Triumph Bonneville
Four-stroke parallel twin | |
Transmission | 4-speed (later 5-speed & 6-speed) |
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The Triumph Bonneville is a standard motorcycle featuring a parallel-twin four-stroke engine and manufactured in three generations over three separate production runs.
The first two generations, by the defunct Triumph Engineering in Meriden, West Midlands, England, were 1959–1983 and 1985–1988.
The third series, by Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley, Leicestershire, began in 2001 and continues to the present as a completely new design that strongly resembles the original series.
The name Bonneville derives from the famous
Development history
T120 Bonneville
The original Triumph Bonneville was a 650 cc
T140 Bonneville
The 650 cc T120 Bonneville, was joined in 1973 by the T140 Bonneville, the same basic machine but with a 750 cc engine. Designated T140V, the new Bonneville featured a larger-capacity engine of 724 cc, a five-speed gearbox and a single disc front brake. Shortly after, the engine was further bored out to 744 cc. After a factory lock-in by the Meriden workers for over a year kept Triumph twin cylinder models off the market place, only the larger Bonneville returned afterwards in 1975. By then, the gearchange foot lever had been moved from right to left to comply with new regulations mandated for the American market and a rear disc brake fitted. Several T140 models followed featuring various styling and engineering modifications and refinements including electronic ignition from 1979 and electric starting from 1980 until production ceased with the closure of the Meriden works in 1983.[3]
Although this should have been the end of the Bonneville, as it turned out it was not. Triumph Motorcycles was acquired by businessman John Bloor, who licensed a company called Racing Spares in Devon, run by Les Harris to manufacture the T140 Bonneville. These continuation bikes known as 'Devon’ or ‘Harris’ Bonnevilles did not reach the market until 1985 and were not sold in the U.S. market. Production of these ended in 1988.[4][5]
New Bonneville (800, 900 & 1200)
Bloor's
From 2008, all Bonnevilles received a slightly larger and reshaped tank to accommodate the EFI pump, but the tank capacity was not altered. Even though US 2008 models were not injected they still received the larger tank, therefore the space for the pump was not used.
All the bikes in Triumph's current "Modern Classics" line are derived from the new Bonneville, including the SE (with a smaller front wheel to be marketed to riders who may have found the 19' wheel too tall),
In 2006, Triumph launched the "Sixty-8" line of Bonneville accessories, offering vintage and modern-style items including seats, seat covers, cam covers, sprocket covers, petrol tank covers, tank badges, panniers, and other items to allow Bonneville owners the opportunity to customise their bikes for considerably less cost than traditional customisations. The adoption of the EFI engine in 2008 rendered many of these accessories obsolete, since tank covers, tank badges etc. would not fit the redesigned tank.
The original T120 Bonneville was a speed-orientated motorcycle, but the new Bonnevilles are softer and aimed at the roadster market. In particular, the 865cc Bonneville competes directly with the Harley-Davidson 883, with MotorCycle News declaring that "Triumph Bonneville is unquestionably the better motorcycle. The handling is more than respectable, the brakes markedly better and, of course, it’s British."[6]
Models
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Many different versions of the original Bonneville were produced; suffix letters were given to denote the exact model. Listed below in chronological order are the main types and their features:
T120 Bonneville
- T120: Home and general export model.
- T120R: Export model for the United States of America.
- T120C: Export competition model with high-level exhaust pipes.
- T120TT: 1964 export dirt track racing model of the T120C for the U.S. East Coast. 'Thruxton' models were factory homologated road racing models, to special order.
- T120RV: Five-speed gearbox.
- T120V: Five-speed gearbox with front disk brake.
T140 Bonneville
- T140V: The initial model of the T140. The 'V' indicated a five-speed gearbox. Produced between 1972 and 1978.
- T140RV: Export version of T140V.
- T140J: Limited edition of 1,000 each (plus 400 for Commonwealth export) of the T140V in USA and UK specification, produced to commemorate the 1977 Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II.
- electronic ignitionto meet emission regulations.
- Daytona Beach, USA, where the model was conceived.
