Triumph Thruxton R
As expected, Triumph today announced a new, liquid-cooled Bonneville lineup with 5 new models. Two entirely new engines displace 900cc and 1200cc.
The 900cc twin arrives in the base model Street Twin, while the 1200cc variant has two different states of tune and is featured in the Bonneville T120 and T120 Black and the new Thruxton and Thruxton R (the higher output 1200).
Ride-by-wire throttle and fuel injection system combines with liquid cooling for big increases in performance and fuel economy, according to Triumph. More details are in the following press release:
- Introducing the next generation of the iconic Bonneville – with five exciting new Bonneville motorcycles. From the fun and accessible ridability of the new Street Twin, to the timeless style of the Bonneville T120 and T120 Black through to the Thruxton and Thruxton R, the Triumph racing legend reborn. All with 100% authentic Bonneville character and truly modern capability and performance.
- Powered by an all-new Bonneville engine family built specifically for the modern classic riding style, with more torque, more immediate and exciting power delivery, and a richer sound you can really feel and hear.
- With a new ‘ground up’ chassis and suspension design unique to each Bonneville – delivering stunning handling, comfort and control.
- Each model, a beautiful evolution of the iconic Bonneville styling – tighter and more crafted, with enhanced styling cues faithfully taken from classic Bonneville bikes of the past.
- Named after the salt flats in Utah where Triumph set the motorcycle world land speed record in 1956, Bonneville was THE original British Superbike and a genuine motorcycle icon, recognised the world over.
Triumph Bonneville T120
We are proud to announce the opening of a new chapter in the story of the most famous name and distinctive silhouette in motorcycling: the Triumph Bonneville.
This four year project, that started from the ground up, called on an unprecedented scale of design, engineering and manufacturing skills.
The result – the next generation of the iconic Bonneville. A family of five exciting new motorcycles with 100% authentic Bonneville character, style and presence – all featuring a class-defining level of performance, capability and quality, driven by an all-new Bonneville engine family.
With a dedicated chassis and suspension package for each new model and a carefully integrated package of rider-focused technology for enhanced confidence, control and performance, the new Bonneville family all ride and handle how a class-leading, truly modern classic should.
The new Bonneville model line up
Five all new Bonneville models – all with 100% authentic character, beautifully enhanced styling and truly modern performance.
Triumph Street Twin
The Street Twin is our 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 classy and authentic Bonneville T120 and effortless cool 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.
Built specifically for the modern classic riding style, each new engine delivers more torque, more immediate and exciting power delivery and a richer sound you can really feel and hear.
With three new engines:
Triumph Thruxton R
The 900cc high torque engine of the new Street Twin.
Delivering a massive peak torque figure of 80Nm at a low 3200 rpm – which is an amazing 18% more than the previous generation, delivered low down and across the whole rev range.
The 1200cc high torque engine of the Bonneville T120 and T120 Black.
Built specifically for the modern classic riding style, it produces a massive peak torque figure of 105Nm at a low 3100 rpm – more than 54% higher than the previous generation T100.
The game-changing 1200cc high power ‘Thruxton spec’ engine.
With immediate, exciting power delivery and a massive peak torque figure of 112Nm at 4950 rpm – an amazing 62% higher than the previous generation Thruxton.
All with truly modern capability, including the pinpoint accuracy and instant throttle response of Triumph’s next generation ride-by-wire fuel-injection system, and
liquid cooling that improves fuel economy by an amazing 36% on the Street Twin alone. 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 and a unique exhaust note that matches its character, tuned to a level that you can feel and hear.
Triumph Thruxton
More Beautiful
Designed from original Bonneville lines, more refined, sharper, tighter and crafted, applying styling cues faithfully taken from the classic Bonneville bikes – like the 1968 Bonneville and the 1959 original.
They feature high quality finishes and a striking level of detailing to enhance their iconic looks, such as the beautifully crafted new Monza-style filler cap on the Thruxton.
An innovative approach to sensitively incorporating modern functionality, including the exhaust system on the T120 and T120 Black, which has an authentic and clean straight through design, achieved by an ingenious twin skin design that covers the pipe run, through the cat box under the bike, and out again.
More capable
The inclusion of rider-focused technology has been implemented with care to deliver an engaged and safer ride, without compromising the style or character of the bikes – 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.
Triumph Street Twin
More ways to make your own Bonneville yours
With the launch of our new Bonneville custom accessories range, presenting over 470 new, stylish, high quality accessories, it’s never been easier to create your own special. This includes new exhausts from Vance & Hines and a garage full of custom inspired parts, from mudguard removal kits, to bench seats and beautiful compact bullet indicators to name only a few.
To make it easier, we’ve also created a set of exciting ‘inspiration’ kits 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.
An unparalleled bloodline
Named after the Utah salt flats where a Triumph 650 Twin streamliner,
piloted by Texan racer Johnny Allen, shattered the two-wheel world land speed record in 1956. First produced in 1959, the T120 Triumph Bonneville was the original British superbike and, thanks to its legendary handling, style, character and sheer individuality, it has become a genuine icon to riders the world over.
Our five new Bonneville models draw on the distinguished and unbroken Triumph heritage of performance and style, from the Speed Twin 5T, the original 1937 500cc parallel twin that set the template for British motorcycling, followed by the 1949 Thunderbird 650, famously ridden by Marlon Brando in ‘The Wild One’, to the rip-snorting Tiger T110, the bike that the original 59 Bonneville eclipsed with its new twin carbs and class-leading performance.
