Triumph rolled out an all-new Bonneville lineup for 2016, with five models and three variants of its iconic parallel-twin engine, all of which featured liquid cooling, throttle-by-wire and Euro4 compliance. All of the bikes—the 900cc Street Twin, the 1,200cc Bonneville T120 and T120 Black, and the 1,200cc Thruxton and Thruxton R—got new chassis, modern features and more classic styling.
By virtue of being righteously retro yet thoroughly modern (with riding modes, traction control and ABS), the Bonneville T120 and T120 Black earned Rider’s Motorcycle of the Year award for 2016.
Read about Rider’s 2016 Motorcycle of the Year
Read our 2016 Triumph Street Twin review
Read our 2016 Triumph Bonneville T120 review
For 2017, Triumph has blended the lightness and accessibility of the Street Twin with the styling of the T120 to create a new pair of models: the Bonneville T100 and Bonneville T100 Black. Both are powered by the liquid-cooled, eight-valve, 270-degree-crank, 900cc “high torque” parallel twin from the Street Twin.
Like the T120, styling for the new T100s is inspired by the iconic 1959 Bonneville, with a classically sculpted tank, an intricately detailed engine plate, twin gauges and spoked wheels. The T100s also feature brushed aluminum covers, bolt-on Triumph badges unique to these two models and a generous helping of chrome on the mirrors, fender stays, handlebars and headlight bezel. Rounding out the profile is a comfort seat finished in contrast piping with deeper foam for more comfort.
The Bonneville T100 comes in three classically inspired paint schemes: Aegean Blue and Fusion White with hand painted coach lines, Intense Orange and New England White with hand painted coach lines, as well as Jet Black. Living up to its added moniker, the Bonneville T100 Black sports blacked-out engine covers, peashooter exhausts and wheel rims, and it is available with either gloss Jet Black or Matte Black bodywork.
As with the T120s, the T100 and T100 Black may be retro styled but they are thoroughly modern, with throttle-by-wire, ABS, switchable traction control, a torque-assist clutch, an LED taillight, a USB socket and more. Shorter wheelbase, rake and trail than the previous generation T100 give the new models more agility, and the new chassis and suspension give them better control and more comfort.
Pricing and availability for the 2017 Triumph Bonneville T100 and T100 Black are TBD.
Has Triumph and other English vehicles stopped using the horrible Lucas electrical systems????????
I understand Lucas electrical became defunct in 1996.
Lucas was born in the dark, lived in the dark, and died in the dark!