Bonneville 865 T100 Vs Street Twin (which Is Bigger)

The Street Twin wheelbase is 1415mm to the older 865’s 1493mm - about 3 inches! I have the 865 T100 (it is starting to get confusing which is which!) but the comparable old Bonnie is the SE with smaller cast wheels. The Street Twin is just that little bit smaller overall - probably to attract more female and first time riders in the States.
I could not compare them directly but imagine strong similarities albeit the later bike meets more stringent emission regs with a bigger and slightly more strangled motor that pushes out respectable torque.
Your budget is what ultimately limits your choice......but sitting on a Twin in the showroom it did feel diddier than my T100 which is not that big itself.

 

There's also the new Speed Twin as an option?

 

I have owned both, a 2005 T100 790cc and currently have a Street Twin, the Bonneville is a bit taller, heavier and with less midrange power, otherwise they both feel similar to ride.

 

Welcome to the forum.
I've owned a 2004 790cc T100 and currently own a 2012 865 SE. I've recently had the new water cooled T100 as a loan bike for a day.
Can't honestly say I felt much difference in size between them - if anything, the new T100 felt slightly smaller than my SE, but not by much. The water cooled 900's develop more torque than the air cooled 865's but have less BHP and consequently, a bit less top end speed.
The seats are different however! The original seat on my SE was more sculpted than the old T100 seat and about 20mm lower as a result. I found that this slightly cramped my legs on long trips and so changed it for a stock T100 seat.

 

Hi Jammy, Welcome to the forum, I feel your pain, I am 6'3" and 16 stone, most modern bikes seem made for small people!

 

Have a look here.....

https://www.triumphtwinpower.com/triumph-twin-power-efi-tunes.php#
Drop down menu ‘Twin Tech’ then ‘specs by model’

The key difference in model seat heights is achieved through smaller diameter wheels rather than major variation in other cycle parts. Faster steering but otherwise largely aesthetic.

Everything said about respective engine torque is true......until you mod the 865. My last of the carbs bike with a gutted airbox, bigger main jets and more open pipes is no faster in a straight line but has gained 15-20% mid range torque. It will easily pull steep Borders hills in 4th where previously I was on the edge of dropping from 3rd to 2nd. The Efi bikes benefit similarly. The Street Twin needs de-catting to gain oomph.

 

If you are thinking about an 865 Bonnie
https://www.thetriumphforum.com/threads/2015-bonneville-newchurch.16685/

 

Whereabouts in Scotland are you? You need to get to a showroom.....but, broadly speaking, yes!

 

Hi Jammy and welcome ! Good luck with your decision, see if you can go ride both again if possible and see which you feel more comfortable with.

 

Jammy
Can't really add anymore to what's been said. But welcome to the Family.
Ride Safe
Joe.

 

Welcome aboard Jammy.

Put a bench seat on the Street Twin to give you a tad more height, as I did. 865 with spoked wheels are taller than the alloy wheel ones and Street Twin. 900 (865i) Scrambler is taller still, but heavy. Current T100 is tallest of the current family.The Street Scrambler is quite tall too.

 

You will probably find one cropping up in Edinburgh or Glasgow Triumph used stock....

 

The spring length is longer on the T100 so it sits about 30mm higher.

 

Let us all know what you buy...

 

I went with a mate when he test rode a street twin, I was on my mag wheel 865 bonnie. We swapped bikes for a while and the first thing I noticed was how cramped the street twin riding position was compared to my bonneville. I was glad to swap back.

I have JSL touring bars and a slammer seat which open up the riding position a bit over standard, but the bonnie is by some measure the roomier bike.

I've also got open pipes, modded air box and stage three TTP tune, with which the air cooled 865 more than matches the street twin for mid range and has much better top end power.