Five new Bonnevilles for 2016: updated

Triumph's next generation of Bonnevilles has broken cover, with the five new models representing a long-overdue broad brush across the British marque's modern classic range.

The line-up begins with the lower-spec 900cc Street Twin, while the remaining four bikes, the Bonneville T120, Bonneville T120 Black, Thruxton and souped-up Thruxton R, have caught onto the current capacity craze and are now powered by 1200cc engines. For the Bonneville T120 and T120 Black that equates to a 'high torque' mill, and for the sportier Thruxton and Thruxton R fare it's in an uprated 'High Power' mode.

The Street Twin will be first to go on sale locally in February 2016, followed by the T120s (April 2016) and Thruxtons (May 2016). Price is still to be announced.

The 270-degree, eight-valve parallel twin in the Street Twin — described as Triumph's "most contemporary, fun and accessible new Bonneville" — delivers peak torque of 80Nm at 3200rpm, which is 18 per cent more than the previous 865cc air-cooled powerplant. Power is 55hp (40.5kW) at 5900rpm.

The 198kg (dry) Street Twin, like all the new Bonnevilles, has a ride-by-wire throttle, fuel injection and liquid cooling, and massive gains have been made in fuel economy. For example, at a constant speed of 121km/h, Triumph claims fuel consumption of 4.6lt/100km. Fuel capacity is 12 litres,

The upswept brushed stainless steel exhaust dominates the Speed Twin's landscape, as the bike prepares to take aim at opposition like the Ducati Scrambler. Other features include a 750mm seat height, Kayaba suspension (41mm forks and preload adjustable twin shocks) with 120mm travel, Nissin anti-lock brakes, and a tubular steel cradle frame.

The Bonneville T120 and Bonneville T120 Black continue in a similar styling vein to where the previous incarnations left off, and the "authentically styled twin throttle bodies" are the gateways to a hefty peak torque of 105Nm at 3100rpm. That's over 50 per cent more than the previous T100 — but with the 335cc capacity hike that comparison is a little spurious.

The 'Thruxton spec' engine adds another 7Nm (with a 4950rpm peak) over the T120s.

Compared to the Thruxton, the higher-spec Thruxton R has Brembo monobloc calipers, Showa big piston forks, Öhlins rear suspension and Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa tyres. The Thruxton R also features a host of higher quality details with an additional painted seat cowl, polished top yoke, aluminium tank strap and clear anodised aluminium swingarm.

Triumph is yet to release a full set of specs for the new bikes.

Electronically, all the bikes have anti-lock braking, traction control and slip-assist clutches, and the 1200s also have rider modes. LED rear lights are standard across the board, and there are LED head lights on the 1200s as well (incorporating daytime running lights). Headstock-mounted USB charging sockets and engine immobilisers are also included in the new packages.

A big issue with the previous Bonnevilles was the low-quality suspension, and Triumph says the bikes have "completely new, ground-up chassis… incorporating all-new suspension and geometry".

The custom accessories range is massive, with over 470 pieces to choose from. This includes new exhausts from Vance & Hines, mudguard removal kits, bench seats, sump guards, handlebar grips, fly screens and indicators. To make it easier to choose, Triumph has created a set of ‘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 to track-focussed bikes and café racers.

This includes, for the first time, a full factory Thruxton R race performance kit, specifically developed for closed-circuit competition.

SPEED TWIN
Features include:
•    Cast wheels, finished in black with pinstripe detailing;
•    Fuel tank with contemporary decals and stylish chrome filler cap;
•    Compact indicators;
•    LED rear light with distinctive light pattern;
•    Compact headlight with a signature Triumph bulb cap cover badge;
•    Upswept brushed stainless steel silencer;
•    Sculpted black side panels, with contemporary Street Twin graphics;
•    Minimal black painted mudguards; and
•    Colours: Cranberry Red, with tank and wheel stripes; Aluminium Silver with tank and wheel stripes;  Matt Black;  Jet Black; and Phantom Black
•    Inspiration kits include the 'Scrambler', 'Brat Tracker' and 'Urban'.

BONNEVILLE T120 AND BONNEVILLE T120 BLACK
The engine has been crafted to incorporate key heritage styling cues from the legendary Bonnevilles of yore, and has brushed aluminium engine covers with bronze detailing on the T120, and black engine covers with machined aluminium detailing on the T120 Black.

The all-new elegant peashooter style exhausts follow a ‘straight line run’ achieved through a twin-skin design which covers the pipe that runs through the catalytic converter box and out again.

Both of the Bonneville T120s feature an all-new chassis and suspension set-up, responses to complaints about the old models: hard seats and basic kidney-jarring twin shocks. There is also greater suspension travel.

Extra features over the Speed Twin include:
•    Two rider modes: rain and road;
•    LED headlight;   
•    Heated grips; and
•    Twin clocks.
The Bonneville T120 is available in four liveries: Cranberry Red and Aluminium Silver, with hand-painted coach lines; Jet Black and Pure White, with hand painted coach lines; Jet Black; and Cinder Red. The T120 Black is available in two paint schemes: Jet Black and Matt Graphite.

The bikes have a 'Prestige' inspiration kit, including a chrome tank badge, ribbed and stitched black seat, compact LED indicators, chrome Vance & Hines peashooter slip-on silencers, black ‘Barrel style’ handlebar grips, and a chrome clutch cover, alternator cover and throttle body embellishers.

THRUXTON AND THRUXTON R
The six-speed engine in the Thruxton and Thruxton R features a lighter crank, higher compression and unique airbox compared to the T120s. The Thruxtons also have clip-on bars, fully-adjustable suspension and a 17-inch front wheel. An extra rider mode, sport, is added over the T120s.

Colours for the Thruxton are Jet Black; Pure White, with a black tank stripe; and Competition Green with a metallic gold tank stripe. The Thruxton R comes in two colour choices: Diablo Red and Silver Ice.

The two inspiration kits are 'Track Racer' and 'Café Racer'.