Triumph Bonneville Review: It's Mostly GREAT!
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- Опубликовано: 11 июл 2024
- My 2017 Triumph Bonneville T120 Black is the first motorcycle I've had in years. For my money, it's just about perfection. The things I don't like about it are just nitpicks. Overall, I absolutely adore this bike.
I'll talk about the styling, the riding position, the gauges, and a bunch of other stuff. And I'll talk about some plastic, why I'd prefer tubeless tires, and the quirky gas cap.
Say hi on Instagram: / bugmotochannel
00:00 Meet my Triumph Bonneville
00:23 Styling
01:40 Riding Position
02:51 Sound
03:25 Extras
06:22 Clocks
08:04 Tubed Tires
08:42 Spokes
09:27 Gas Cap
09:59 Plastic
10:28 Shifter
11:44 Thanks for Watching! 
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I've got a 2020 T120 and I find all your criticisms to be valid and all your loves to be spot on! I'm 79 been riding for 65 years and this has got to be one on the most fun bikes I've owned not to mention that it looks so good to me!
Right? It's a beautiful bike. Sometimes I pop the garage open just to look at it!
Yes, I do that too!@@BugMotoChannel
Good choice, I have a 2018 T120 and love it also. The only problem I have is every time I stop somebody tells me how much they love my bike. Enjoy every ride from a friend from the north. 👍
I bought a brand new 2018 T120 Black - I love riding country Texas back roads and the suspension was lacking. I upgraded to Fox piggy backs and Progressive front springs and it made a world of difference. I installed a Motone X pipe and BC Predator slip ons and that made it a head turner with the sound.
I ended up selling it to a retired gentleman who was dealing with a wife with dementia. That bike went to the perfect home as I'm sure it serves as a medication for what he has to deal with.
I have had my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto for 40 years. Reliable and dependable transportation.
That must be such a fun ride. I've wanted one since I was probably 12.
@@BugMotoChannelYou can get one in good shape for less than a new one. You don't have to work on them every day. Just maintain them properly. Easy to adjust the valves and change the fluids. No expensive dealer serviceing required. I was famous for my day trips around Lake O in Florida. And that's on my hard tail and sprung solo seat. 70 mph all day comfortable..l love HD guys watching me Kickstart the bike. People walk past $50,000 HD's and tell me l have the coolest bike there and don't l know it. Fix a Flat works good. GEICO has unlimited towing 75 miles for free. $120 a year for full coverage and towing.
2010 Thruxton with BC pipes and tail tidy with lucas light. I love it . Got other bikes but everytime i look at it I know its how a motorbike should look
Nice review. I do like the all black bikes. I have the speed twin 900 in the uk. She's called Pearl. She's slightly more modern classic but has the benefits of cast wheels, less wet weight and better fuel economy. I think of her as the goldilocks of the range, falling in the sweet spot of the other models. She's a fantastic bike. Ride free and safe brother 👍😎
My Bonnie is called Dr. Black. Along with Dr. White, my Vespa, they are my therapy team. And they sleep together in the garage... Which I guess is weird...
I ride a 1200 Speed triple RS, but just enjoyed listening to you appreciating your bike :)
Hey, thanks for saying that!
Having a “mind-meld” moment with your thoughts, brother! I plan to watch all your videos. Inspiring, thoughtful and downright enjoyable to watch!
Keep it up!
I looked at a black T120, but ended up with the Speed Twin as I thought it just looked sportier, and therefore to me, better. Not slagging the T120 at all. Its a great looking bike, just individual taste. I put on reverse cone mufflers, piggy back shocks, LED headlight bulb, high performance air filter, dart screen, and some other cosmetic things. Love it.
First time viewer from the midwest and can't believe how like-minded we think. I love analog clocks as well because of their beauty and that our minds don't have to use a "digital conversion process" to gain reference of the time or speed. Keep up the great videos and ride safely.
I have a black 2020 Bonneville T100, very similar to yours and I completely agree with the five things you like. I love this bike! Nice review!👍
I practically never like and subscribe, but I did on the first video of yours that I watched. I just bought my first bike two months ago: a 2008 Honda VTX1300T. I like it a lot, but the T120 is one of my dream bikes. It’s so classic and beautiful. I sat on one at a dealer and was impressed that the bike easily fit my 6’4” frame.
Anyway, keep riding brother! Thanks for creating fun videos. I also work an office job and have already become addicted to riding. It’s like nothing else.
