Bonniville T120 V Bonniville America V Thunderbird

Antony Lensh · Jan 27, 2021

BLKWND said: ↑

I’ve put 115K hard miles on a 2004 Speedmaster (still riding it just as hard), and 17k on a 2009 Speedmaster (still riding it hard), and just rolled the first 1K on my new T120.

I never had issue with stock seating. I did put the Triumph Touring Seat on both Speedmasters, but I can’t tell any difference. I’m sure the pillion can. I found riding up at the tank the better position - weight forward, tucked in behind a flyscreen. I’ve many, many 11 hour days in the saddle and never ever felt I didn’t want to get up and do it again the next day.

Once I learned to know the motor, and to keep the revs up (they love it), they’re great hot rods. Comfortable, roomy, and plenty fast enough for anyone. Living in Houston and spending tons of time on inner loop freeways, these bikes are ideally suited to it.

And at 500 lbs., they can be picked up whenever the need arises, and can survive it without showing much evidence of it. They’re tough old birds.

They’re the little cruises that could. That being said, find other bikes with a 65” wheelbase. You won’t find many. The new Rocket3 is one of them.

As already stated, the T120 is better in every way, but really hard to compare the two. I thought a Tiger was on my horizon, and I put 40 miles on a demo 1200. Not a bad horse by any means.

I got on a T120 immediately afterwards and couldn’t get the grin off my face. It wasn’t even on my radar. Decided right then another hot rod was in order. Now, after 1K miles, I can’t really call it a hot rod. It can be made to be loud, and it can be lightened up a bit, but she’s a masterpiece as she is. Like an open air SUV on two wheels, and a luxury SUV at that.

The cruisers lend themselves to light bars and driving lights, and when properly deployed they do a swell job of pushing traffic around, day or night. The T120 doesn’t do that. I’m adding driving lights for the visibility, and the utility. I had the FOX rear shocks installed and at 15 clicks out you wouldn’t like it until you took it down a quick gravel road. At speed she’s a true thoroughbred. I’m tempted to change the gearing, as the Bonneville is no jackrabbit, but the more I ride her the more I appreciate the bike Triumph built. Triumph Engineering. It’s a thing. She is deceptively fast.

The T120 lacks for wind protection. I never realized how much the lower seat height and the fatter fuel tank contribute to wind protection. One my 2009, which I layer down a while back, I bobbed the rear and put a Thruxton fuel tank on her. And Norman Hyde foot controls, bringing them back 4” from stock. At 80 mph and above I can’t keep my feet on the pegs, as it literally blows me off. It’s all about the knee pads and arm strength then. The T120 isn’t like that. I have the small flyscreen. I can’t hear my music at freeway speeds on the T120, where I can barely hear it on my other two bikes. But blowing me off? No. Sitting higher and on a taller rear wheel, it is a little more sensitive to crosswinds. Just say the pendulum can swing a little further on the Bonneville. Nothing wrong with that. She’s very comfortable and the stock seat is good here, too.

As for touring, no doubt the Tiger is the tool for that. I’ve done my share on the Speediest, with saddlebags (always go LARGE), and the large MOTOFIZ CAMPING SEAT BAG (Aerostich), and I’ve known people to tour on Bonnevilles and scooters, for that matter. If you want a big top case and huge side cases, that’s the Adventure bike category. Ingenuity and careful selection of gear and priorities. You can tour on anything.
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Thanks for the comprehensive reply and taking the time to do it

BLKWND · Jan 28, 2021

I’m really liking this T120... I would not recommend as a starter bike, though. She does command respect.

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