speed Twins, a pair of Scramblers and a couple of 1200cc cruisers in the form of the Bonneville Bobber and the Bonneville Speedmaster. It’s a fair old range…

The Bonneville range has a lot to live up to. 

Do they feel modern to ride?

Very much so. They really are very accessible and easy to ride, but still manage to deliver a decent amount of character about them. Where the last remaining air-cooled retros, like the Ducati Scrambler and Moto Guzzi V7 have a bit more rawness to them, the Triumphs feel like more modern motorcycles. You basically get all the benefits of a modern motorcycle, but in a package the uninitiated will think is a classic British motorbike from the 1960s.

How fast do they go?

They’re not superbikes like the ones from back in the day, even though they outperform the originals in every single way. They’re fast enough for modern roads and will easily hit three figure top speeds, even though the power output of 79bhp (64bhp for 900cc T100) is very modest for such a large capacity machine.

Does the Triumph Bonneville feel modern to ride?

Absolutely!

What other retros are out there?

Every manufacturer and their dog makes a modern retro but very few have the looks and credibility of Triumph, nor the straightforward British roadster appeal. Most retros go down the scrambler route or are highly stylised.  BMW’s R nineT range is a Bavarian take on the same concept, while something with a bit less power but a similar vibe is Royal Enfield’s excellent Interceptor 650.

Like the Triumph, a big part of the Enfield’s appeal is that it is powered by a traditional parallel-twin engine, and is in that classic British style. It has won a lot of fans too, including us.

So the Bonneville is a proper ‘Made in England’ bike?

Alas not. In a globalised world Triumph, like almost every other motorcycle manufacturer, sources its parts from around the globe. Final assembly for most Triumphs is over in Thailand these days, but they still have a production line in Hinckley, Leicestershire, where design and development also takes place. It’s a privately owned British company, owned by an entrepreneur called John Bloor and, frankly, it’s as British as it gets these days.  

Can you modify them?

Triumph are big into the custom scene, so yes. As we mentioned earlier, they already make a bunch of derivatives and these can be tweaked and tuned to your heart’s content. The Bobber is an awesome custom bike as standard, while the Thruxton (which has been dropped) is the café racer of the range.

Triumph’s accessories guys have a whole catalogue of trick bits you can bolt on to further modify your steed (they claim to have 116 parts in the accessories range, although we haven’t counted them!), and they make a pretty strong base for a full on customisation project. 

What are they like to ride?

The latest Bonnevilles, both in 900 and 1200cc specs, have really torquey engines with a creamy smooth power delivery. It makes them very easy to ride, even if they perhaps lack a little of the drama you might expect from a name as iconic as Bonneville.

They’re accessible and unintimidating, but it makes them deceptively quick to ride too. Unlike the rather basic first ‘Hinckley’ Bonnevilles of the early 2000s, the newer ones have a decent level of spec, with some electronic aids, good brakes and decent suspension. They’re not the lightest bikes on the market, but they carry the weight well and have pretty low seats – meaning they appeal to a wide range of riders.

For most of those riders, most of the time, the 900 provides enough go, but the extra poke provided by the additional 300ccs is noticeable, and the spec is a bit higher on the bigger capacity bikes too. For example, you get twin brake discs on the T120, giving it a more premium and upmarket look – as well as better braking.

For some, the Bonneville is all about the look, and the smaller T100 delivers that for less money. Whether you go T100 or T120 you’re getting something really authentic. From to piping on the seats, to the spoked wheels, peashooter style exhausts and the 1960s style chromed tank badges, they just look right.