Great video! Heated grips are a game changer and the really great thing is they’re always there and available even when other heated gear might get left at home because it won’t be “needed”.
This is a great review. Thanks for doing it. I think this will be my first bike.
Great review. I really love reviews from owners eho one this particular bike and speak from their heart about their honest opinion (for me no concerns about sponsor ship). I loved to watch yor video from start to end.
I bought my 2017 T120 new. Over the years I've owned a 1965 Bonny, a 1973, and after a long hiatus, a 2012 SE, which came with mag, tubeless rims. I bought the 2017 with the dealer-installed cruise control. It's a wonder on long drives but I also use it to keep my speed down in residential neighborhoods. I added big Givi Monolock side cases and a top case big enough to hold my helmet when I stop to eat. Because the rear wheel dimensions are common to a number of other Triumph models I was able to find a factory tubeless mag wheel on eBay. No such luck with the front wheel, though. I also love the heated grips, which allow me to ride at far lower temperatures than woud be possible otherwise. I enjoyed the video. Keep riding!
I've traded my HD Sportster Forty-Eight for a 2019 T120 and so far no regrets. The only thing i miss is the turn signal that goes to off position automatically after a turn.
I agree with you about the 5 things i don't like.
Greetings from Brazil.
I'm really coming to believe that self-cancelling turn signals should be mandated by law, and I don't usually like things mandated by law. It's so dangerous to ride along with your blinker going, and I do it way too often.
Opa Anderson, muito bom seu comentário. Eu queria pegar uma HD 883, mas estou apaixonado nessa moto. Alguma dica ou problema que vc encontrou? Muito TKS
@@brunoferreira9406 Opa, tudo bom Bruno? Peguei a minha 2019 com aproximadamente 26.000 km e só fiz uma revisão em uma oficina de confiança. Tem seis meses e ate agora zero defeitos ou problemas ocultos, só alegria. Instalei o X-pipe e troquei as ponteiras originais por esportivas da Custumer, o som ficou show. Pretendo agora só instalar o riser de guidão e acredito que vai ficar perfeito. Qualquer dúvida estou à disposição. Abç
Cool dude. Cool bike. Cool vid. Subbed.
Interesting point about the comfortable riding position. I’m 60 and always looking for my next bike. Will add the T-120 to the short list. Thanks!
Put bar riders on for more comfort and laid back feel. Motone do them.
You're absolutely right about time and analog clocks. I spent a number of years as a disc jockey, and, for me, nothing beats an analog clock hanging on the wall in front of you. You can see how much "space" you have remaining in your "hour." You can see how much of your "hour" has physically passed and how much you have left. My car has a digital tach, and it just ain't the same. I think the only problem here is that your Triumph ain't "bianco innocente!"
Huh. Maybe that's where I get it from. I DJ'd at my college radio station a bunch. Minored in radio. I love everything about radio.
Very nice bike you have there. I have a T100 and absolutely love it & just like you I ride vespas too. I have a SS180 & GS160 mk2 but my choice of ride I tend to opt more for my Triumph over the two strokes as I just love the T100.
I have a 2020 T120 Black and I am in agreement with you on pretty much everything! Regarding the gas cap, just replace it. That was one of my first mods. You honestly don't need the key as if you put enough pressure on it while turning it comes off without the key (at least mine did). I got the Motone gas cap, simple, and looks great!! A little pricey though.
very nice looking bike indeed
Had the same problem with the shifter on my Street Twin. Resolved the issue by unbolting the rubber and fitting a longer bolt & spacer.
I think you're right regarding RPM. Over the years I've come to appreciate the digital Speedometer. You are right. It does look better in the sweeping analog. Digital represents a constant state better.
The" high" position is only meant to heat quickly the handlebars, not to be used for a long time...
Your hands aren't going numb at night, you're just driving the motorcycle in your dreams :)
Don't know how I ended up here but off the back of this video I'm planing a visit to the Triumph Visitor Centre just ten minutes up the road in Hinckley UK. Nice little drive in the MX5. Thanks.
That’s fantastic! Also, great car. I used to own one and it was about as much fun as you can have in a car.
I get you with the boots and gear change thing. Not sure if the Tec bike parts adjustable foot pegs are available in the US but these were a game changer for me
Good review. On the tubed tires yes, that is one of the issues. However, I have a friend who caught a nail that went sideways in his tire, left a big hole and touched the sidewall, so tubeless tires didn’t help. On the shifter I hear you, but I have road style boots with a thinner toe area so just a minor adjustment worked for me. There maybe a generic type extended lever that would help with thicker boots.