The Bonneville played a major part in the creation of modern motorcycle motorsport and was a race winner ‘straight out of the crate’ – from Isle of Man TT wins, to flat track racing, to the International Six Day Trial and the Thruxton 500 series, where the racing Bonneville gained its legendary name.
In its early years, it inspired a sub-culture of teenage rockers and café racers, drawing attention and turning heads at coffee bars and burn-ups all over the country – becoming the ride of choice for stars and celebrities like Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood and Bob Dylan, and again today, chosen by a new generation of customisers and riders looking to own a real icon.
Triumph Bonneville T120 Black
The future of the Bonneville, not a futuristic Bonneville
The interest and appeal of modern classic motorcycles is growing and evolving quickly, with many manufacturers bringing new models onto the market.
From the rider’s perspective, they want beautiful motorcycles with real character and traditional values, combined with contemporary levels of refinement and capability.
Our new Bonneville family takes the legendary story to the next chapter – with a major injection of performance, and real riding capability, without losing the original character of the iconic Bonneville, and without becoming a techno reinvention with just a styling nod to the past.
They are what our customers have asked for and what the next generation of Bonneville should be – more beautiful, more powerful and more capable.
With all of the character and style of the iconic original, and the power, performance and capabilities modern riding demands, the new Bonneville family takes the legend into the 21st century.
Bonneville. Reborn.
See more of MD’s great photography:
Imagine the uproar if Harley suddenly slapped radiators on all of the Sportster models. Not much uproar here. I guess the modern Triumph rider is not as tradionalist as some others. They used to be. Styling points to Triumph for keeping the radiator as discreet as possible. Harley likes to encase them in molding making them look bigger.
Well, I counted a mere eight uses of “iconic” in the above article … about par for the course these days.
Are the shortage of local or close by dealers always a major concern? Other than the initial purchase convenience, I never once took my 1967 or 1971 Norton back to the original new purchase dealers as I moved often back in those days. Guess I was not too concerned either about warranty issues. The bikes never had significant faults and nothing fell off. I did the basic maintenance myself. Seems most any motorcycle shop was able to replace a worn tire but I changed some as well. I replaced some chains. I put over 27,000 miles on the Triumph TR-6 and sold it to a close friend who continued to ride it for many miles and years. The Norton Commando (a real torque machine) was sold sometime in mid 1980’s just before my taking an overseas job. I forgot the mileage figure but I drove it quite a bit over the 14 years I had it. No significant issues with either bike and not much oil drips either especially with the Norton. Yes the Triumph vibrated a bit but not a problem at legal highway speeds. A few light bulb replacements and valve adjustments that were easy to manage myself. A leaky fuel tank valve on the Norton that I fixed. After the Brit bikes I had a used Suzuki GS-1000 and a Honda SL-250; again no dealer visits required. Lucky?
Aren’t these new generation bikes supposed to be much more reliable?
Not everyone is so lucky. My son bought an Italian bike that has been getting a lot of good press lately. The nearest dealer was in the next state 120 miles away. First problem was an electrical shortage that stopped the bike. We had to trailer it down, leave it, go back a couple weeks later after they put a warranty wiring part on it and pick it up and bring it home. Then it developed an oil leak. Load it up take it to the dealer, leave it, they put an oring in it, go back a couple weeks later and pick it up. Then the transmission locked up. Load it on the trailer, take it down and leave it a couple weeks and then back and trailer it home. First 6 months and less than 6000 miles 3 trips to the dealer on a trailer, 3 more trips to pick it up, and he doesnt have his bike for a month and a half during prime riding season. Now not everyone is so unlucky, but it would have been nice if the dealer network was large enough to have a local dealer within 25 miles or so. We live in a major city with pro baseball and football teams an orchestra, giant theme park, home to volley ball and tennis tourneys yet we dont have BMW, KTM or Ducati dealer. Hard to believe his bike is less reliable than a 60’s Norton, but it’s the truth. Dealers nearby can come in very handy.
Great point about the sl 250 and the GS 1000, simple and easy to fix, But these bikes now have anti lock brakes/traction control/cruise control/fuel injection/on board GPS and the dreaded FI light. Having a dealer close to home is a must for today’s motorcycle owner. Only a dealer can fix or at least have the software to fix or to determine what is the problem. Go tell your dealer how important he is to you and thank him for putting up with the BS from some OEM [Triumph},
What’s next for new generation motorcycles (or is it already current?) Possibly TPMS – Tire pressure monitoring systems? All newer cars from 2007 apparently have them and it’s the law. Another trouble lamp in the digital display. I just bought a set of 4 @ $30 each for my 2010 car’s spare winter tires and rims. Battery life good for maybe 5 years? Battery cannot be replaced. Progress in a way but at a cost. Some are happy to have this feature, many others wonder how they drove so many years without an issue.
Some bikes do have TPMS.
I’ve had four autos so far with TPMS, three of which I kept long enough to have the battery in at least one sensor quit. They each went about 7 years. I like the feature. My Infiniti would tell me the pressure in each tire which I found very useful as you could see if one tire was trending down (implying that something was causing a leak.)
I’d consider it a useful feature on motorcycles as well.
I’ve put 49,000 miles on my 1999 Triumph LegendTT and the nearest dealer was 70 miles away. No mechanical problems at all. These new generation Triumphs are as reliable as any bike made.
As a cpmpetitor in the retro market, Triumph was really strong. These will only bolster their position in that market. Seeing as how the retros make up 50 % of their business in the U.S. Updating a tired line was imperative. Afterall their original Bonnie came out in 1999 with very little upgrades since. This is a serious upgrade. Well done Triumph.
