The Bonneville range has been the mainstay of the British brand. The new 2021 Triumph Bonneville T120 is the latest modern interpretation of the classic Bonneville. It comes in four variants.
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2021 Triumph Bonneville T120 design
The Bonneville T120 looks properly retro and you would like it. A look at those wire-spoke wheels and the Google’s of Chrome everywhere. You have those gorgeous twin peashooter exhausts which sound great as well. A simple but likable twin-pod instrument cluster. The carburetor look-a-like throttle bodies are back.
The T120 looks more substantial than the street twin as well thanks to its larger fuel tank and increased wheelbase. Now the T120 is not just larger than the street twin in terms of overall size it’s also larger in terms of engine capacity because this baby is up by 300CC.
2021 Triumph Bonneville T120 engine and specifications
The new 1200cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin motor is dubbed HT or high torque and it does have a lot of that. A whopping 105 Newton meters coming in at just 3100 rpm that’s a full 54 percent more than the outgoing Bonneville 300. Its peak horsepower figure of 80 HP isn’t too low either but the real modern touch in this motor isn’t just the ride-by-wire throttle or rudimentary traction control. The T120 actually gets two riding modes, a road for normal use and rain where throttle response is dull down.
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This 1200 HT motor offers up a healthy dose of mid-range torque which means cruising at any speed on city or highway is absolutely a breeze. However, with that peak torque figure of 105 Newton meters and you open the throttle to the stops, acceleration is neck-snapping. It almost feels uncharacteristic for a bike that looks so classic. It can get to 140 kph in no time at all and can stay there all day long.
| Type | Liquid-cooled, 8 valves, SOHC, 270° crank angle parallel twin |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 1200 cc |
| Bore | 97.6 mm |
| Stroke | 80 mm |
| Compression | 10.0:1 |
| Max Power EC | 80 PS / 78.9 bhp (58.8 kW) @ 6550rpm |
| Max Torque EC | 105 Nm @ 3500 rpm |
| System | Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection |
| Exhaust | Chromed 2 into 2 exhaust system with twin chrome silencers |
| Final Drive | Chain |
| Clutch | Wet, multi-plate torque-assist clutch |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
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Bonneville T120 Chasis and dimensions
Under the skin, the T120 gets simple but competent components. A tubular steel cradle frame, conventional, forks at the front, and twin shocks at the back make up the chassis and suspension setup and these endow the bike with great ride quality over most roads with only the most severe or bumps feeling a bit unsettling.
When it comes to corners however you need to take things easy. Its dry weight of 224 kg is a massive 26 kilos more than the Street Twin. So, while the T120 feels planted on straight roads, it makes the handling somewhat lazy. The handlebars require quite a bit of effort to turn once you’re at speed. The T120 doesn’t like to hustle around in a hurry.
| Frame | Tubular steel, with twin cradles |
|---|---|
| Swingarm | Twin-sided fabrication |
| Front Wheel | Aluminium rimmed 32 spoke 2.75” x 18” |
| Rear Wheel | Aluminium rimmed 32 spoke, 4.25” x 17” |
| Front Tyre | 100/90-18 |
| Rear Tyre | 150/70 R17 |
| Front Suspension | Ø41mm cartridge forks |
| Rear Suspension | Twin RSU’s, with pre-load adjustment |
| Front Brakes | Twin 310mm discs, Brembo 2 piston floating caliper, ABS |
| Rear Brakes | Single 255mm disc, Nissin 2 piston floating caliper, ABS |
| Instrument Display and Functions | Twin dial analog speedometer and tachometer with LCD multi-functional display |
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| Width Handlebars | 780 mm |
|---|---|
| Height Without Mirror | 1100 mm |
| Seat Height | 790 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1450 mm |
| Rake | 25.5 º |
| Trail | 105.2 mm |
| Tank Capacity | 14.5 L |
| Wet Weight | 236 kg |
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Bonneville T120 handling, riding, and performance
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The 2021 Triumph Bonneville T120 does feel quite heavy to turn into corners. However, handling is quite predictable. So, no real concern there. What is a concern? However, are the footpegs which are pretty low set and have a dog-leg arrangement. They have been designed for comfort and speaking of comfort well so is the seat which is quite spacious. It’s wide, it’s soft, comfortable, and pretty low set at a seat height of just 785 millimeters which means doing the daily grind on the Bonneville T120 should be no problem at all.
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The Bonneville T120’s dual front disk brakes although lacking that slight initial bite provides plenty of braking power. Something you are sure to appreciate whether you’re on city roads or on the highway. But thanks to its extra bit, urban riding does feel a bit cumbersome. However, a highway mileage of 27kpl coupled with a 14 and a half liter fuel tank and very comfortable ergonomics means that you could even take this bunny touring. So, while we love the street twin for its ease of use on city roads, the T120 has a very impressive on wide-open highs.
Bonneville T120 Variants and price
The new 2021 Triumph Bonneville T120 motorcycle comes in four variants or models – T120, T120 Black, T120 Gold Line Edition, and T120 Black Gold Line Edition. All four variants have the specifications and powerhouse. The only difference comes in the color scheme. The price for the T120 starts at Rs. 11.09 lakhs and goes all the way up to Rs. 11.89 lakhs in India. While for the US buyers, the modern classic motorcycle has a starting price of $12,395 for the base model and it goes up to $13,193 for the Black Gold Line variant.
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2021 Triumph Bonneville T120 – Conclusion
Now the 2021 Triumph Bonneville T120 pulls off this modern classic theme really when it looks the part. It’s got a great motor and got a bunch of modern electronics to keep things in check. However, it does miss out on the nimbleness of its smaller sibling and some might find its weight a little intimidating. However, as the bike stands, it works perfectly out on the highway almost like a cruiser which along with its pricing puts it in the firing line of some popular American cruiser motorcycles. So, is this a better option? Well time to give Harley-Davidson a call.