I use steelwool to clean spokes. You can add some polish paste too and wash it off with window cleaner and papertowels.
I've got a box of steel wool pads on my bench just waiting for me...
Autosol and plenty of elbow will sort out any surface rust. ACF50 is a must for all year round biker like me. I rode a T120 around Tenerife for 5 beautiful days. What a bike! Tubes are a pain, prefer not to have them either but spoke wheels are a thing of beauty! I have an 18 year old Speedmaster, like brand new. They'll lsat a lifetime if you look after them.
Second vote for Autosol. Definitely will try.
Lifes too short to spend it polishing stuff 😂
You have a point there@@pauljohnston7721
For shifting - don't go through all those adjustments. If you need to wear the big boots shift with the side of your boot. It will probably only be necessary from first to second then the boot will fit.
Hi there I have big feet to and all ways had the same problem on my bikes until my honda hornet 600 got knocked over in the wind the foot peg got bent down around a 1 and harf inches now it's perfect probably get the foot peg moved.
1:10 omg what a beauty!!
For the rust issue on the spokes, rub them down and then wipe them with a product called ACF-50. It’s like weapons grade WD40, it was developed by the aerospace industry and is brilliant for keeping rust at bay. Just don’t get any on your brake discs or you’ll never stop again!!
I ride a 2020 t120 which was that last year heated grips and center stand and rear rail were standard. My biggest gripe is the rear suspension. The OEM shocks were marginal at best when the bike was new but after 10,000 miles they are terrible. I'm a lghtweight at 150 pounds and on the lowest rebound they send me right off the seat when hitting rough bits. I just ordered a set of Progressive 412s today.
I'm interested in hearing how things feel with the 412s. I don't have any real complaints with the suspension, but I'd take an improvement...
The new generation 2021 onwards should be ok. Anyway I’ve got YSS gt shocks at the back. Fully adjustable. They are excellent. I couldn’t afford the Ohlins at the time. Eventually I’ll get the front done.
Cheers.
A lovely bike all it needs to make it perfect is progressive front springs good rear shocks. The T100 is the perfect Goldilocks one though imo prefer the gearing on the 5 speed box and lighter too!
I'm looking forward to trying the T100 some day. The 2023 T100 that comes in that power blue/orange... I think if I saw that on the side of the road for sale I'd empty my bank account. That's the most beautiful color scheme I think I've ever seen on a motorcycle.
Yes you should test ride the later more power model. You might be pleasantly surprised.
I love my T100. My dealer explained to me that for my type of riding, I didn't need the 6th gear. He was right. A few other things that Bug likes are lacking on the T100 but I adore mine.
I think the gearing on the 100 and 120 are the same, but the 120 has an additional sixth
Well having owned the T100 for five years and test riding the pre and post 2020 T120 I found the gearing much longer on the 120 you couldn’t really ride at lower A and B roads speeds in the higher gears laboured a bit but perfect at motorway speeds with a kinda overdrive 6th. You hardly needed to change gear on 120 you could stay in 3 or 4th but to progress quickly you needed to drop a couple whereas the 100 was in the zone higher up.
Agree the bonneville is one of the most beautiful bikes and expect I’ll always keep one. As a slow riding chill bike, it’s perfect as stock. Some of the useful additions
- i upgraded shocks to ohlins front and back. Makes the ride much more comfortable than the bouncy stock ones.
-your mirrors are an additional accessory, which i agree make it look nicer.
- can put tubeless 3M tape and run them without tubes. A few years running and no issues so far.
- if you decat the bike it opens up a wonderful sound.
- agree on the spokes. Rather than reverse the Aging, I found big fish high temp wax paste is a long lasting polish that I only have to apply 1-2 times a year. And no further rusting.
- that tail is a bit ugly - a tail tidy adds to the visual.
- I’m usually happy with any tire, but the stock tires on that bike have a terrible feel although they have a classic look.
- throttle can be snatchy at the low end. A booster plug smooths this out completely. Or tune the ecm, which is more precise.
Thanks for this.
I tossed those mirrors and got the round bar ends. I'm much happier with them, though they don't look nearly as cool.
Definitely thinking of upgrading the shocks, and I like the idea of the booster plug. I'm also thinking of doing the decat. Is that a thing one can do on their own or is a trip to the shop required?