I like the seat line, I don’t care for the black motors, the Amal monobloc-looking EFI looks affected, and the mag wheels give the bikes a heavy look. I think Triumph blew it. Kawasaki should bring out the W800.
I own a W650 and would love to have a W800,these new triumph’s are ugly and heavy and have a shrinking dealer network because the Brits are hard to do business with if you are a dealer
My local dealer just dumped Triumph,and he’s been a Triumph dealer since the beginning.He hates Triumph corporate and their mandated bullshit.He sells a few Triumph women’s jackets a year.Triumph just sent him 5 pink lady leather jackets by corporate mandate.He has no choice in the matter,oh right,yes he does.He gave them the boot.
My local dealer said stick it where the sun don’t shine to Triumph, pray for Triumph dealers because the dealer is under Triumph’s control. You know what happens when you drink enough cool aid you die. If the dealers were to stick together and say hell no they would stop this business model. My dealer hates the brand with a passion and I now know what kind of brand they are. A socialist company. People don’t buy that shit.
Thats comedy gold right there!!!!
This isn’t the first time you’ve made the utterly ridiculous statement that Triumph is a “socialist company”. Socialism is a political ideology not a business model.
As of yet I have not found wight or HP figures for the Thruxton R. The UK website is publishing 120nm, that is 88ft-lbs. I am going out on a limb and guessing it is a little portly at about 530lbs wet (mostly because of the steel frame and huge engine), and around 100hp at the crank.
I am also going to guess that it will be 1200 Griso like in the corners, meaning it will be rock stable and predictable given its weight.
Damn nice motorcycle. It won’t have much of a top end, but that it not what is designed for.
If it has 88 lb-ft of torque and is able to keep that up’til a 7,000 RPM rev limiter then it makes 117 hp.
The press release above claims 105Nm which is 77 ft-lb, and it can only keep that up to 3100 RPM. This and a 7k rev limiter means less than 100 horse.
And that’s not much for a 1200. A GSXR1000 makes more torque than this 1200 Triumph. It’s still a nice design but it’s almost starting to seem like a characterization of a motorcycle.
That is the “high torque” version of the engine. The Thruxton comes with the “high power” variant which rings in 112 nm @ 4950 according to the above press release. Still, that means it is pretty unlikely to produce more than 100hp if it redlines at 7K.
So the “high torque” version has less torque between the two…
I know. Plenty of irony to go around with this new Bonnie. From the lower-torque “High Torque” engine to that classic 270° British twin exhaust note.
I’ve revisited this article a couple of times and I must say that to my eye these Triumphs are starting to look very dated. Dated enough that unless I was a real Triumph nut I would most likely pass them by. This all depends on how strong the retro market is and how long it lasts? I’m ready for Triumph to move forward and start producing some advanced designs. Is there a market for that?
Really? I think they look great and hope the reviews are very positive.Absolutely love the ThruxtenR with fairing and two-tone blue/white paint.
I have nothing against Triumph in the slightest. I’d even love to see BSA back in the game if it were possible. I just hope for their sake there’s enough interest in their designs to keep them going. I guess these just didn’t pop for me.
But do you like it a 14,500 dollars, wait 18 months and they will be cheaper, dealers will be closing or dropping the brand. Triumph makes some duds that set around for years
I haven’t heard of any more Triumph dealers folding or dropping the line than any other brand. What makes you think the closing of your local dealer is somehow systemic? The Triumph dealers around here are the same ones that existed before the recession, and Triumphs are an important part of each one’s business. Triumph’s US business is growing by double digits, so your predictions seem driven more by emotion than any empirical evidence.
It is happening, dealers dropping the brand. Maybe not in your area but it is happening. Do a state by state search and some states don’t have a dealer that had a dealer last year. Stay safe and don’t buy a British bike
Yes,even at $14,500 I do like it although the T120 will probably be my ultimate choice just so I can take my wife with me
There are always the Street Triple and Speed Triple!
Look at the Kawasaki z800 or gsx-s750, quality product with lots of dealers to get it serviced , don’t buy a ragged a$$ Triumph, that stuff is ugly, and a shrinking dealer network
Don’t hold back, tell us how you really feel about Triumph (for the 10th time this thread). What, did someone with an English accent poop in your mess kit in the service, or are you a Hyosung dealer? Sheesh (blimey).
I’ve never owned a Triumph, but given the right balance of machine, price, and dealer, would consider it. I think these new Bonnie iterations are a definite (styling) improvement over anything that the (modern) Triumph company has offered yet, I would like to see all of them in person.
Those things looks heavy. Not a BSA/
Yeah, they should call in the Italians so they can paint every model red and hardly tell the difference from one model to the next, silly Triumph!
This is a bit like stepping into the twilight zone. I gasped with shock at the T120 Bonneville, seeing the 1968 Trophy I had a test ride on (rejecting it because it left an oil puddle on my left boot). This is just pure motorcycling perfection, just the most beautiful thing ever made. And to think it has a modern, water-cooled 1,200cc twin engine, modern levels of handling and suspension, as well. I barely glanced at the others, though the Speed Twin looks like fun. I can’t say I even noticed the tank seam – it made little impact.
The point is, as an emotional object, the new T120 has hit the mark fair and square. Probably as a motorcycle as well. But this is something you can park in your garage as simply stare at for prolonged periods of time. If only they ride as well as they look.
