Triumph Bonneville

Triumph Bonneville

Manufacturer Triumph Engineering
Triumph Motorcycles Ltd
Also called 'Bonnie'
Production 1959–1983, 1985–1988, 2001–
Predecessor TR6 Trophy
Engine Four-stroke parallel twin
Transmission 4-speed (later 5-speed)

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 (2015) as a completely new design that strongly resembles the original series.

The name Bonneville derives from the famous Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA where Triumph and others attempted to break the motorcycle speed records.[1]

Development history

T120 Bonneville

The original Triumph Bonneville was a 650 cc parallel-twin motorcycle manufactured by Triumph Engineering and later by Norton Villiers Triumph between 1959 and 1974. It was based on the company's Triumph Tiger T110 and was fitted with the Tiger's optional twin 1 3/16 in Amal monobloc carburettors as standard, along with that model's high-performance inlet camshaft. Initially it was produced with a pre-unit construction engine which enabled the bike to achieve 115 mph without further modification, but later in 1963 a unit construction model was introduced which was stiffer and more compact, including additional bracing at the steering head and swing arm. The steering angle was altered and improved forks were fitted a couple of years later, which, together with the increased stiffness enabled overall performance to match that of the Bonneville's rivals.[2] Later T120 Bonnevilles used a new frame which contained the engine oil instead of using a separate tank; this became known as the oil in frame version. The T120 engine, both in standard configuration and especially when tuned for increased performance, was popular in café racers such as Tribsas (BSA frame) and particularly Tritons (Norton featherbed frame).

T140 Bonneville

The early 650 cc T120 Bonneville, often known as the duplex frame model,[3] was replaced in the early 1970s by the T140 Bonneville, the same basic machine but with a 750 cc engine. Refined from the later 'oil in frame' version of the T120, the first few T140s, designated T140V, featured a larger-capacity engine of 724 cc, a five-speed gearbox option and indicators, but still retaining drum brakes and kick-start. Shortly after, the engine was further bored out to 744 cc and front disc brakes were fitted using single discs until 1982. In 1975, along with engine modifications, the gearchange lever was 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 modifications and refinements including electric starting from 1980 until production ceased with the closure of the Meriden works in 1983.[4]

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 are known as the 'Devon Bonnevilles', which did not reach the market until 1985, and were not sold in the U.S. Production ended in 1988.[5][6]

New Bonneville (800, 900 & 1200)

Bloor's Triumph Motorcycles Ltd launched a completely new model, the Bonneville 800 (790cc), in September 2001. Originally built exclusively in Hinckley, England, some models are now (2014) produced at the company's Thailand manufacturing facility, which also makes components and accessories for various Triumph motorbikes. The new Bonneville strongly resembles the earlier models in style and basic configuration, but with modern engineering. At the debut the new version was given a 790 cc parallel-twin engine, with the up-spec T100 receiving an 865 cc engine. From 2007 on, all Bonnevilles received the 865 cc engine. Through 2007, all engines had carburettors; electronic fuel injection (EFI) was then introduced to the 2008 models in Britain and to United States models in the 2009 model year, in both cases to comply with increasingly stringent emissions requirements. Dummy carburettors, which are actually redesigned throttle bodies made to resemble carburettors, have been added to the 2009 models to retain the original vintage styling of previous years. In 2015, Triumph introduced a 1200 version of the Bonneville to complement the 900 range.

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, T100, Thruxton, Scrambler, America, and Speedmaster.

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; and MotorCycle News declares that "Triumph Bonneville is unquestionably the better motorcycle. The handling is more than respectable, the brakes markedly better and, of course, it’s British."[7]

Models

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

1970 US specification Triumph Bonneville T120R with 650cc Unit construction engine

T140 Bonneville

1980 T140E Bonneville

New Bonneville

A customized 2007 Triumph Bonneville Black model
2009 Triumph Bonneville SE with cast alloy wheels
2011 Triumph Bonneville T100

Note: From 2008, all models received a bigger reshaped tank (see above).

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Nelson, 2001. p.28.
  2. ↑ The History of British Motoring, 2007. pp.166 – 167.
  3. ↑ Gaylin, 1997. p.44.
  4. ↑ "Triumph's Last Days" Motorcycle Classics magazine, Sept/Oct 2008
  5. ↑ Nelson, 2001. p.59.
  6. ↑ The History of British Motoring, 2007. pp.180 – 181.
  7. ↑ http://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/triumph/bonneville-900/2000/

Bibliography

  • Bacon, Roy (1990). Triumph T140 Bonneville and Derivatives, 1973-1988. Niton Publishing. ISBN 1-85648-305-3. 
  • Bacon, Roy (1995). Triumph Twins and Triples. Niton Publishing. ISBN 1-85579-026-2. 
  • Davies, Ivor (1991). Triumph-The Complete Story. The Crowood Press. ISBN 1-86126-149-7. 
  • Gaylin, David (1997). Triumph Motorcycle Restoration Guide-Bonneville and TR6, 1956-1983. MBI Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7603-0183-2. 
  • McDiarmid, Mac (1997). Triumph-The Legend. Parragon Publishing. ISBN 0-7525-2080-6. 
  • Nelson, John (2001). Bonnie - The Development History of the Triumph Bonneville. Haynes Publishing. ISBN 0-85429-957-2. 
  • Author, not given (2007). The History of British Motoring. Abbeydale Press. ISBN 978-1-86147-197-0. 
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