When the Triumph name returned to showrooms in 1990, it was with a range of completely modern motorcycles that bore no resemblance to what had gone before.
Here was a line-up of motorcycle designs in the Japanese idiom, and apart from the names of the models, which borrowed heavily from the company’s past, there was nothing to connect ‘old’ Triumph with new Triumph, so much so that the idea of looking back to inform future models was dismissed completely. However, in 1995, the Triumph Thunderbird 900 borrowed styling cues from 60s models, albeit with a modern three-cylinder engine and then in 2001, the ‘new’ Bonneville appeared which was a note-for-note facsimile of the original, and which heralded a new era of huge success for the company.
10 Triumph Bonneville History
The 1950s were a period of huge growth and success for Triumph, the company’s parallel twin engine powering a large range of road, off-road and racing models. The U.S. was a hugely important market and demanded ever more power, which had given rise to a displacement increase from the original 500cc to 650cc.
Still more power and performance was needed, however, so the factory bolted twin carburetors onto the engine and the T120 Bonneville was created. This was an important flagship model for the company, and it became one of the legendary British motorcycles. Into the 70s, displacement was increased to 750cc, and despite getting very long in the tooth in the face of Japanese domination of the motorcycle market, soldiered on into the 80s at which point it was mercifully put out to pasture.
9 Triumph Bonneville Reborn
The resurrected Triumph company initially concentrated on a line-up of completely modern motorcycles powered by three- and four-cylinder engines. The idea of creating models in the image of what had gone before seemed unlikely, but in 2001, Triumph launched the new Bonneville, which was a carbon copy of the Bonneville of the 60s, from the styling down to the use of a parallel twin engine.
This time, however, the engine employed modern engineering techniques that included balancer shafts to damp out vibrations that had been such a problem with the 650 and 750cc models. Carburetors were used at first, but these soon gave way to fuel injection, cleverly hidden in what appeared to be carbs to maintain the authentic look.
8 First Steps Of The Modern Bonneville
Displacement of the new Bonneville was 790cc, with a power output of 62 horsepower. After six years, the engine was enlarged to 865cc and 66 horsepower. But more important than any of that was the completely authentic feel of the new model. Anyone who was familiar with the original Bonneville of the 60s immediately felt as if they had been transported back a few decades, and as such, the model sold as well on nostalgia as much as the quality of the ride, which was also impressively modern.
What needed to happen, of course, was that the model would sell well to riders who had never sat astride a 60s British bike and that is what started to happen in ever-increasing numbers. At a stroke, Triumph had created a model that gave birth to a whole retro movement, with increasing numbers of manufacturers revisiting old models, or in some cases, creating new models in an older style.
7 Triumph Bonneville Line Grows In Importance
The (possibly unexpected) success of the Bonneville emboldened Triumph to expand the range in several directions. First came the Thruxton café racer, with clip-on handlebars and a single seat, and the Scrambler, with high-level exhaust and knobbly tires. Then there was the Speedmaster cruiser and the Bonneville America, and still later, the Bonneville Bobber.
Old alphanumerical model designations came back, the T100 and T120, as did the iconic Speed Twin name. In typical Triumph fashion, subsequent re-designs of all these models improved them out of all recognition, with more power from a new 1200cc parallel twin engine, and in the case of the Scrambler, genuine off-road capability. Build quality is exceptional, with very little plastic being used, and the style is tweaked but never loses sight of the original.
6 Triumph Bonneville T100
In the 60s, the T100 was the 500cc version of the parallel twin engine. In the 2000s, the T100 was an uprated version of the Bonneville. In the 2020s, the T100 reverted to being the base model, replacing the Bonneville, which is all rather confusing. The engine is 900cc, producing around 65 horsepower in a characterful and smooth manner. It could be best described as a lighter, less expensive T120 that still retains all the best qualities of that model - handling, brakes and performance, with an engine that feels livelier and freer-revving than the 1200cc engine in the T120.
5 Triumph Bonneville T120
Recalling the original T120 Bonneville of 1959, the modern T120 isn’t an out-and-out sports model but a more relaxed, luxurious and classy retro. Simply, if you love the looks of the T120, you’ll love the ride. The 1200cc engine produces 79 horsepower and has been tuned for maximum comfort and high-torque practicality, meaning you don’t have to be stirring the gear lever excessively as long as the engine is turning over above 2000 rpm. The chassis retains all the dynamic qualities of faster Bonneville models, but somehow, here is a bike that makes you feel like taking it easy rather than burning up the road.
4 Triumph Bonneville Thruxton R
Triumph has the unerring ability to take an existing model and change it out of all recognition. That is exactly what happened with the Thruxton. In its first form, it had great style but the 900cc engine lacked power in this installation, and the chassis and suspension were adequate, rather than outstanding. Then the next generation Thruxton came along and things got a whole lot better.
The 1200cc High Power engine pushes out nearly 100 horsepower and the Öhlins suspension front and back endows the Thruxton R with superlative handling, while top-shelf Brembo brakes keep things in check. But the best thing is that the Thruxton is just so beautiful, especially with the optional bikini fairing is fitted. The Thruxton R is a hugely tempting mixture of classy retro good looks and modern, sport bike-beating performance and handling.
3 Triumph Bonneville Speed Twin 1200
OK, more confusion! The Speed Twin first appeared in 1938 as the first model to feature the new parallel twin engine. Over the years, the Speed Twin remained but was overshadowed in performance by the Tiger 110 and T120 Bonneville. Today, the Speed Twin is the top-of-the-range Bonneville, in essence being a Thruxton R but in roadster, as opposed to café racer, form.
As with the Thruxton, the outwardly old-fashioned twin rear shock suspension works exceptionally well, as well as looking authentic. Marzocchi inverted forks hold top-spec Brembo calipers for the twin front discs. The Speed Twin 1200 is an intoxicating mix of style and performance in an accessible package.
2 Triumph Bonneville Scrambler
As with the Thruxton, Triumph knocked the ball out of the park with the second generation Scrambler. Gone was the style-without-substance and in came a huge dose of off-road ability, top-spec components, excellent performance and massive style. So much more than just another 60s-inspired retro motorcycle, it combines superb road manners - not far off a sport bike - with serious off-road ability. Think of it as a modern adventure bike with classic good looks. If it lacks any weather protection or ultimate long-distance comfort, it more than makes up for it with a huge grin-inducing sense of fun. Again, quality is unbelievable, the only plastic being the side panels. The ultimate cool?
1 Triumph Bonneville Bobber
One thing ‘old’ Triumph ever did was pander to the U.S. obsession with cruisers. If you wanted a Triumph cruiser, you built one yourself. Times have changed, however, and Triumph has once again mixed post-war styling with modern-day performance: just like the rest of the Bonneville range. Packed with a ton of cool and plenty of character.
The High Torque version of the 1200cc engine gives effortless performance and has a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde character, perfectly happy cruising at slow speed, looking effortlessly cool but also capable of mixing it with the fast boys, although it is a bit too hard suspension-wise to enjoy rough road surfaces. The Bonneville Bobber, like the rest of the models in the Bonneville range, performs that essential function of riding any motorcycle: when you park it and walk away, you just can’t help turning round to have one last look.