Triumph carries its popular little Bonneville Bobber over into MY2023 with all the yummygoodness that made it such a hit in the first place. The overall design hails back to the custom bobber culture circa the 1950s and 60s, but the modern engine and underpinnings guarantee a contemporary riding experience.

RELATED: 10 Best Triumph Motorcycles That You Can Buy In 2023

2023 Triumph Bonneville Bobber

9.00 / 10
Key Features
  • Authentic Bobber With Higher Bobber-Black Spec
  • Single-Button Cruise Control
  • High-Torque Engine
  • Black-Out Styling
  • LED Lighting
Specifications
  • Model: Bonneville Bobber
  • Engine:: 1,200 cc Parallel-Twin
  • Power Output: 76.9 HP @ 6,100 RPM
  • Torque: 78.2 LB-FT @ 4,000 RPM
  • Transmission: Six-Speed Manual
  • MSRP: $13,795
Pros
  • Classic Design
  • No Superfluous Bodywork
  • Low Seat Height
Cons
  • No Two-Up Riding
  • Lack Of Suspension Adjustments
  • Oversimplified Colorways

2023 Triumph Bonneville Bobber Performance And Capability

Gray 2021 Triumph Bonneville Bobber coming out of a curve
Triumph Motorcycles
Matte Storm Grey 2021 Triumph Bonneville Bobber coming out of a curve

The Bonneville Bobber engine itself is a real gem. First, it's hard to overstate the visual impact of that very British parallel-twin engine that adds so much nostalgia to the mix. It even maintains the classic cooling-fin finish on both the jug and head alike though the water jacket and downtube-mount radiator actually do all the heavy lifting.

A 97.6 mm bore and 80 mm stroke give it a 1,200 cc displacement with a medium-low 10-to-1 compression ratio. The cooling fins on the exhaust header clamp are a nice, old-school touch, but it's the throttle bodies and how they mimic the look of the old mechanical-slide carburetors that really put the illusion over the top. A single overhead cam times a quartet of poppets per combustion chamber, so the top end is relatively uncomplicated.

Down in the bottom end, the crank pins are set at 270 degrees from one another, so it's a parallel twin that lopes like a V-twin might. That's cool sounding and all, but the real benefit comes with the improved traction at the rear wheel. The long delay between power pulses gives the rear tire a chance to gain purchase.

The Bonneville Bobber produces 76.9 horsepower and 78.2 pound-feet of torque. These figures occur at the 6,100 rpm mark and 4,000 rpm mark respectively, so you can count on plenty of tractable power relatively low in the range that pulls hard through the midrange as well. As for electronics, the Bobber packs a pair of Riding Modes for quick personality changes on the fly with a switchable traction-control feature to complete the engine-control electronics package.

Power flows through a slipper-type clutch that delivers a lightweight lever pull and adds some back-torque mitigation to the benefit of the rear contact patch. The overall drive ratio turns in a Bonneville Bobber top speed of 120 mph. Zero-to-60 is in the neighborhood of 3.6 seconds and it'll handle a quarter mile in about 12.5 seconds.

Engine & Drivetrain

Engine

Liquid-Cooled, 8-Valve, SOHC, 270° Parallel Twin

Displacement

1,200 cc

Bore x Stroke

97.6 mm x 80 mm

Compression

10.0:1

Power

76.9 HP @ 6,100 RPM

Torque

78.2 LB-FT @ 4,000 RPM

Fuel System

Multipoint Sequential Fuel Injection

Exhaust

Brushed Stainless Steel 2-Into-2

Final Drive

Chain

Clutch

Wet, Multi-Plate Torque Assist Clutch

Gearbox

Six-Speed Manual

RELATED: Top 10 Bobbers of 2022

Design

Black 2021 Triumph Bonneville Bobber on the kickstand
Triumph Motorcycles
Jet Black 2021 Triumph Bonneville Bobber parked on the kickstand

Folks, this Bobber is a rolling museum for all the classic design Easter Eggs it lugs around. Extra fat tires and heavily whacked fenders at both ends set the stage while generous blackout treatment reinforces the Bobber's custom chops. Seriously, just about everything gets the black paint, including the fenders. The only spot of color -- and you have a choice of two others if you don't want black -- is solely on the 3.2-gallon, old-school teardrop fuel tank.

Bellow fork gaiters add some visual weight and a dated look to the front end. The single round headlight housing is also meant to channel that old-school look, but inside, you'll find super-bright LED technology that can compete with other modern machines in lumen output for good two-way visibility. Behind the can, a single round instrument housing bundles all the instrumentation and ride-control electronics together to help keep the cockpit nice and clean.

The solo saddle kinda floats over thin air just above the rear shock for an enforced no-passenger layout. It is a bobber, so going into this you already know you are riding solo.

More LED goodness is out back in the taillight and blinkers for the visibility and safety it adds to the mix. That external hoop-style brace on the rear fender is something right out of the history books and is a really nice touch to finish out the build.

