Triumph Bonneville

Triumph is trumpeting the Bonneville's 50th anniversary in 2009, and while there may have been a lengthy hiatus between the last of the Meriden-built twins and the first of the Hinckley-made retros, the Bonnie name - now almost a brand in itself - is alive and well.

In its modern incarnation the Bonneville has been around since 2001, and in the years since it's established itself as a popular retro option - misting the eye of many a Baby Boomer, as cashed-up 'mature' riders lay down the bucks to re-live their youth, or grab a slice of what they were too young or too impoverished to enjoy the first time around.

For 2009 the essence of the Bonneville recipe is maintained, but with a '70s styling twist. The base model Bonnie now sports alloy wheels, shorter front and rear guards and megaphone style silencers, the latter grabbed from the café racer Thruxton. The seat is 25mm lower, making the model even more accessible, while the model's lengthy list of factory accessories is joined by a practical rear rack.

Joining the Bonneville in 2009 is the Bonneville SE. Available at a $1000 premium, the SE boasts more comprehensive instrumentation (it has a tacho in addition to the speedo found on the base model), brushed alloy engine casings and two different colour schemes.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
In keeping with its retro aesthetics, the Bonneville is a bare bones machine, with little to distract you from the sheer pleasure of the ride. At the Bonneville's heart is an 865cc, air-cooled, DOHC, eight-valve parallel-twin engine, these days equipped with a fuel injection system neatly hidden behind fake carburettors. Triumph claims the unit is good for 50kW at 7500rpm and 7.0kg-m at 5800rpm, but more importantly says that 90 per cent of that torque is available from just 2500rpm right through to its redline. The engine comes in a 360-degree firing order format and is equipped with twin balance shafts to smooth any harsh vibrations. The engine is mated to a five-speed gearbox, harnessed via a cable-actuated clutch.

Unsurprisingly, the suspension package is fairly basic. A 41mm conventional fork has been coupled to twin rear shocks, with adjustability limited to preload at the back end. Instrumentation comprises an analogue speedo with inset odometer and trip meter, and the usual array of idiot lights.

For 2009 the standard spoked rims have made way for alloy jobs. On top of that, the 19in rim of the 2008 Bonnie has made way for a 17in item, offering Bonneville owners a far wider choice of rubber. The 17in rim size at the rear remains unchanged.

The standard bike comes with megaphone-style mufflers sourced from Triumph's Thruxton, but BikePoint's test machine was fitted with Triumph's optional two-into-two stainless steel Arrow system. Priced at $2094.75, it's said to offer a substantial weight saving over the standard pipes, while boosting power. It's possible to remove the baffles in each pipe simply by removing a circlip in the end of each muffler - this takes the bike from super sanitised to obscenely loud in seconds, allowing you to modify the bike to suit the state of your social conscience for any given moment.

Twin-piston Nissin calipers can be found at either end, with a single-disc set-up at the front. The Bonneville also features a relatively small 16lt tank, and weighs in at a claimed 203kg (dry) - given its power and torque, this adds up to fairly sprightly yet unintimidating performance.

The Bonneville retails for $12,490 plus ORC, and is available in either Jet Black or Fusion White.

ON THE ROAD
If the retro style appeals, you'll love Triumph's Bonnie - it's back to basics biking from a simpler age. Unpretentious and uncomplicated, today's Bonnie comes with none of the implied machismo of a litre-class Jap sportsbike, and only a fraction of the image-obsessed hoo-ha that surrounds the undisputed 'king' of retro biking, the Harley. Turn the key in the forward, side-mounted ignition, stab the starter button, and you're away.

Throwing a leg over the Bonneville's low 751mm seat should prove easy for most, and it feels like the majority of its 203kg is carried quite low. It has a natural, easy ride position - upright, but with the flat and wide 'bars just a short stretch away. There's reasonable legroom, even for taller types, although pillion leg room is a little more cramped.

Equipped with electronic fuel injection, the Bonnie fires up readily and quickly settles into an even idle, whether it's hot or cold. I stuck with the baffles in the Arrow pipes, and found they still spat out a pleasing enough note. No doubt in a pursuit to relive the glory days, many owners will ditch the baffles in search of a little more bark.

A light clutch facilitates an easy snick down to first gear. I was impressed with the five-speed gearbox on this Bonnie, produced as it is by a marque whose cog crunchers are known for taking a significant number of kays to loosen up. Despite only 1000km on the clock, this one was quiet, shifted smoothly and always found neutral with a minimum of fuss.

A blip of throttle and a flurry of revs and you're off, white woollen scarf flapping 'gaily' in the breeze, as they did back in the day without any hint of ambiguity. This is a great engine, with enough vibes to add character and with eminently useable punch on tap from just off idle. The low-down urge seamlessly makes way for a mid-range rush, and while it'll still happily rev out in most of its gears, there's little need to cause the donk any undue stress - just short shift and make the most of its torque.

The Arrow pipe undoubtedly helps, but I have to say I was genuinely surprised by the Bonnie's performance. Before this I hadn't ridden one for a number of years - certainly I'd never ridden a fuel-injected one before - and the contrast between my memories of the model and the present reality was indeed stark. Don't get me wrong - a Bonnie won't rear up on the back wheel with a snap of the throttle, but there's plenty of real world poke on offer. There's more than enough for plenty of fun, in what is an easy-to-ride, unintimidating package.

The Bonnie's handling was another happy surprise. It tips into a bend effortlessly, and it'll hold a line through a corner with just as much aplomb. The suspension, while soaking up smaller bumps and corrugations well, was harsh over any decent-sized hits - perhaps it's a little too retro in this respect. Ground clearance is adequate for the bike's intended brief, and together the twin-piston Nissin calipers offer plenty of power and feel, despite the fact there's only a single disc up the front. Yep, when you weigh it all up the Bonneville is bound to please on any spirited Sunday strop, provided you're not out to scalp R1s or Fireblades.

Over the course of test our Bonnie recorded an average fuel consumption of 16.2km/lt. That gives it an effective range of around 230km before you go in search of fuel. That's not huge, but then given its firm seat, you'll probably be looking forward to a break by then anyway. There's no reason why you couldn't tour on it, but I'd be taking an Airhawk seat with me and with the lack of bodywork I wouldn't be in any rush.

We simply can't wrap up a review of the Bonneville without making mention of its looks. Personally, I think it's a stunner - in fact this latest '70s-inspired version turned my head more than any previous Bonneville. Maybe that's a reflection of the fact it's styled after the bikes from a decade in which I was actually born, rather than some distant 'pre-me' era, about which I can only dream. In any case, the shorter guards, the alloy rims, those saucy silencers and that black and chrome finish simply ooze style, and you really do have to know your bikes to pick a new 'un from an old 'un.

Throw in a low $12,490 plus ORC price tag, and what's not to like? I'm betting that if you've read to this point you're already sold on the retro theme the Bonnie does so well. That being the case, I can tell you the performance, feel and quality of engineering more than back up the looks. It's a '70s Brit twin with modern reliability and without the oil puddle - sounds like a darn good time on two wheels to me...

» Watch the Carsales Network's video on the Triumph Bonneville here