Photography: Mohd. Nasir
In the mind of a true motorcycling enthusiast, Triumph Bonneville, or better known as Bonnie, is an iconic name. Back in 1959, the days of the original Bonneville T120, this motorcycle was considered as the E-Type of two wheels. Anybody with a Bonneville considered himself as an action hero. And just as the year 2013 ended, the British manufacturer announced its entry in India. And joy of joy, so did the Bonnie. I felt ecstatic riding this beautiful icon.
Further through the years Triumph gave the Bonnie a bigger heart, equipment kept updating, more technology replaced older parts, even the ownership of the brand changed, but what did not change was that glorious styling which remained intact. There are lashings of chrome and black in the correct amounts across the entire body. The cool retro dials and the classic peashooter exhausts are a perfect mix of the old school and the new. The cooling fins on the engine block get chrome finishing as well. Triumph has even left the ignition at the side of the headlamp, just like the classic Bonneville, and even shaped the fuel injection like carburettors to keep the styling intact.
Back when the Bonnie was conceived, it had a 650cc parallel twin engine with a 4-speed transmission. In the 60s, the Bonnie was well known for its engine prowess. It could cross 160kmph which was mind blowing in those days. Later the engine size increased to 724cc, and further bored to 744cc in the 70s. In 2001, the completely new Bonnie was launched with a 790cc engine. Finally the 865cc engine, with a new fuel injection system, made its debut in 2008. This parallel twin mill pumps out 67 horses and 68Nm of pulling power. The critical word to be considered for this motorcycle is ‘effortless’. For all the hotheads, this is not a crotch rocket. This is the Bonnie. Riding an iconic machine like this sets a retro tone. You ride it like somebody who is not bothered about performance figures and lap time numbers. You ride it to make a statement that you have grown past these things.
Mind you this does not mean that the Bonnie is not fast. When the mood takes you fancy, the Bonneville responds as a very capable and nimble motorcycle. Being a parallel twin completely changes the appeal from a lazy V-twin. The engine spins high and responds quickly through the shifts, in fact a bit too quickly. The fuelling system is abrupt in response for most riders liking, but hopefully you’ll get used to it. The Metzeler tyres are extremely good and can negotiate a variety of surfaces found on our roads. The retro looks of the Bonnie might fool you in thinking that it handles like a sofa, but it is brilliant in the handling department. The steering feels light and responds to the slightest directional inputs. Another ace up its sleeve is the suspension which gives a very comfortable and planted ride.
Getting to 160kmph is very easy for the Bonnie. However, what you’ll love is the brawny delivery it gives. Vibrations creep in after you go past that mark. A word of warning, the oil filter placement is problematic and the slightest scrap on a speed humps will make it pee. All I say is the ground clearance is fair, but be careful. As a bonus, the Bonnie returns about 20-25km to a litre of petrol. At 5.7lakh, the Triumph Bonneville not just gives you a lot of motorcycle, but also that strong evocative motorcycling legacy which is hard to find in today’s sea of mindless numbers.
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