Triumph Bonneville (2001-2016) - Review & Buying Guide

The Triumph Bonneville is one of those bikes that needs little introduction. Originally released in 1958 and named in honour of Johnny Allen’s 214mph land speed record that was set in 1956 on a Triumph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, it was only ever going to be a matter of time before the reinvented British brand reintroduced the Bonneville name for a new generation of riders to enjoy. Sure enough, the first ‘Hinckley’ Bonneville model appeared in 2001 and since then has become a mainstay in the firm’s ‘modern classic’ range in both middleweight and big-capacity versions. It may not have stayed the same capacity and its modern incarnation is water instead of air-cooled (and comes with a stack of clever tech), however the heart and soul – not to mention its look - have always stayed true to this iconic name’s heritage. If you want a bike that feels classic and carries a brand that everyone knows yet starts on the button, shrugs off the weight of a pillion and handles corners with ease, the Bonneville is a wonderful option. In fact, your only issue when buying a used Bonnie is deciding whether to go for a standard model, T100, a Black or one of the Special Editions variants – which isn’t really a terrible decision to have to make as they are all brilliant!

Pros & Cons

2001 - 2016 Triumph Bonneville - Price

The Bonnie has always been an ‘affordable’ classic and in 2001 it was priced at a very reasonable £5249 with the T100 costing a touch more at £5799 when it arrived a few years later – and that’s despite it being built in Britain, not Thailand like so many modern Triumph models. Nowadays the Bonnie tends to hold its value fairly well with prices for early 790cc models starting at around the £3000 mark, which seems to be the used value they hold at. If you want the bigger-capacity 865cc version (2007-onwards) you need to up your budget to around £4000-£4500, which is surprisingly costly when you consider a brand new (Indian-built...) Speed 400 is £5195. Generally, the top end of the Bonnie market is £5500 however there are a few special editions that sellers attempt to get a premium for but in truth they are just paint-job specials so aren’t worth paying over-the-top to own.

2001 - 2016 Triumph Bonneville - Engine & Performance

The air-cooled Bonneville had effectively the same engine throughout its life but it did receive a few significant upgrades. When it was launched in 2001 the motor had a capacity of 790cc, which was increased to 865cc for 2007 (some bikes registered in late 2006 bikes are this capacity). Carbs were replaced in 2008 by fuel-injection, which was necessary to meet tougher emissions regulations. When buying used, ideally you want the 865cc motor as it has more grunt than the 790cc model (61bhp compared to 67bhp with 44lb-ft verses 51lb-ft) but the debate over carbs and injection splits opinions. On a used bike the carbs can wear and become gummed up if not used regularly where injectors can also block and are trickier to clean up. Throttle response is identical between the two types of fuelling and the Bonnie has also always had a five-speed gearbox. So how does the engine feel?

A delightful motor, Triumph designed the Bonnie’s engine with a 360-degree crank, giving it more of a thumping nature in keeping with a classic British twin when compared to some of the other Bonnie-platform models which have 270-degree cranks (and the water-cooled range). Not the most powerful of engines, it doesn’t really demand any extra performance and the 865cc engine actually has more peak power than the early water-cooled model, although it produces less torque. Arguably the clutch is a touch heavy but you only really spot this trait when riding it back-to-back with a modern Bonnie. In 2014 new silencers with a different tune were introduced alongside machined details on the barrel block and head’s cooling fins, not that either is that significant.

When buying used, the engine is very robust. Older bikes can suffer from electrical issues which are generally traced back to coil packs failing but realistically your main concerns are broken electrical sensors (even the carbs have throttle position sensors on them), dodgy grounds and corroded connectors. The Bonnie is cheap to service (every 6000 miles, valve-clearances at 12,000-mile intervals) and also fairly easy due to its exposed nature and basic engineering, so don’t be surprised if the owner does the servicing themselves, it’s that kind of bike. Ideally, get it serviced fairly quickly by a professional to give it a once-over if this is the case just to be on the safe side.

