Classic queen: Triumph Bonneville T120 2021 tested

By now the Modern Classics model ranges are selling in truly high numbers - in 2021 every 3rd bike sold by Triumph (36% of the models sold in Austria and Germany) is a Modern Classic. Such figures could only be dreamed of back in 2002, when the first "new" Bonneville, back then with a 790 cubic centimetre air-cooled twin-cylinder engine, first saw the light of day. The Brits' attempt to relaunch themselves in the motorcycle industry with a retro bike was at best met with a smile. Almost 20 years later things look quite different. Nearly every manufacturer worth its salt has a model with classic shapes in its lineup.

The name was no coincidence, as Triumph earned its first stripes on that very Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah back in the 50s and 60s. Speed records that still live on today in the model designations T100 and T120. The numbers stand for the maximum achievable speed of each respective bike in miles per hour. With the Bonnevilles, Triumph laid the foundation for the retro bike trend of the last 10 years.

For 2021, Triumph inevitably had to rework the entire Bonneville family, and thus also the veteran T120, due to the Euro 5 standard. This update was never meant to be a revolution, since with the Modern Classic models it's always also about preserving what's proven. Consequently, the T120 was carefully renewed without losing its characteristic lines and strengths.

Even the strictest traditionalist will forgive the Bonnie for now featuring comfort features like cruise control (standard) and heated grips (optional extra). The USB port under the seat doesn't bother either - quite the opposite, Zonko was thrilled to be able to charge his beloved e-pipe during a break. The T120 also offers traction control as standard. But don't worry, this doesn't necessarily mean being patronised, as it can be switched off.

A classic doesn't age - it matures. Consequently, the 2021 Bonneville has remained just as gorgeous as its predecessor was. For our test in and around Vienna we picked up the grey-black matte variant of the T120 Black. And indeed, the adaptations compared to the predecessor were quickly spotted: newly designed analogue round gauges, slightly altered tank pads, a ribbed seat with an embossed Triumph logo. Add some chrome here and there and the redesigned 3-stripe Heritage emblem on the tank - and the "new" T120 is complete.

As already mentioned, the Bonneville has a sporty past. Measuring it against that isn't entirely fair - after all, Triumph now has, even among the Modern Classics, considerably faster sisters in the Speed Twin and the Thruxton RS - but a brisk pace should still be possible. As part of the 1000PS Gentlemen Ride, Zonko, McGregor and yours truly set out to find out whether the classic beauty lives up to its sporty ancestors in terms of dynamics.

On paper, everything was done right compared to the predecessor to make the new T120 a more agile bike. The T120 has shed a considerable 7 kilograms and now weighs in at 236 kg ready to ride. The new aluminium rims (18'' x 2.75'' front and 17'' x 4.25'' rear) helped. As a result, the new Bonnie goes around corners a bit more willingly than the 2020 model.

According to Triumph, the brakes were improved with a higher-quality Brembo twin-disc setup with 310 mm diameter and 2-piston floating callipers, and the ABS was reworked. In practice, unfortunately, you notice little of this. The brake still demands considerable hand force and still offers only moderate bite. At a spirited pace you quickly hit the limit here.

The massive 1200 cc twin-cylinder engine is beyond any doubt thanks to its massive maximum torque of 105 Nm, which is already available at 3,500 rpm. A real gentleman naturally has no need for a duel at the traffic lights, but should any cocky young lads on either side get cheeky, it's an easy matter for him to put them in their place on the Bonnie.

Up top the reworked twin also spins with more confidence and lightness. The reason for this is a lighter crankshaft, which meant the rotating mass of the new T120 could be significantly reduced. This engine is a real gem! So it's really not necessary to wind out the twin, but it's fun nonetheless. Fuel consumption is also pleasingly low - in practice you get by on a good 5 litres per 100 km (manufacturer's figure 4.7 l/100km), which combined with the gorgeous 14.5 litre tank allows a range of around 300 kilometres.

First we did our laps on the Bonnie "old school" style through Vienna's historic centre. Uneven surfaces and nasty cobblestones presented the T120's chassis with its first challenges. Designed for comfort and combined with the comfortable and elegantly designed seat, the Triumph mastered this test with flying colours - relaxed cruising simply suits the classic beauty best. Also practical: thanks to its compact dimensions, the Bonneville is an ideal vehicle for lane splitting in the city. If you're then the first to stop at the traffic light, you draw quite a few glances: Is that old? Wow, you restored that beautifully! Hardly any passer-by is aware of the fact that a 2021 bike is standing in front of them!

For all its beauty, now we really want to know. So we leave the hectic city traffic behind and ride into the hilly countryside around Vienna to experience the T120's dynamic qualities. The Bonnie's chassis, apart from the preload on the rear twin shocks, is not adjustable and can sometimes reach its limits at a brisker pace. The mentioned shocks, with a tendency to wallow, prevent 100% reliable line-holding. The rebound damping simply doesn't work perfectly enough for the super-clean line.

On the other hand, the T120 is a very comfortable bike. Relaxed, upright sitting is easily manageable even at 1.87 metres. That way, compared to its sportier sisters, the T120 suits almost every rider, since the low seat height doesn't present smaller riders with insurmountable problems either, and the knee angle isn't too tight. This is paid for with a relatively low position of the footpegs, which in turn limits maximum lean angle. The Triumph Bonneville T120 is more suited to leisurely riding than spirited riding, but hardly any retro bike makes such a leisurely ride so worthwhile as the good old, pardon, new Bonnie T120.