Triumph Bonneville Bobber Specs

Width Handlebars

31.5 in (800 mm)

Height Without Mirrors

40.3 in – 41.5 in (1,024 mm – 1,055 mm)

Seat Height

27.2 in – 27.6 in (690 mm – 700 mm)

Wheelbase

59.1 in (1,500 mm)

Fuel Capacity

3.2 Gal (12 Liters)

Curb Weight

553 LB (251 Kg)

RELATED: Five Beginner-Friendly Motorcycles To Watch Out For Heading Into 2023

Chassis

Gray 2021 Triumph Bonneville Bobber leaning into a curve
Triumph Motorcycles
Matte Storm Grey 2021 Triumph Bonneville Bobber leaning into a curve

The tubular-steel frame strikes a familiar pose with geometry that ties right into the hardtail look at the rear end. Triumph developed a swing-cage that, much like Harley-Davidson's Softail, delivers a modern ride in spite of its 1940-ish look. A coil-over shock rides under the seat to support and dampen the rear end, while up front, a set of beefy, 47 mm RWU Showa forks take care of business, but with fixed damping values across the board.

The frame itself has a dual-downtube/double-cradle layout that fully supports the drivetrain rather than using it as a stressed member, which is right in line with the bikes of old. Blackout treatment makes the 16-inch wheels a rather understated detail, even so, it reinforces the Bobber's old-time custom connection.

Twin Brembo calipers ride up front with two pistons each and a 310 mm disc, while out back, a 255 mm disc and single-pot Nissin anchor keep your rear end behind you where it belongs. ABS support comes with the stock equipment package.

Chassis & Suspension

Frame

Tubular Steel, Twin Cradle Frame

Swingarm

Twin-Sided Fabrication

Front Suspension

47 mm Showa Cartridge Forks

Rear Suspension

Mono-Shock RSU With Linkage

Rake

24.5°

Trail

3.6 in (92 mm)

Front Wheel

Wire 32-Spoke, 16x2.5

Rear Wheel

Wire 32-Spoke, 16 x 3.5

Front Tire

MT90B16 Avon Cobra

Rear Tire

150/80R16 Avon Cobra

Front Brake

Dual 310 mm disc, Brembo 2-Piston Sliding Axial Calipers

Rear Brake

255 mm Disc, Nissin Single-Piston Sliding Axial Caliper

RELATED: Limited-Edition BMW R NineT And R 18 Commemorate The Company’s Centenary

2023 Triumph Bonneville Bobber Price And Availability

The Triumph Bonneville Bobber costs $13,795. That's for the Jet Black colorway. It comes shot in Red Hopper for $14,095, and two-tone Matte Storm Grey/Matte Ironstone for $14,295. If you are looking for something a bit different, the Bobber Chrome Edition trim package may be your cup of tea at $14,595.

Pricing & Features

Features

Analogue Speedometer, LCD Multi-Functional Display

Colors

Jet Black, Red Hopper, Matte Storm Grey/Matte Ironstone

Price

$13,795, Color: $14,095, Two-Tone: $14,295, Chrome Edition: $14,595

Competitors

The faux-rigid look is a popular one. For a long time, Harley-Davidson had the only game in town with its Softail frame family, but the field is a bit more crowded nowadays. I first looked to Yamaha for its Bolt R-Spec which loosely mimics the old-school look without going over the top with a camouflaged swingarm feature.

It hits many of the same design points overall, but the engine size falls a tad short at 942 cc with 65 ponies and 59.3 pounds o' grunt against 76.9/78.2. The tradeoff is at the checkout counter in the Yammie's $8,899 sticker.

Black 2022 BMW R18 cruising on the road
BMW
Black 2022 BMW R18 cruising on the road

Beemer also makes a bobber with its R 18 model that has the whacked fenders and solo saddle but goes all the way with a fake rigid frame that comes to a point at the rear axle. Naturally, it's a sprung unit that soaks up the bumps like any modern machine.

BMW shoehorns in a 1,802 cc flat-twin boxer engine that puts out 91 horsepower and 116 pound-feet of torque to shame the half-again smaller Trumpet mill. Again the tradeoff is at the sales counter in the $14,995 sticker, but honestly, that's a lot more engine for just a little more cheddar to put some pressure on the Bonnie.

He Said

“This has been one of my favorite platforms since it came on the scene, and it remains so today. I mean, it's absolutely adorable, it has a timeless look, and it's a blank canvas for aspiring bike customizers out there. I definitely prefer the Bonnie to the other competitors above, regardless of price and power differences.”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “When Triumph combined the Bobber and the Bobber Black, the Bonneville Bobber came out with a larger fuel tank, larger front forks, and ample blackout treatment. Subtle design changes and updates in the engine make improvements on what was already a good seller for the British giant."

FAQ

Q: Is a Triumph Bonneville Bobber a good first bike?

The short answer is, yes. It is a good first bike. Smooth power delivery, low seat height, and responsive handling make it suitable for first-time riders or riders looking for a cruiser in the liter+ displacement range.

Q: How many cc is a Triumph Bonneville Bobber?

A 1,200 cc parallel-twin engine powers the Bonneville Bobber. It produces 76.9 horsepower and 78.2 pound-feet of torque.

Q: How much horsepower does a Triumph Bonneville Bobber have?

The 1,200 cc parallel-twin engine in the Bonneville Bobber produces 76.9 horsepower at 6,100 RPM and 78.2 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 RPM.

Q: What is the Triumph Bonneville Bobber's maximum speed?

The top speed of the Bonneville Bobber is 120 MPH. Zero-to-60 is about 3.6 seconds with a 12.5-second quarter mile.