Triumph Bonneville

History

The “Bonnie” is one of the most famous motor bikes of the English production. Its history begins on the deserted salt of Bonneville, in the Utah, the September 6th 1956. This day, Johnny Allen reaches 342 km/h on a machine using an engine of 650 cm ³ coming from Triumph Tiger 110.
Although this record was not officially approved, the factory decides to pay homage to the man and his machine while presenting, in 1959, T120 Bonneville (T120 because able to hang the 120 mph - is approximately 193 km/h). It is the beginning of a model which forms part of the range still today.

Models

T120

T120 is thus presented in 1959. It uses a twin-cylinder in line fixed with 360°, four times, of 649 cm ³. The Gear box is with four reports/ratios. This engine is not real innovation, since it is only one evolution of that which equipped Tiger 110, itself derived from the 500 Speed Twin and Tiger 100. It develops 47 horses, for 166 kg dry. Side left cycle, the framework is a simple cradle, braking is entrusted to drums simple came.
In 1963, the engine gives up the separated gear box, the framework becomes a simple cradle duplicated under the moteur.
In 1968, the front brake becomes with double came.
In 1971, the framework becomes with double berceau.
The production of T120 ends in 1973, in the profit of its replacing, T140.

T140

T140 takes again the torch behind T120 in 1973. Its engine sees its Alésage increasing by 5 mm, the cubic capacity passing to 744 cm ³. the gear box is with five reports/ratios. The framework is always a double cradle. The front brake is a simple disc gripped by a clamp Lockheed, the back remains with drum. It is sold 1735 €.
In 1976, Bonneville adopts a disc of brake to the back and the selection is put at the Japanese standards, with a selector which migrates on the left of the moto.
In 1977, a limited series of 1 000 specimens, called Queen Jubilee , commemorates the 25 years of the reign of the queen Elisabeth of England. It is characterized by its red, white and blue colors on a tank argent.
In 1979, Bonneville is put at the mode of the Chopper with the model Special . It raises a high handlebar, an exhaust 2-in-1, and a broader wheel with the arrière.
In 1981, to celebrate the marriage enters the prince Charles and Lady Diana, Triumph presents a special series Royale, with many elements polished or chrome, a double disc with front, Marzocchi shock absorbers. The same year, the executive Bonneville tightens the arms with the large travellers. It offers two side satchels, a signal-box and an enormous careenage head of fork fixed on the guidon.
In 1983, the TSS was supposed to slow down the rise of the Japanese models and to start again Triumph. The engine develops 60 horses. But the bankruptcy is inevitable. The factory ferme.
Between 1985 and 1988, the production of Bonneville remains assured by Harris. It is equipped with a fork Paioli, shock absorbers Marzocchi, Brembo brakes. But, in 1988, John Bloor, owner of Triumph, decide not to renew the user license. It is the stop of the “Bonnie”.

Bonneville had nevertheless its hour of glory with the cinema, Richard Gere overlaps T140 in Officier and Gentleman.

Bonneville 2000

In 2000, the man who had put a term at the career of the Bonneville gives again him life. John Bloor surfe on the néo-retro wave and proposes the Bonneville news. The engine is always a twin-cylinder on line four fixed times with 360°. Its cubic capacity is from now on of 790 cm ³, delivering 62 horses. The framework remains a double cradle.

In 2001, the range is packed with the arrival of the Bonneville America (large handlebar and position more typified for the cruising, chock of the engine with 270°) and the Bonneville T100 Centenial Edition which commemorates the 100 years of the mark (chromium, more looked after completion, account-turn).

In 2002, the version Speedmaster proposes an alternative slightly more sporting to America, with a flat handlebar, two discs of brake before…
The casings of standard Bonneville, before chormés, are from now on in Aluminum polished. The chrome casings remain available in option.

In 2003, Triumph Bonneville America and Bonneville Speedmaster are famous simply Triumph America and Triumph Speedmaster.

For 2005, the cubic capacity of the engines of T100, Speedmaster and America is increased to 865 cm ³, with the adoption of the engine which equipped the Thruxton up to that point.

The same year, Triumph present nine Bonneville T100, whose decoration is the work of the creator Paul Smith. They are called:

Union Flag With Naked Lady
Multi-Stripe
Multi-Chequer
Chequer
Slogan Paisley
Multi-Swirl
Multi-Roundel
Live-Fast
Rafter Paisley

The factory decides to produce two series limited to 50 specimens chacunes of two models: the Multi-Union and the Live Fast . They are numbered, all the two sold 11.700 € and receive a certificate of authentification.

For the year 2007, standard Bonneville adopts the engine of 865 cm ³. Speedmaster and America forsake their rims respectively with five sticks and rays for rims with twelve bâtons.
Bonneville is declined in a black special edition chechmate, called Bonneville Black. Following the example Ducati Mostro Dark, it represents the model of line entry, at price planché : 7 790 €.

In 2008, the range Modern Classics adopts the food by injection. In order not to denature néo-retro general esthetics, the body of the injectors is camouflaged in a imitation-carburettor. The capacity of the tank passes from 16,6 to 19,9 liters.

The colors available are:
Bonneville:

2001: Scarlet Red/Silver and Forest Green/Silver
2002: Scarlet Red/Silver, Forest Green/Silver and Sky Blue/Silver
2003 and 2004: Cardinal Red and Jet Black
2005: Jet Black, GoodWood Green and Aegean Blue
2006: Jet Black, GoodWood Green and Aluminum Silver
2007: GoodWood Green, Silver Aluminum and Jet Black
2008: Jet Black, Claret, Silver Aluminum and Fusion White

Bonneville T100:

2002: Orange Lucifer/Silver
2003: GoodWood Green/Aztec Gold and Sapphire Blue/Opal White
2004: GoodWood Green/Aztec Gold, Sapphire Blue/Opal White and Jet Black/Opal White
2005: Jet Black/Opal White and Jet Black/Tangerine
2006: Tangerine/Opal White and Jet Black/Tornado Red
2007: Jet Black/White, Jet Black/Tornado Red and Lucifer Orange/Silver Aluminum (limited to 100 specimens)
2008: Jet Black/Tornado Red, Jet Black/White Fusion, Claret/Silver Aluminum and Forest Green/New England White

Bonneville America:

2002: Cardinal Red/Silver and Jet Black/Silver
2003: Red/Silver cardinal, Jet Black/Silver and Caspian Blue/Silver
2004: Jet Black, Caspian Blue/Silver and GoodWood Green/Silver
2005: Jet Black, GoodWood Green/Silver and Mulberry Red/Graphite
2006: Jet Black, Graphite/Silver and Mulberry Red/Graphite
2007: Phantom Black, Phantom Black/Sunset Red, Phantom Black/Tornado Red and Pacific Blue/New England White
2008: Phantom Black, Pacific Blue/New England White and Pacific Blue/Aegean Blue

Bonneville Speedmaster:

2003: Jet Black/Tornado Red and Jet Black/Racing Yellow
2004: Jet Black, Jet Black/Tornado Red, Jet Black/Racing Yellow and Jet Black/Sky Blue
2005: Jet Black, Jet Black/Tornado Red and Jet Black/Neon Blue
2006: Jet Black, Jet Black/Sunset Red and Jet Black/Neon Blue
2007: Phantom Black, Phantom Black/Sunset Red, Phantom Black/Tornado Red and Mulberry Red
2008: Phantom Black, Phantom Black/Tornado Red and Pacific Blue/Aluminum Silver

Sales in France of Triumph Bonneville:

2001:444 e.g.
2002:4933 e.g.
2003:7160 e.g.
2004:6481 e.g.

Notes and references of the article

Random links: