You can tour on anything - I had a 2018 T120 - if your worried about range, just bring a rotopax fuel pack - I'm in Texas and rode it on a Big Bend trip from the DFW area. 1600 miles in 4 days. It was a blast and really had not issues or concerns. I now have a 2015 Yamaha Super Tenere / much bigger bike, even though it's got a 300 mile range, I enjoy making frequent stops to reset etc. The Yamaha is huge and I recently sat on a T120 again and it seemed tiny. But, it's so comfortable and easy to handle, hop on and off and there is so many accessories to make it your own. I do miss it.
Was that the trip that Eurosport Cycle (out of Fort worth) does? I’ve thought about that one, but I don’t think I could handle 1,600 miles on the stock Speed Twin seat. Maybe on a T120 it would be a different affair.
I did Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica on my Bonneville and loved it. I just added a fly screen and an Airhawk seat cushion and did great. I must say, though, that if you’re touring the American Southwest, you’re living dangerously by allowing your fuel supply to get as low as you do. Sometimes on the back roads, gas stations can be mighty few & far between! The only concern I have about long distance riding on my T120 is that tires aren’t tubeless which would make repair on the road somewhat challenging.
I took my triumph street twin cross country for 4000 miles a few years ago and it was simply brilliant the whole way. No issues. I rode right by where you were in Joshua tree. I bought a plastic gas thing for the back, which saved me once in some remote area of Eastern California, but other then that one time, no issues. I had a small fly screen which did help. I'm thinking about getting a T120, but having trouble parting with this one after 22,000 miles. Great touring bikes. I've found it helps to stop every 100-150 miles anyway, just to stretch and walk. Nice video.
I have a black and white 2016 T120. Love it! I think you'd have really appreciated Triumph's very precise cruise control, had it been installed. I use mine constantly. Right, 60-65 MPH is a real sweet spot on the T120.
I had An 1972 Yamaha XS 650 that I toured with in the late 70's . I have toured with GoldWings Electraglides street glides V Stroms. All entertaining bikes. MY Current bikes are a Roadking the Swiss army knife of touring you can Iron but on a king. Greatest bike I've owned. And I have triumph thruxton 900 I can't tell everyone how impressed I am with this bike it is completely Rideable the only issue is storage for the long run.
I'm moving to Europe in August and have found myself researching bikes again. I'm currently on a 2007 HD Streetbob that I just love. I've taken it on a number of long, 2K or longer trips, and have had a blast. My last trip, Aug of last year, with 7 friends I was the only "non-touring" bike. They all thought I was going to hold them back due to my "lack of comfort" and "lack of MPG". Well, I was in fine shape and got better MPG than they did (duh, my bike was lighter). I also handled the twisties within the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah Valley, and Smokies better than they did. I also prefer riding without a windscreen. Pretty settled on getting a Triumph when I move (not shipping my HD) and trying to decide between the 120, Speed Twin or Street Twin. Can't wait to test ride! And this idea that you "can't tour on a non-touring bike" is crazy. Bigger is not always better. Great review, cheers mate!
Following this ride I bought myself a Triumph Scrambler 1200 back in the UK. The Scrambler is a bit bigger and gives me more room, but the T120 definitely wins on style!
Great review! I've owned a 2018 T120 for a year now and love everything about the bike. Although I haven't done any long distance touring on the bike, I've done plenty of day trips. Your video confirms everything I've suspected about the potential for long distance touring both in terms of comfort and range. But I have to say you Europeans make me laugh when you talk about the "heavy" weight of the bike. Although I wouldn't put the Triumph Bonnies in the cruiser class most of the bikes I've owned have been cruisers (primarily mid-sized V-twins) not baggers. My T120 seems so light and flickable compared to those 6-700 pound bikes that I've owned previously, I sometimes long for a more substantial bike!! lol..Sorry to say but weight is subjective and a bike weighing in at a little over 500 pounds in my opinion is not in the least a heavy bike!!
I put a Mastad detachable windshield on mine as well as cruise. It is very capable and I have done 600 mile days on it. Speaking of which I have to make a 600 mile round trip to the dealer for a set of tires in less than 2 weeks from now. That will be my second 600 mile day on top of many 400 mile days.
Brilliant video and commentary .. agreed, it's a character bike with great ride built in! Fabulous views! I want to do a LV 60th birthday and now I'm going to include a tour of the Joshua tree park! Love u2! And the video was well made! Nice one! Sorry for the sales biotech to my Thai buddy!
Cheers! Thanks for sharing your experience. I m in the verge to make a decision. Or I go for the BMW R nine T, or I buy the Triumph T120. I will ride it alone, mostly, on touring with it. It will be me and a Bag for not a lot of things. I will stop to sleep in hotels too. That’s the way I like to do my trips . And I’m not very fond with the big mile muncher bikes. So, these two bikes would be my best choice. I love both, because I took both for a test ride. But now I have this question. Which one will do it better? In terms of endurance and not being fragile or needy, from a technical point of view. I think that the Bonneville is a very comfortable ride. The BMW is a little more harsh but the suspension felt great, maybe better than the T120, so, I’m a bit divided and the thing that will be important to end it, would be rusticity, of construction. I’ve seen very complimenting reviews about both, but never got to see them compared in this specific use of touring, because that’s not what they are made for, but I wonder, are they capable? Which one would be the best on it. By this video of yours, partially, I can get an opinion, the T120 is perfectly capable of serving that end , but again, on an endurance point of view, which one would be the winning bet? Thanks for your best reply. ✌️✌️
Hi Brito. If you've seen my other videos you will see I sold my BMW and bought the Triumph 1200 Scrambler rather than the T120. For the kind of riding I do, this is the better option. Positives: light, great engine, fun to ride. negatives: no screen for wind protection (though I could add one), less fuel range and less comfortable seat. On balance, no regrets. I'm loving the Scrambler.
Stopping for gas means coffee, stretch, maybe meet people , refocus, eat, a look over the bike in admiration, quick piss and off! What not to like and a full tank!
I see you have the original Triumph saddleback suspension brackets on the back of the motorcycle. They are ment to mount the fantastically beautiful practical and spacious original Triumph saddlebags. Why not have it on that motorcycle if you are going to travel and want to take things with you? they are quick to assemble as a pair, ideal and do not protrude too wide. they are made of waterproof thick leather and can be opened quickly and they looks very nice on the motorcycle.
Ha ha. They are cowboy riding gloves I bought in Tombstone Arizona several years ago. I loved them and called them my General Custer gloves. Unfortunately they were stolen in Florida along with some of my other riding gear.
