Revisited: Dishing the detail on Triumph’s T120 Bonneville
Enjoy life in the retro lane with Triumph’s classy Bonneville T120
What we said then… When you look at the Bonnie your brain will take milliseconds to form a mental impression of how it will feel. Those wide bars, flat seat and the relaxed geometry tell you that sitting on it will be a comfortable experience, while the retro cool image reinforces its laid-back outlook.
The new parallel-twin may boast 1200cc, but its output has been tuned for ease of use, not thrashing, and it’s one of the most effortless engines I’ve ever ridden. It’s silky-smooth in its throttle response and transmits virtually no vibrations. The gearbox, which does still exhibit a characterful clunk when it engages a cog, has the same internal ratios as the Thruxton – but thanks to longer final ratios it lacks the sportier bike’s frantic nature or rapid bursts of acceleration. And it is a similar story with the chassis. You don’t really want to rush a T120. Its chassis is more than capable of carving through the bends, but you only get 40 degrees of lean until things start to scrape. More notably, the bike has an 18in front wheel and while this helps keep the looks on message, it does give it a slightly ponderous feeling from the front end. But few owners will find it of any concern, and nor should they. The same is true of the suspension. The Bonnie only gets adjustable preload on the rear, a concession to the number of owners likely to carry a pillion. As standard the suspension is set pretty softly, but again this is totally in keeping with the bike, and it’s comfortable and pliant rather than soft and wobbly.
If you look at the new Bonnie and think ‘that’s for me’ then it’s pretty certain that you’ll love it. As well as being refined to ride, comfortable, and beautifully styled, it has a gorgeously smooth motor and overall is a very practical retro for the modern world.
MCN launch report, March 16, 2016
What’s it like now?
The number of three-year-old Bonnies on the used market
‘£7700 buys a ’16, one-owner Bonneville’
with upwards of 10,000 miles on the clocks is testament to how enjoyable this modern retro is to ride. Bikes around this mileage start in the region of £6700 and with owners very complimentary about reliability, there’s no reason to be wary of a higher mileage example – just check the servicing status, as the first full service is due at 10,000 miles (with the valve check coming at 20,000).
Want a bike with fewer miles? £7700 buys a 2016, one-owner model with 1600 miles. In terms of build quality, owners are happy with the overall finish, but say that the chrome on the engine covers tarnishes easily if the bike’s used in all weathers. A few early T120s have been known to suffer problems with the gear selector mechanism causing the bike to get stuck in gear. Triumph updated the part in 2019 and this can be retrofitted to older models.
Worthwhile extras?
It’s rare you’ll find a completely stock Bonnie. Plenty of machines will have had a judicious smattering of official Triumph accessories fitted – such as heated grips, centrestand and screen, all of which will be a boon for practicality. There are also a surprising number of used Bonnies that’ll come complete with luggage systems, either in the form of retro-style leather panniers or even traditional topboxes. Cosmetic trim enhancements are commonplace as well, performance bolt-ons less so.