So many motorcycle manufacturers have visible seams on their fuel tanks and I suppose most buyers don’t have any concerns. Maybe its a cost saving measure? My old 1967 Triumph TR-6 had its seam right down the middle of its tank with a covering to make it look reasonably okay – still a seam though. The perfect look in my opinion would be a seamless tank. One other more minor point is the rear shocks which have exposed springs rather than full covers.
I think the covered shocks on the original Triumphs looked better. I’d also like to see more paint color options on the fuel tanks. Personally I don’t really care for the all or mostly black look but Triumph marketing must have thought there is enough buyer demand.
I’d also like to see a T120 option with up-swept megaphone style pipes like those on their other models. My old 1971 Norton Commando had them and they were very impressive looking – nice sound too. Overall I like Triumph’s efforts to recreate these classic styled bikes. I’m hoping they will make some changes in the future to improve a few (in my opinion) minor mostly cosmetic shortcomings.
The Thruxton ‘cafe racer look’ is visually appealing but low bars can be awkward for some folks especially during low speed maneuvering; rather tiring on one’s arms and back (my experience anyway).
Would love to see dyno results for these bikes!
Gee, not so good. Triumph should call in the Italians.
Why would Triumph aim at “100% authentic Bonneville character, style and presence” and then give us the large, accentuated tank seam? When the original new Bonneville Classics came out, and for several years thereafter, the tank seam was a big issue. This is not new. Most people didn’t like it because several other real classics – Harleys, Guzzis, Ducatis Enfields – do not have large, elongated tank seams as intentional, prominent styling elements. They all have rounded, finished tanks. The original Bonnevilles, ’59 – ’83, certainly had rounded, finished tanks. The seam is prominent and unattractive and not classic and most people do not care for it.
Could someone with the ear of Triumph please ask as to why it insists on the tank seam? To me it just ruins the whole retro look of the bike.
Centerstand, heated grips, cruise control. Beautiful. Seeya Norton. I’m sure Peter Egan already has his order in. Kudos.
Where’s the Scrambler?
Yeah, they need to make one with a beak!
Ok..I WANT one!! A Thruxton R that is. Have you had a chance to see the half fairing on the Triumph website..Damn!!! Gotta have one. Nicest alternative platform I have seen in a long time. Don’t get me wrong, I lust after a KTPM 1290 Superduke, and have many happy miles with the BMW 1200RT’s, and have sampled 40+ motorcycles over my 45+ years of riding. But this new Thriumph rings that bell I have not heard for a long time. Classic looks, and you know that twin with absolutely THUMP. The setup looks competent with upscale parts and a big thought towards accessories. Want one!!
I sat on a Thruxton once. 2 minutes was enough to know that I’d not want to repeat that and certainly not ride it for any length of time.
Looked great, sounded great, felt horrible. YMMV of course 🙂
They look nice enough. The Thruxton reminds me of the discontinued Ducati Sportclassics more than older Bonnies. At a size of 1200cc I would have preferred they made it air cooled. These engines, at least in the pics, just look like nondescript piles compared to the beauty powering the CB1100. Bonnies, for whatever reason, seem to outsell the Honda, however, so what do I know…
So you still have to remove the mufflers to take off the back tire on the T120?
That’s a deal breaker for me. However, my eyes are wide open looking at that beautiful Thruxton! Wow!
The Thruxton R really hits the styling cues, and the street version looks good too. Unfortunately, even though these are bumped to 1200, I suspect the same issues that were a problem with the previous design remain – still underpowered and too heavy. A 7,000 rpm redline? WTF?
Why are these things so ugly? I mean I’m glad that Triumph makes a good solid comfortable bike, but why not just buy a Street Triple? That’s a good looking bike if you want a stand from Triumph. Better yet, why not get one of those new GSXS1000’s from Suzuki? Those things are miles better looking than these antiquated piles of crap.
Hey antiquated pies of crap sell big in some places!!!
Amen Benjamin, piles of crap they are. Thruxton r is 14,500 dollars, Suzuki GSXS1000 thousands of dollars less== 9999.00. For 14,500 you could have a TU 250 and a Gsxs1000.
You seem to still be freaking out over your local Triumph dealer closing.
Hey, tomorrow’s a new day. Life is good.
Yep Ken, I will always despise the company but like the product and I will never buy a Triumph again.
>>why not get one of those new GSXS1000’s from Suzuki? Those things are miles better looking than these antiquated piles of crap.<<
What? you can't be serious. better get your eyes check before you ride your motorcycle!
I remember when I thought 750cc was the upper limit for engine size anyone would require. Now the cruiser market has several engines above 1700cc and here come Triumph with a 1200cc retro sport/café. I’m impressed and they look sexy too.
If you mention “authentic” one more time…..
The Street Twin is the cleanest, most sano production bike I have seen in decades. Semi-custom clean. We’ll see if Triumph can get them out to dealers. The dealer in my area never has any stock.
“The dealer in my area never has any stock.”
My local Triumph dealer was easily able to get new bikes – like mine, 4 years ago – transferred from other dealers.
I think Yeller has a point.
The previous Bonneville (not the T-100) had a confused look to it. This Street Twin looks great. They did an excellent job of adding the radiator…
I like the idea of the Thruxton R in Silver….maybe in 3 years I’ll find a garage queen that was loved and not ridden much that I can buy in the off season for a steal…
Looking forward to the ride reviews and comparos!
If it’s anything like the Ducati Sport Classics you’ll be lucky to pay the original MSRP for a used one.