I've toyed with doing a tail tidy on both my T120 and my Vespa GTS. But it rains so much here, I'm wondering if i'd be shooting myself in the foot...
Got a '22 Speed 1200. I like it so far. I dont need or want all the tech tho, but thats the deal with newer motorcycles.
Motone customs will solve some of your grievances. I love my T120. It’s kind of a "jack of all trades, master of none" bike. But you’ll look good while doing it!
I rented one, put about 300+ miles on it in a day. It's not a good retro bike, it's a good bike period. I didn't like the small gas tank, wish there was a 5 gallon version. Hard to read the instruments. It just is a great bike to ride
Heyup , it's not likely carpal tunnel,,in my view it's cubitol tunnel , I used to be in agony at night on waking , it took minutes to open my hands and straighten arms ,,I had an operation to reroute nerves ( I told them to wait until winter before ide have the op ) TommyTickle
To keep the shiny bits clean like wheels and covers use a product called duraglit.
Autosol for the spokes, swopped my petrol cap for a Monza cap from Motone, much better.
I have exactly the same model here in the UK a 2017 T120 Black. I purchased her in 2019.
I concur with most of your observations, though I would add some further critique.
Paintwork: I do not think the finish is as durable as it should be.
Clocks: Mine somehow let in Corrosion and it destroyed the digital display. Expensive and not impressed.
Suspension: Adequate for commuting and gentle bimbling but Triumph spent the price of a can of beans on the suspension and its about as good as a can of beans. When I replaced mine with Hagon shocks and progressive front springs she rode properly.
Yes your bar end mirrors are replacements. I replaced my useless "micky mouse" mirrors.
I love my T120. She is the best behaved motorcycle I have had in nearly 50 years of biking - but if Triumph had spent a little extra money in the first place, a "good" bike wpuld have been an "excellent" bike.
Spokes: yep same issue. Why did they not make them with a more rust resistent material. Aluminium foil to clean them up and GT85 to try and protect them.
Good honest review. You have won yourself a subscriber.
Hey thanks!
I gave my T120 a good wash the other day and noticed a bit of fog under the glass in my speedo... I've heard this could be an issue. Is there any quick fix that you know of? Or am I looking at an eventual replacement...
@@BugMotoChannel not yet, but I am considering getting a little packet of sikica gel and stuffing it in the instrument cluster. Perhaps a word with Trumph too - it is not good enough.
Old guys love to talk to me about my 2018 Triumph Street Cup and then they drop the line "of course its not a real Triumph" but i reply "maybe its not but i want to ride it,not repair it".
You have an eye for cinematography my friend - do you have a background in it? What software do you use for colour grading and adding the vignette?
Thank you! I have a background in photography. For colour and such I’m using DaVinci Resolve. It’s excellent!
The bike looks nicely done, in style copying the originals themes with the exception that:
- it’s totally overweight
- it’s a big bike
- it’s got nothing easy flickable, light to it
- it sounds like a japanese twin with legal strong sounding pipes, but nothing like a 360 parallel twin, nottting at all
- it’s cheaply made parts that just hold up to the looks to impress, excluding some extra versions with oehlins, KYB, … details
- it’s watercooled
- it’s not following the classic chassis dimensions, wheelsizes, …
- it’s produced anywhere but england (for the better or worse)
- but it has nicely made amal-style throttle bodies
- nice balanced level of retro design.
It’s not a real bonneville, it’s just named one for marketing purpose and to sell a heavy retro roadster to a fatter generation (including me).
If the T100 would have the details of the T120, a better frame and suspension and brakes, the amal-style bodies, and a bit less weight, I would give it a try. Still there’s the 270 crank and the liquid-cooled engine concept that would turn me away.
I owned a T140D and I know how much different this XXL copy is from it. I prefer the lighter, smaller, much more elegant motorcycle of the past, any time. They are solid relaxed tourers, proven around the world at any age and I have done 11.000 km trips on it, too.
I hear ya, and at some point I really would love to own an original... But for me it would be a second, fun bike, not a primary one. I do rely on my two-wheelers as my primary mode of transport, so the trade-offs in reliability over originality win me over at this point in my life...
I have had my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto for 40 years. Reliable and dependable transportation.@@BugMotoChannel
The T120 is totally a Bonneville. Trying to sell a bike with 1970s tech wouldnt fly....... or start for that matter 😆. Welcome to 2024.
You can leave the gas cap unlocked. That’s what I do. If there’s a risk of fuel theft that won’t work though.
