London, U.K. May, 2008: The Triumph
Bonneville is an undisputed modern classic, synonymous with British
motorcycling and a byword for simple, original style. Today, it
stands as the perfect blend of British heritage, design and
glamour, backed by modern technology.
Named in recognition of Johnny Allen's 1950's record breaking
feats on a Triumph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the very
first Bonneville, the T120, was showcased at the Earls Court Bike
Show in 1958, with the machines available for sale to the general
public the following year. An instant hit in both the UK and
America, essentially the T120 was a high performance, twin
carburettor version of Triumph's T110 Tiger model. The combination
of extra performance with a fine-handling, lightweight chassis and
attractive design proved a winning combination and the bike went on
to become one of the most successful models of the era.
Today's Bonneville is an agile, honest roadster - perfect for
getting around town in style or blatting around back lanes - but
back then it was a high-performance sportsbike and billed by
Triumph in 1959 as offering "the highest performance from a
standard production motorcycle". Although in standard trim the T120
could not quite manage the 120mp/h (193km/h) top speed that its
name suggested, it was good for over 110mp/h (177km/h) and notched
up plenty of victories on the race track. Racing success spawned a
special edition 'Bonneville Thruxton' (1964-1965), which in turn
inspired a generation of café racer machines.
The making of an icon
Much more than a racer though, during the halcyon days of
motorcycling in the 1950s and 1960s, the Triumph Bonneville
established itself as the iconic bike of the era - a status that it
retains to this day. Motorcycling was at the height of its
popularity and the Bonneville achieved global cult status with many
a charismatic screen legend associated with this evocative machine,
both on and off screen. These included Steve McQueen in The
Great Escape, James Dean, in Rebel Without a Cause,
and Marlon Brando in The Wild One - as well as the likes
of Bob Dylan and Clint Eastwood amongst other cultural icons of the
era.
In December 1967, legendary American daredevil Evel Knievel even
chose the Triumph Bonneville for his ill-fated attempt to jump the
Caesar's Palace fountain in Las Vegas.
For many, 1969 was the Bonneville's finest hour with a series of
progressive developments culminating in a model at the peak of its
form. The most significant of the changes was to the engine, which
had notable trouble-free carburetion, a smooth power delivery and
great tractability at low speeds.
The 1969 edition is also considered a design highlight for the
Bonneville; the tank badge was changed to a more simple
'picture-frame' design, the dual seats were fitted with raised
tops, and the rear units became mere exposed springs which most
young riders wanted. Even the colour scheme adopted was a
fashionable Olympic Flame and white-lined in silver.
The Rock n' Roll Years
Especially in the UK in the 1960s, the Triumph Bonneville became
closely associated with rock n' roll culture - with versions of the
Bonneville being adopted by British rockers as the ultimate
motorcycle.
London's Rocker community found a home at the famous transport
café, Ace Café, which became the heart of
motorcycling and rock n' roll culture - and Bonnevilles, or
modified versions of them, would always be lined up outside. The
most popular machine of the rocker period was the Triton - a
custom-built motorcycle made from a Norton Featherbed frame, and a
Triumph Bonneville engine - combining what was considered the best
handling frame of the era with the fastest racing engine.
A Right Royal Occasion
The Bonneville continued to make its mark in the 1970s and 1980s,
when special, limited-edition bikes were launched to mark
significant royal occasions. In 1977, the T140J celebrated the
Queen's Silver Jubilee; and in 1981, 250 T140LE Royal Wedding
Bonnevilles were produced to mark the wedding between Prince
Charles and Diana.
The Bonneville into the 21st century
The 1970s were a troubled time at Triumph, with discontent among
the workforce following a government-sponsored merge with Norton
Villiers. Workers took over the Meriden factory in 1973 amid
rumours that it was to be closed and a strike ensued. Virtually no
bikes were produced over the following year and in 1975 the Meridan
Worker's Cooperative was formed. Production resumed and Bonneville
T140s continued to be built into the early 1980s and were the last
bikes to be built by Triumph before the Meriden factory closed in
1983. Even then the Bonnie refused to die. Small numbers were built
under licence by LF Harris of Newton Abbot, Devon, from
1985-1988.
The Bonnie looked as if it had been consigned to history, until
in 2000 a thoroughly modern version of the bike was unveiled.
Blending authentic styling with modern materials and manufacturing
techniques, the first of the new Bonnevilles was produced with a
790cc parallel-twin motor. A centenary model followed the next year
- the Bonneville T100 Centennial Edition - marking 100 years of the
Triumph brand.
The early years of the 21st century have continued to witness
the Bonneville's evolution, including an increase in capacity to
865cc and the introduction of fuel-injection (cleverly concealed to
retain the bike's original styling). The Bonneville family has also
grown to include the T100, Scrambler and Thruxton models.
The Bonneville has found real relevance today as a simple,
authentic roadster offering plenty of performance combined with
easy-going road manners. Clever design hides modern technology to
retain the authentic retro silhouette, while the characterful and
distinctive note of the twin cylinder engine is unmistakable. A low
seat height and similarly low centre of gravity make it an agile,
manageable motorcycle that all riders - ranging from those with
little experience to those with lots - can appreciate. It remains
an indisputable icon - a symbol of rebellion and individuality -
and still inspires a loyalty and emotion in everyone that rides
it.