I’ve ridden it….left me seriously wanting.
The difference will be on the “Supply” side of the curve.
There will be an ample supply. Because Bonny’s attract buyers that don’t know they aren’t riders…then they languish in the garage, and then I pick them up off season.
It’s my Modus Operandi…
I could easily picture myself on any of these; they very tasteful retro. I like the street twin and the black T120 personally but wouldn’t kick any of them out of bed. Way to go Triumph on doing it right.
The unmistakable sound of a British twin”
So these new models have a 360 degree crank.
Must be one hell of a counter balancer in that 1200 motor.
AFAIK all the new production modern classics line will have 270 degree cranks.
Now that red Street Twin is a nice looking bike right there, I don’t care who you are.
I’m singing like Figaro and outlining where one of those babies will sleep in my garage.
If I didn’t live in a 3rd floor apartment, a Street Twin would be taking a prominent place in my living room (but the carport will have to do).
I took at T100 off the stand last year when I was looking around at bikes. So top heavy. I actually like the look of the Triumph street twin. If it is POWER I am really looking for, there are lots of powerful motors out there. The FZ09 has a plenty honking good motor in it. Thruxton R looks nice. More power would not be a bad thing on the highway. All said and done, worth a look. Good job Triumph.
Clean understated designs, and more buyer choices. Nice..
Fantastic. The Thruxton R is a work of art. Great blend of the old and the new. This one should survive the test of time. Superb.
I’m bike poor right now, but, these bikes make it hard to stop now. I was hoping to see some news of weight reduction or at least how much these improvements added to the weight. I,(like most older riders,54) are gonna have to start paying attention to bike weights as we still have to move them around with the engine off. I hope they still have the air coolers available for a while.
The Street Twin is the only one I really like the look of. The others are too retro for my tastes – I prefer my retro from the period when I was graduation to street bikes, the late 70s and early 80s. The Thruxton is just silly, IMO – gold USD forks on such a retro looking bike. Not my cup of tea.
But as I say, I do like the look of the Street Twin, although I suspect it has been built with a certain audience in mind, judging by what appears to be a lowered seat, and maybe a little too much to a lower price point.
Jason says: The Honda CB1100 is a direct competitor for the Triumph T120
>>>>>>
The new CB1100 was decades late to the market and only link to sport/cafe bikes of ole was it had two tires. Sad and disappointing at best.
As far as the CB1100 being a direct competitor to the Triumph T120 both these bike miss mark on cafe bikes built in the 50s and 60s. You want a mundane style bike that has no historical cafe reference….the Honda CB1100 is the clear winner….. a step up would be the T120.
You actually want the look of cafe look everyone wanted in the ole days….the Triumph Thruxton R = that look = the dream bike for all of us left that were deep into “riding the ride” back then on cafe styled bikes we had to build ourselves or buy a roadracer that had the look and convert it back to a street bike.
Of course the rebuttal could be…who gives a crap about what cafe bikes looked like in the 50s/60s anyway?
My reply ….the factories making “cafe/retro” styled bikes now do and we all should be thankful for the current cafe style bikes now, yet let’s appreciate Triumphs long overdue efforts to finally get there, get it right with the new Triumph Thruxton R.
Grrrrr….if I was just 2 weeks younger….I would take off after typing this and drive days to just test ride the Triumph Thruxton R.
Thanks for your reply
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
teelee says: And you can bet it will be a better bike, cost less to own. It being the honda will be a better bike and cost less to own
>>>>>>
My reply: Cafe styled bikes are not about costing less….you want low cost with a sporty look consider one of the many motor scooters with sport bike styling cues…. plus get a couch for a seat!!!.
Cafe style bikes today are for owners that like the look and will be proud of owning a bike with that unique look from the past….yet modern in all respects.
You want a bet…here is what I will bet. You on the Honda CB1100…me on the Triumph Triumph Thruxton R or Bonneville T120 and we give it a go for 5 laps or so at the track.
NEWSFLASH: Dirck has agreed to provide a CB1100, Triumph Thruxton R and Bonneville T120 bikes for us, plus cover track time costs and will also provide weight belts so we both of us have the same poundage.
Heck ….I am only 71 years old and never owned a fast cafe styled bike back then (one is true)! No prizes for being cheaper to own…. though I would like to see you provide a link to data on the Honda CB1100 being less expensive to own vs these Triumphs!
My guess is the Honda is less expensive to own, but not by much. No way I would be riding around on the cookie cutter bland CB1100…. while all along wanting that look….every mile, year after year of the Triumph Thruxton R….no way! Life is too short…esp when one/me is 71!!!
Thanks for your reply.
I owned a leaky 79 Bonni back in the 90’s. It was a fun machine and I have always taken interest in the Hinckley versions. I rode a modern Tri-Scrambler and was not impressed with the motor. It was down on power and heavy. The new Thruxton R with its nod toward the Norton tank and the optional fairing is a gorgeous look of pure nostalgia. I look forward to reports on its power delivery and if it can deliver 2nd gear power wheelies.
Agree totally.
I test rode a new Bonneville a few years back and found it to be the perfect bike for beginners….step down from the Bonnevilles of the late 50s though mid 60s
Now with a 1200cc engine….that should change everything.
Time will tell, but we all should give Triumph credit on the new Bonneville and esp the Thruxton R
I’ve always liked them, but like you I just wasn’t impressed with the riding experience. Slow, heavy, crappy brakes and horrible suspension. Fine for a beginner, someone looking to nostalgically reconnect with a simpler past or for someone who just wants a bike to poke around on, but definitely a let down for anyone hoping to connect with the spirit of what the Bonneville once represented. The new Thruxton will be heavy, but at least it sounds like it will be exciting and somewhat sporty.