2001 - 2016 Triumph Bonneville - Handling & Suspension (inc. Weight)

The Bonnie isn’t a sportsbike and it is softly sprung on suspension that, to be honest, could be considerably better quality. Happily a set of uprated shocks is easy to both locate and fit (between £200 and £700 depending on manufacturer) and fork rebuild kits are also common (around £200) with uprated springs and alternate fork oil. You could fit these at home but it’s a job probably best left to a professional. The brakes also benefit from an upgrade as the single two-piston sliding caliper is a touch weak in its bite. If you are used to using the front and rear brake it’s not a huge drama but if you tend to favour the front brake only, a set of braided lines and some new pads are welcome additions.

In general, the Bonnie’s only real weakness when it comes to the chassis is finish. Most Bonnies are well looked after but if corrosion sets in under the chrome, it can’t easily be removed. Check for any tell-tale ‘worming’ that indicates the chrome is about to flake off! Inspect the spoke wheels as they can rust and damaged spokes aren’t uncommon (the Bonnie gained cast wheels in 2009 where the T100 retained its spokes) and ensure all the bearings move smoothly, check the front frame rails for chipped paint and rust and also the oil cooler for any damage.

2001 - 2016 Triumph Bonneville - Comfort & Economy

Very traditional in its style and riding position, the Bonnie is a comfortable bike if you are happy to keep the speeds below 60mph. The soft suspension helps smooth the ride out and while some owners fit small screens, they aren’t quite in keeping with the Bonnie’s looks. Pillions are well catered for and a grab rail is all that is required (2014-onwards bikes have it as standard) to make their life nice and easy on the back.

Triumph claim the parallel-twin can average 68mpg at sensible speeds (56mpg on motorways, 51mpg in urban) but realistically average riding figures in the mid-50s are more common, which is frugal enough to squeeze almost 200 miles from a tank. There isn’t much difference in economy between the carbed and injected models.

2001 - 2016 Triumph Bonneville - Equipment

The Bonnie has very little in the way of equipment. ABS was never an option (it only arrived in 2017 on the all-new water-cooled Bonnie model) and the only major tech milestone the air-cooled bike saw was the introduction of fuel-injection in 2008. And to be honest, you struggle to tell if it’s an injected bike or not as Triumph styled the throttle bodies like carbs!

When it comes to accessories, quite a few Bonnies get tweaked. Generally most modifications are styling-focused with different seats, bar-end mirrors and replacement indicators and mudguards all fairly common. Some owners fit luggage or fly screens to improve its practicality but major modifications are rare and generally best avoided. If you want a slightly higher-spec model, the T100 comes with more chrome details and polished engine cases, rubber tank pads, twin clocks (the stock Bonnie lacks a rev counter, it only has a speedo) and wire wheels but it offers no extra performance than the stock Bonnie.  The SE is just a paint job special.

2001 - 2016 Triumph Bonneville - Rivals

Triumph have cornered the market with modern retros and while brands such as Moto Guzzi, Royal Enfield and Ducati do offer alternatives, in truth it’s only really the V7 or arguably the Bullet that can claim to deliver true retro charm like the Bonnie with the associated historic name.

Moto Guzzi V7 (2008-2020) | Price: £2500-£6500

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Power/Torque

46bhp / 44lb-ft

Weight

189kg

Ducati Scrambler Icon (2015-current) | Price: £3999-£9999

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Power/Torque

75bhp / 50lb-ft

Weight

186kg

Royal Enfield Bullet (2008-2016) | Price: £1500-£4999

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Power/Torque

28bhp / 30lb-ft

Weight

160kg

2001 - 2016 Triumph Bonneville - Verdict

The reinvented Bonneville hits the mark in so many ways. Beautifully styled with some lovely paint options, the air-cooled engine has bags of soul as well as an authentic design and thumping exhaust note. Lots of Bonnie models are cherished by their owners so there are some great examples out there for sale and if you want a relaxed retro, few do it better than Triumph. While the Bonnie variants such as the Scrambler, Thruxton, Speedmaster or America bring their own unique charms to the table, you can’t go wrong with a stock Bonnie or T100 – why mess with a classic? It may be sold on nostalgia but this is a pleasingly timeless machine that reminds you of the delights of two wheels during a carefree sunny Sunday potter.

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2001 - 2016 Triumph Bonneville - Technical Specification