- T140ES: Electric start or 'Electro' Bonneville.
- T140AV: Anti-vibration engine mountings.
- Prince Charles.
- T140W TSS: The Triumph T140W TSS. Introduced 1982. Eight-valve cylinder head and revised crankshaft to reduce vibration. The TSS stood for 'Triumph Super Sports'.
- T140TSX: A custom-styled T140, the Triumph T140 TSX featured Morris cast wheels, the rear being 16-inch diameter, stepped seat and special finish.
- Harris T140: Built under license 1985 to 1988 by Les Harris after the Meriden factory closed and featuring significantly more Italian and German component parts.
New Bonneville
- Bonneville 790: Introduced 2000. Original 790 cc model
- Bonneville: Current (2014) baseline model. In 2009 the baseline model gained cast alloy wheels, tank badge in decal form, black engine covers and up-swept megaphone exhaust silencers
- Bonneville Black: 2004 to 2008. Variation on baseline model with black paint and introducing the black engine covers subsequently used across the family from 2004, except on the Speedmaster, SE and T100.
From 2008, all models received a bigger reshaped tank (see above).
- Bonneville SE: Introduced 2009. Uprated model still with black engine, cast alloy wheels and upswept megaphone exhaust silencers, but with traditional metal tank badge, polished alloy engine covers and 'shortie' mudguards. Available with two-tone colour scheme
- T100: Top-of-the-range model with spoked wire wheels, fork gaiters, two-tone tank colour scheme, twin 'peashooter' exhausts, chromed engine covers, Triumph logo on seat,
- Thruxton: Introduced 2004. Redesigned Bonneville with 60s café racerstyling. First model with the larger 865 cc engine.
- Scrambler: Introduced 2006. Redesigned Bonneville with off-road styling of the T100C version of the Triumph Tiger 100, the TR6C, and the Triumph Trophy Trail (TR5T)
- America: Semi-cruiser styled model with lengthened wheelbase, lowered saddle. Primarily intended for the United States of America.
- Speedmaster: 'Factory custom' cruiser based on the Triumph Bonneville America
- 2016-2018 "Modern Classics" Line
- Bonneville T120 water cooled 1200 cc: 2016–
- Bonneville T100 Water Cooled 900 cc 2017–
- Thruxton Water Cooled 1200 cc 2016
- Thruxton Air Cooled 865 cc: 2016–
- Bobber 1200 cc: 2017–
- Scrambler 865 cc 2016–
- Street Twin 900 cc: 2016–
- Street Cup 900 cc 2016–
- Street Scrambler 900 cc 2016–
- Speedmaster 2018–
- Speed Twin 2018–
See also
- List of Triumph motorcycles
- BSA Rocket 3/Triumph Trident
- Triumph Triple - Hinckley
- List of motorcycles of the 1950s
References
Notes
- ^ Nelson, 2001. p. 28.
- ^ The History of British Motoring, 2007. pp. 166–167.
- ^ "Triumph's Last Days" Motorcycle Classics magazine, Sept/Oct 2008
- ^ Nelson, 2001. p. 59.
- ^ The History of British Motoring, 2007. pp. 180–181.
- ^ "TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 900 (2000-on) Review".
Bibliography
- Bacon, Roy (1990). Triumph T140 Bonneville and Derivatives, 1973-1988. Niton Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85648-305-6.
- Bacon, Roy (1995). Triumph Twins and Triples. Niton Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85579-026-1.
- Davies, Ivor (1991). Triumph-The Complete Story. The Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1-86126-149-6.
- Gaylin, David (1997). Triumph Motorcycle Restoration Guide-Bonneville and TR6, 1956-1983. MBI Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-7603-0183-8.
- McDiarmid, Mac (1997). Triumph-The Legend. Parragon Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7525-2080-3.
- Nelson, John (2001). Bonnie - The Development History of the Triumph Bonneville. Haynes Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85429-957-7.
- Robson, Graham (2007). The History of British Motoring. Abbeydale Press. ISBN 978-1-86147-197-0.