The spirit of the old Bonneville is the current Daytona 675 surely??
Can’t argue with that.
I don’t know, I’ve ridden an old Bonneville and a Street Triple. If have to day they are miles apart. The old Bonneville is more like a Sportster with more rear suspension and just as slow. If the last bike you rode was in the early seventies, hopping on the new Bonnie would seem like a major improvement – except for the rev limiter that is set rediculously low.
I think his point was that the original Bonnie was designed as a serious sporting machine in its day. Same as the Daytona 675 is today.
Nice! Well done, Triumph!
Does it run on Pad Thai? Triumph is making most of its bikes in Thailand. The bike looks great but just not a fan of the company and the way they do business.
I am with you Moto jase, I despise the company and the way they treat the dealers I would never buy there product again until there business model changes, I own a Bonneville and it will be my last UK product[Thailand] ever.
Honda makes stuff in Thailand too. They seem to be doing just fine. In fact, Triumph seems to be doing just fine as well.
Thailand is the country of choice for many manufactures, Ducati, Triumph, Honda, Kawasaki etc…
I have owned a Kawasaki that was manufactured in Thailand and the fit and finish was superb.
Would you mind elaborating about the business model/ethics of Triumphyou mentioned?
I see a little Norton wannabe in that Thruxton tank. I’m fine with that.
I was thinking the new Thruxton will pretty much end the viability of the “New Norton” that we all lusted for when it released.
I’m glad to hear of the 270* cranks. It’s simply a superior way to build the engine. Some traditions aren’t worth sustaining.
Actually, the Thruxton tank copies the UK market Bonnevilles from Meriden in the ’70s. I put a tank like that on my ’78 Bonnie. New Thruxton looks great, all of these do.
Nicely done, but the articles says “The unmistakable sound of a British twin”. From a 270º crank? Not hardly. That unmistakeable sound comes from the 360-ºcrank. Triumph should have kept it.
Bob
And it’s not quite British either, is it.
Are they all 270° now? I didn’t read that. Only the cruiser and the Scrambler were 270° in the old lineup.
Yup, all 270 º cranks now, dammit. Has the “unmistakeable sound of an Italian 90º V-twin”.
Agree…..I think everyone liked the Triumph twin exhaust note back then….except HD owners of course
Sidebar: My first bike was a 1954 Triumph T100 that had 3 million miles and cost me $285 in 1958 or so…it had that wonderful exhaust note which was a big selling point for me.
Sadly, the somewhat low purchase price and great exhaust note was offset by cost of oil lost via leaks which averaged a quart a week no matter if this bike was ridden or not!!!
My dad fixed all this with various gasket materials brought home from the dragline. Result: First Triumph ever not to leak oil ….plus still had that great exhaust note. Almost as good as it got in 1958 or so for a kid!
Thanks for your post.
Mike says Sidebar: My first bike was a 1954 Triumph T100 that had 3 million miles
I’m sure you meant 30,000 miles right? If you rode 100,000 miles per year it would take 30 years to rack up 3 million miles. But you say you bought it in 1958 when the bike was only 4 years old so that would work out to 750,000 miles per year for 4 years straight.
something doesn’t add up
mickey says:
October 29, 2015 at 9:58 am
Mike says Sidebar: My first bike was a 1954 Triumph T100 that had 3 million miles
I’m sure you meant 30,000 miles right? If you rode 100,000 miles per year it would take 30 years to rack up 3 million miles. But you say you bought it in 1958 when the bike was only 4 years old so that would work out to 750,000 miles per year for 4 years straight.
something doesn’t add up
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
My Reply
Mick…it had the 3 million miles when I bought it…come to think about it you you are right 273.9725 miles per day, everyday for 30 years is amazing.
In retrospect I should have got his story back then on how he did it….then wrote book how he did it….and made billions/$
I would have bought Triumph long ago thus ensuring the new bikes in this article would certainly have been in production 10-15 years earlier…count on that….almost
Thx for your post
Or 2054.8 miles everyday for 4 years to get 3 million. Yeah right.
Zuki says:Or 2054.8 miles everyday for 4 years to get 3 million. Yeah right.
>>>>>>
Good catch….you are right on the math.
Redo on my reply:
In retrospect I should have got his story back then on how he did rode 2054.8 miles per day every day for four years….then wrote book how he did it….and made EVEN MORE billions/$
Fully modern implementation of classic styling done right.
First impression is Great! The styling captures much more of the originals look than the present generation. Let’s hope they recapture the sound too. The deep growl was as appealing as the looks. Decent handling suspension at the speeds these bikes will operate at should not be an expensive component, just a carefully designed one. Now all they have to do is come in at a reasonable weight.
I love the lines of these new Triumphs. I have always thought they were pretty, but I have not been impressed with quality, fit and finish, performance, etc. I would love to see them succeed with this new line of Bonnies, hopefully they have improved in the quality area. Street twin in a 1200cc version would be cool too.
Me, being a older guy that grew up started riding early 80’s Suzuki GS’s looked at these bikes and said, “Think i will be going to the IMS this year to sit on some Triumphs!!”
Two things that just don’t look right though, are the bench seats……too thin looking and the radiator just doesn’t look right. Taper it so its shaped the same as the downtubes.
First thing I would do is replace the fenders on that silver Thruxton w/ stainless steel to give it that true 70’s look. Second thing would be to move the Guzzi’s over and make more room in the garage.
Well done, Triumph!!
They didn’t mention the America. The 1200 engine would go nicely in an America. With a 5 gallon gas tank it would be a better choice than the Indian Scout. I will take mine with the tour package: windshield, foot boards, bags, passenger backrest and rack.
As for the Bonnevilles in this article, I want adjustible pegs. I like mine set a bit forward.
Very nice. I am very impressed with the job they have done in keeping the water cooling subtle. I might have to make room for a Thruxton R in the garage some day. They can sure make some glorious noises with the proper tuning and farkles!
Beautiful bikes. Not a ride by wire fan, so I’ll wait a year to make sure no one dies from system failure.
Couldn’t a cable and return spring also suffer a “system failure”?
Absolutely. ‘Course it’s always a good idea to inspect those things periodically. How does one eyeball ride by wire?
There will be an app for that…sign of the times.
Tom……Yes indeed you are correct…
>>>>>>
Early 60s….young kid riding a BSA Goldstar Road Racer on the street = reaching redline in 4th on a straight.
Throttle cable breaks and throttle sticks wide open!!!
This bike had no ignition switch of any type…no way to shut the bike off!
Death was approaching …
>>>>>>
Pulled rag out from cavity in back of tank….stuffed it in the 1.5″ GP carb which had no air cleaner. Lived!!!
Ha! Way to keep your cool there!
Ahhhhhhh…..it still was not over. I still had to get home which was 40 miles away.
Throttle cable separated inside the twist grip assembly so I cut the outside rubber part of the cable back 10″ or so and taped the cable wire to outside of the twist grip. Made it home somehow
>>>>>>
After reading your reply….a few other options that I thought about in those 20 seconds before dying!
1. Just jump off the bike! Rejected in .158 seconds as speed was 80+ mph and the fall most likely would have killed me ….plus destroyed the Goldie.
3. Shut the fuel petcock. Rejected in .124 seconds as fuel still in the carb would have kept the bike running too long for the remaining road left.
3. Pull the clutch in and hope somehow I could pull the plug wire cap off before the engine blew up. Rejected in 1.63 seconds….too complicated
4. Last idea and resort was stuffing that rag down the carb.
You nave any other ideas…..
Did they loose any weight?
Sorry – lose
100% authentic carb and cooling fin simulation
the fins are functional
Wow! Like another poster said, they really are authentic. I can’t help but wonder if the tank seam is authentic. Or those itsy bitsy 17″ rims.
Other than that, I love it.
The new engines look much better, especially those wiith the nickle or silver finish. They’re stil a little bulky compared to the originals, but they’re bigger, so I guess that’s the trade off. In any event, they look much better than the earlier verions. I do believe Triumph will sell a lot of these
If you hide the engine on the Thruxton photo with your thumb, It looks just like a Ducati Scrambler.
Just sayin’ . . . . . . .
I hid the Thruxton engine as you suggested …..and it looks like the best of the best cafe bikes ever made in the 50s and 60s ….and neither look anything like the new Ducati Scrambler.
Time for new glases!
They finally took the damn “Kink” out of the pipes!! Not too sure how authentic a Bonnie is with 2X the original displacement and significantly more weight. Still, they look good.
Where is the scrambler?
The Scrambler returns as a carryover model.
Went to the Triumph USA site and they show a two-tone T120,looks pretty nice.I’m in the market for a commuter,weekend 2-up tourer.
If the seat and rear shocks are up to the task this may be the one!
BOOM! Real motorcycles.
Will sell like hot-cakes. Nice work Triumph.
Just one thing – did someone forget to put the BEAKS on? I don’t see any beaks..
Sell like hotcakes? I’ve heard that before.
Those are nice looking bikes. Good job, Triumph. The US versions will come with ft/lbs as standard equipment in stead of the Euro-spec nms, right?
100% authentic!!! That’s what i call “sweating the details”. Many manufacturers would settle for 87% authentic – some, reaching 97% authentic would just call it a day, But Triumph only rested when 100% authentic was reached!!! and I’ll guess the authento meter was pinned!!!! wow
How authentic is that radiator, water pump, and hoses?
Why, 100% authentic of course. Seems like irony has escaped you.
Tom R says:October 28, 2015 at 6:18 pm
How authentic is that radiator, water pump, and hoses?
>>>>>
Small taters….I am far more concerned about how authentic on what appears to be…. invisible tire valve stem caps are!!!
Ruins everything for me!!!
Meh, I figure a Triumph made by Triumph is a 100% authentic Triumph. I would agree it is not 100% old or 100% likely to leak oil all over your garage or 100% likely to leave you stranded, and that works just fine for me.
Street Twin and Thruxton are both home runs; they are now in the running for my next bike.
That is, IF they actually deliver on the promise of more HP, and if they’ve shaken some of the boat-anchor weight of the previous generation.
Being a Triumph lover and an “old guy” I’m really loving the new line. Especially that Street Twin!
Pretty nice job in T120 remodeling. Particularly like the new engine covers, the chrome air cleaner cover and the finned clamps on the exhaust . The peashooter part of the exhaust is still too marrow, the original peashooters were bigger at front than back, but they finally took the kink out. If these are as quiet as the ones on my 03 were mufflers will probably be the new owners first purchase. Bend of the head pipes still isn’t quite right but better than the previous model. I enjoyed my Bonnie a lot but it needed more power and better brakes and it looks as if those issues have been addressed, plus some pleasant restyling. Good job Triumph.