Why not the Speed Twin 1200? It has tubeless tyres.....
Hey bug how's the vibrations in the Bonneville T120 across RPM
I found it fine until I hit about 80mph and then it got a bit buzzy. However, it could have been an unbalanced front wheel…
i also did not love the gas cap on my T120! "New Bonneville" Offers a nice low profile replacement
Is that site legit? It keeps popping up in my google searches, but the site itself looks like... I dunno. Looks kinda thrown together...
@@bugscooters its not the prettiest site but i ordered the gas cap i mentioned (in black) and received it promptly with no issues. I prefer the sleeker look and solves the issues you stated in your video
Admittedly it’s a bit fiddly to lock and unlock.
Brilliant. I share all your likes and dislikes on this one. Though at 6'5", my big dislike is that I'm too tall for it.
Solvol autosol will clean the spokes up no problem.
Yeah? I'll give it a shot. Thanks!
Like mine black with brushed chrome. Nothin like that definition as far as im concerned.
I have a 2022 T100 so this may have changed since the 2017 models, but the key comes right out of my gas cap after I unlock it.
Maybe I'm doing it wrong... I'll try again!
@BugMotoChannel no your not doing it wrong, Triumph changed the design
@@twinphill900 any idea why? I'd imagine there's a good reason for it... I just don't quite see it.
@BugMotoChannel because people could take the key out or replace the cap in the unlocked key position. It doesn't bother me, I would lock it anyway.
Yep on my 22 T120 you can take the key out the fuel cap after unlocking it, so in-turn you can just spin it off with ease & without a bunch of keys being in the way.
i'm not a fan of chrome, never been much of a fan and i think the black out looks "meaner" IMO
never been much into "riding boots" i do wear a work boot that i have wrecked in before and they held up great.
Hands. . . Looking at your video I wonder if your gloves are bit small, short in the finger. I also wonder if you are holding the bars too tightly. One or two fingers on the clutch and brake levers, releasing the clench of your hand. Especially if you ride on those long straight roads where you are not moving your fingers to change gear or brake all the time. Clocks . . . I totally agree. We don't read the numbers on an analogue dial we perceive the value from the position of the hands, so we only need to glance at the thing. We need to read a digital instrument, more time is spent, we need to refocus our mind and eye. Thank you for this review.
Thank you!
Yeah, it's definitely possible I'm gripping too hard. I catch myself doing it, and also riding with locked, straight arms, from time to time... Haven't thought my gloves were too tight, but I may just try a pair of loose ones for a few days and see if that changes things. Thanks for the tips!
@@BugMotoChannelI’ve got slightly big winter gloves. But really just get what works for you, Sir.
I really like Triumph styling, sadly I'm 6'4 so these bikes just won't work for me. I tend to only ride harley and I know I know harley snob but I'm pretty forced into that brand due to my size. Love the sound of the bonneville though.
The bar end mirrors are not standard. The Bonnevilles come with micky mouse mirrors, which look dumb IMO. However, I don't believe the mirrors you have are specifically marketed for the Bonneville. They might be a Triumph part, but I'll bet they are intended for the Speed Twin, or some other Triumph. The bar end mirrors I have are round, a little larger in surface area and stick up a little higher. That's what Triumph offers on the website for the Bonneville. That being said, I kind of like your mirrors better. Also, I share your opinion on the shifter. When I wear my steel toes, It's difficult to upshift.
Yeah I'm pretty sure they're for the Speed Twin.
Couldn't agree with you more about the clocks.
Rolex don't do digital.
I can't stand modern TFT displays, an unessesary distraction with zero character.
A simple glance at the traditional analog speedo tells you everything.
Yup.
I would shy away from a TFT on a bike or scooter. I hope to keep my two-wheelers for many, many years. Can't imagine looking at a 2024 screen in 2034... Clocks never age.
It's a bugs life ?
I'm not into blacked out themes. No hate I just don't like how everything is blacked out now and matte, car wheels also need not be black.
Luckily it comes in other flavors .
Install a heel toe shifter. Problem solved.
Today's motorcycles are a collection of government regulations on 2 wheels.
Yes there is too much government interference in almost every part of our lives including our bikes.
Two 15 second ads before the video starts and you don’t even have 5k subs. Tf do you think you are?
Thanks for that. I don’t have control over preroll ads far as I know.
Overdone chrome. No such thing. 😊
The Motor has no charactar