2016 Triumph Bonneville Range Unveiled
I was whisked off from the airport in a black Jaguar with a man who entertained me with his love for cars for the next hour or so that we took to traverse the famed London traffic to our hotel in Shoreditch.
He had driven cars from a Mini Cooper to a Bugatti Veyron and now was happy to be of service to eclectic clients like me who are equal petrolheads as him.
We had another thing in common. We both started as IT professionals and then took on to cars and bikes.
Britain was my 51st country that I would be setting my foot on. Usually I only count countries as ‘done’ when I do at least 2000 km in them on a motorcycle or a performance car. This would be no different.
While I enjoyed his typical British accent and imagined myself in a black overcoat with a black hat on, in a Sherlock Holmes movie there came a surprisingly relevant revelation from him. His would-be-father used to ride a Triumph Bonneville way back and the first time they met was when he gave his would-be-mother a ride on the bike. So the reason why he existed was because of a Triumph Bonneville. No kidding, I did not make this up!
And that’s how important the Bonneville is for Triumph and for the British motorcycle culture essentially.
And that is why I was called all the way to London from Delhi. For a special press preview of what Triumph calls one of the most important steps forward for their classic motorcycle range, especially the Bonneville.
After enjoying the company of my journalist colleagues from other publications from India at dinner and breakfast we headed out next morning under the typical dark and gloomy London weather that we are used to seeing in serials and movies to a place called The Bike Shed. It was a good 10 minute walk from the hotel and we did it in style without umbrellas and in cold under rain. Triumph surely did give us an authentic London experience and I am not being sarcastic here! If they get Delhi Belly here we should sure get a London Shiver, shouldn’t we!
I loved walking in London, all those frames from movies came alive. The Bike Shed itself was a great place to be, like a Hangar of sorts with a bunker feel – crazy. Have a look at a few of the captures from a walk in Central London on the last page of this article.
There were Triumph motorcycles all around. From customs to the rarest firsts and one of the land speed record build. It skipped my mind to ask for more details on that but here is a picture!
This is essentially how the Triumph Bonneville got its name. From the mecca of land speed records – Bonneville Salt Lake Flats in USA. In 1956 Johnny Allen, a Texan racer took a cigar shaped motorcycle and broke the outright land speed record at 214.7mph, this record held for the next 14 years. Powering this missile inspired design was a Triumph Thunderbird Parallel Twin 650cc which ran on methanol! Thanks to this speed record the new bike with a 650cc heart and a targeted top speed of 120mph, was launched with the name Bonneville in 1959. From there the brand never looked back! I had the privilege of riding a motorcycle for a bit in the famous salt flats in 2011, but not to set a speed record!
What’s in a name? For Triumph, this is perhaps their trump card. From sport icons like David Beckham to movie and music stars like Bob Dylan, Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie – it’s been a riot for them! Beckham recently starred in a short film called ‘Outlaws’, in which he is seen riding a 2016 Bonneville. While Cruise was seen riding a Thruxton in the 2014 movie ‘Edge of Tomorrow’. Jolie rode a Triumph Speed Triple in the movie ‘Salt’ in 2009.
Then there was Steve McQueen who actually shot to fame on a Triumph! Though Steve owned his first Triumph in 1953, the movie ‘The Great Escape’ saw a daring stunt on board a Triumph, which made him a Hollywood legend. To commemorate the special relationship that McQueen shared with Triumph, the motorcycle manufacturer made a special Bonneville T100 Steve McQueen edition motorcycle.
I am not really a classic bike guy, truthfully, but I admit I really want the Thruxton R. It has got an amazing appeal and to me that is what a café racer should look like. The Thruxton R with the race inspiration kit is absolutely out of the world and while it looks supercool, they tell me it’s got enough to go fast around a track if that’s what you want to do. Knowing me I would!
David Beckham on board a Triumph Bonneville in the movie Outlaws
A screen grab from ‘Edge of Tomorrow’, where Tom Cruise is seen riding a Thruxton
Triumph unveiled five motorcycles as part of the 2016 Bonneville range. The 2016 Triumph Bonneville Range consists of the Street Twin, Bonneville T120, and T120 Black, Thruxton and Thruxton R.
The bikes sport a new Bonneville engine which boasts more torque, better power delivery and even sounds better. Each Bonneville also gets a unique chassis, designed from the ground up. And of course all the bikes make a new style statement.
This was a four year project, which started from the ground up, called on an unprecedented scale of design, engineering and manufacturing skills. The result was the next generation of the Bonneville.
The new Bonneville model lineup
The Street Twin is the most contemporary, fun and accessible new Bonneville, powered by an all-new high torque 900cc engine. With its unique character, distinctive sound, stripped-back styling and dynamic riding experience, the new Street Twin is the perfect Bonneville for today’s rider and the perfect starting point for personalisation.
The timeless style and iconic character of the original 1959 model is reborn in the Bonneville T120 and Bonneville T120 Black. Both crafted to the highest standard of detailing, quality and finish, and matched by the capability and performance of a truly modern classic. Powered by the all-new Bonneville 1200cc high torque engine, fed by beautiful, authentically styled, twin throttle bodies.
The new 1200cc Thruxton and Thruxton R are the real deal. With genuine poise, power and performance, they are the ultimate modern classic café racers. Both with beautifully imposing and authentic styling, they have the power, braking, performance and handling to live up to their legendary name.
New Bonneville Engine family
The Bonneville engine family is the new heart of the iconic British twin. With three new engines:
The 900cc high torque engine of the new Street Twin. Delivering a peak torque of 80Nm at 3200 rpm – which is 18% more than the previous generation, delivered low down and across the entire rev range.
The 1200cc high torque engine of the Bonneville T120 and T120 Black. It produces peak torque of 105Nm at a low 3100 rpm – 54% higher than the previous generation T100.
The 1200cc high power ‘Thruxton spec’ engine. With immediate, exciting power delivery and a peak torque figure of 112Nm at 4950 rpm – 62% higher than the previous generation Thruxton.
All this with the instant throttle response of Triumph’s next generation ride-by-wire fuel-injection system, and liquid. In addition, the 1200’s all feature rider modes for enhanced responsiveness and control.
The unmistakable sound of a British twin
Each model has a totally new exhaust system with a unique exhaust note.
More capable
The inclusion of rider-focused technology has been implemented – this includes ABS, traction control, slip assist clutch, ride-by-wire throttle and rider modes (T120, T120 Black, Thruxton R and Thruxton), distinctive LED rear lights on all models and LED DRL headlights on all the 1200s (where legislation allows), USB charging socket and an engine immobiliser.
A completely new, ground up chassis design unique to each motorcycle, incorporates all-new suspension and geometry, so all of the new models deliver stunning handling, stability and neutrality tailored to the style and character of each motorcycle, making them easier to ride for longer. This is particularly true when combined with the light action of the new slip assist clutch.
Accessories
With the launch of the new Bonneville custom accessories range, presenting over 470 new, stylish, high quality accessories, it’s easier to create a ‘riders special’. This includes exhausts from Vance & Hines and custom inspired parts, from mudguard removal kits, to bench seats to name a few.
To make life easier, a set of ‘inspiration’ kits have also been created to use as the starting point for riders to create their own Bonneville custom, or to have fitted by their Triumph dealer as a complete set – from Scramblers and Brat Trackers, to Track racers and Café racers. This includes, for the first time, a full factory Thruxton R Race Performance kit, specifically developed for closed circuit competition.
The 2016 Triumph Bonneville Lineup!
Triumph Bonneville 1959!
The Triumph Thruxton TT Winner of 1967!