That “kink” in the header where it joins the muffler was disgusting. My guess is a Triumph designer got a big tine bonus for that ….for me it was a deal killer.
Praying that another Triumph signature feature will be gone forever in these new bikes….. massive discoloration of first 3 to 4 inches of the exhaust header.
Yet this was amazing in one terrrrrible way….no two Triumph twins ever shared that same cheap look and as an added bonus…. multiple header colors in this area paired with degraded chrome.
>>>>>>
The new Bonnie I test rode maybe 5 plus years ago was so smooth, quiet and precise but sadly without any of the character and thrill to ride associated with the 1960s Bonnevilles.
Hopefully the new 1200s will take care of all this.
Have to see them in person. I think the proportions look a bit more balanced than the last versions and understand the switch to liquid cooling was inevitable. Hopefully they have done something about the weight thought my guess is they are even heavier. Visually they hit all the buttons but functionally not sure how the new Thruxton gives me anything more than my old 2003 Speed Triple. Regardless I see Truimph selling a ton of these.
The old ones look better, water cooling on a Bonneville just a’int right, either way don’t buy this brand because of a shrinking dealer network. You buy one and Triumph closes your dealer because the dealer want kiss there a$$. Go buy a Honda or Kawasaki, those companies are good to there dealers.
“Go buy a Honda or Kawasaki, those companies are good to there dealers.”
They are good companies, but they don’t make anything like these bikes for the States.
The Honda CB1100 is a direct competitor for the Triumph T120
And you can bet it will be a better bike, cost less to own
It being the honda will be a better bike and cost less to own
Very true. The CB1000 was so forgettable that I just forgot about it.
Shame on you Jeremy..shame lol
I’ve been looking hard at the CB1100 to satisfy my desire for a classic/retro/heritage. 2014’s are lying around with big discounts and I like the inline 4. What’s kept me from buying is not being able to choose body styles & upgrade bits like what Triumph will be offering with these 2016’s. I hope Triumph’s huge sales success with this lineup will encourage the Japanese brands to produce more classics, but with a real performance edge. I’m looking at you CB900R!!!
and actually I think the Triumph will be on more level ground with this retro in comparison to the CB1100. Before the CB had more CC’s,more power and better brakes. I’d venture to say the new T120 will have equal braking to the CB1100 and actually have more CCs and a bit more power. I know from reading scoop articles in the past Triumph was aiming for over 100 hp on the new Bonnies, which would give it about a 10% hp advantage over the CB.
Oh yeah, 100 hp and those aesthetics will do just fine for me.
Sidenote: I bet Yamaha will now bring the XJR1300 to American shores.
True about not making bikes like Bonnevilles, i own a W650 and a 2009 Bonneville and i need a dealer close to home, I sold my Tiger because of lots of electronics and no dealer to fix it. My next bike a V-Strom or Versys because of the sheer number of dealers to fix them
Triumoh was oversaturated with dealers in my area and are now down to a more reasonable level given their market share and the realities of new bike sales vs. ten or so years ago when it seemed like Triumph dealers were popping up on every corner.
Beautiful machines, for sure. I just hope there are enough old guys and hipsters around to make these the success they deserve to be. Count me in the “old guys” category. I’d love to have a new Thruxton.
I, too, am an old guy – and have had as many complements about my Bonneville over the last 4 years from young guys as old. It’s about good, timeless design, not stereotypes.
“It’s about good, timeless design, not stereotypes.”
Bingo!
Another old guy here, I’ve observed the same with my CB-1100, young people compliment the bike all of the time. Everyone appreciates good design.
Could not agree more. Beautiful design on the new Thruxton R. With the fairing as an accessory, it Looks a lot like the Ducati Paul Smart. One of my favorites. Good job Triumph.
KenHoward says: It’s about good, timeless design, not stereotypes.
>>>>>
Your hired!!!
They look really great. Well done Triumph. Now how about the nitty gritty: Price, horsepower, weight… and when I can swing a leg over at the dealership?
How awesome! This must surely be the best attempt ever at hiding cats and water-cooled plumbing. These are going to be a massive success. The new Thruxton reminds me a bit of the Ducati GT1000.
Wow, those look just like motorcycles to me. Should sell very well. Finally the engine looks like what the Triumph Turner twin could have evolved into.
I’ve never been “wow a Bonnie” guy; but this bikes are beautiful!!, kudos to Triumph
Hopefully they addressed the weight issue of previous Bonnevilles.
I’ll bet my wallet that they’ve addressed the weight issue by making them even heavier. Liquid cooling, larger engines with higher output, so a heavier chassis to compensate, heavier, beefier fork/brake components.
I look at them, and they “about 540 lbs. wet” to me. 20 more lbs. on the engine, 10 on the chassis, 5 on the radiator/cooling, and 5 on the braking/suspension components, with no obvious concessions to save any weight. The current model is just a bit over 500 lbs. wet.
Seems awfully close in overall capacity, size, and weight to the old ZRX.
I guess the trend toward liquid-cooling is inevitable, but the 3/4 front view looks to me like a radiator with a motorcycle attached to it….just sayin’.
This! Surprised all the praise heaped on these bikes so far for what is a ugly liquid cooled setup. Unavoidable as the rad needs to go someplace but no thanks…
Great looking machines. I look forward to throwing a leg over the “high power” version of the 1200 Thruxton. Some pretty serious brake and suspension bits on the R version. I wonder if the frame is actually good enough to take advantage of them.