I am 54 I got the same motorcycle , and I wouldn’t change it , I ride it everyday to work , all year around Bronx to Manhatan, and I love it, thanks for this great video. 👍🏼
I liked your review. I’ve test ridden a T120 and the Scrambler and consequently placed an order for the T120. I guess I’m bang in the target group you describe, nearly 68, had my fill after owning Fireblade, Blackbird and current Africa Twin. This bike looks so much like my first Tiger 90 back in the sixties that it was love at first sight and so I’m looking forward to just enjoying this new bike for what it is and the sheer biking pleasure that I know it will give me. Thank you.
God I expect you made all the other kids cry by telling them that Santa does not and never did exist when you were 5. The video got off to such a negative start. The T120 is a magical creation - a jewel of a motorbike. I have mine 3 years now as well as a 2016 Thruxton R - another gem. You gotta mind the engine casings so don't get one as regular transport. These are pure toys to be enjoyed and polished and just relished. .
You're laying it on as sickly sweet as I was diametrically negative, we're just on different ends of the see saw. However, this is a grrat bike to ride and I liked it once I was sat on it and didn't have to look at it, but a magical creation?! come ooooooon 😂😘
Nah, I disagree on your definition of heritage. Heritage is a 50 year old Meriden built Triumph T100 that is lovingly maintained and ridden by a person who dedicates time and effort in keeping a genuine classic on the road, inspite of the old bikes massive design flaws which sealed the doom of Triumph Engineering all those years ago. This bike, albeit very well made and a lovely bike to ride, is a fully modern state of the art computerised motorcycle. It has been designed to ape the past and cash in on people's phoney pathos for a past they never knew. This is an Elvis impersonator singing through autotune, this is plastic palm trees in Centre Parks, this is kid playing Smoke On The Water on Playstation Guitar Hero. This isn't pure heritage.
I've owned a T120 for almost two years now. It's the finest all around bike I've ever had. There's some good natured, unintentional misinformation here, so take the details presented with a grain of salt.
tsmgguy This was unexpected last minute test ride that I hadn't planned for, so if you can clear up where I'm wide of the mark I'll see about adding some annotations. Thanks
I'd guess Mr. Four that the bloke is referring to your slur on the owners, as if they are idiots that think they are old barrels and carbies..@@VeeFour I guess some folks are sensitive. Of course my black tyres are blacker than your black tyres so I don't care. Thanks for your video.
Thanks. I seem to draw a lot of flack about this one because of my initial dislike of the bike's aethetics, but at least one person seems to have understood my meaning, so thanks :)
Nice review on the Triumph T120. I love Bikes. Period. So , I like them all sizes and shapes. The diversity is the pleasure it self. Riding and knowing very different bikes, at the same time and space, gives you a clear picture of what they are all about, one by one. This bike, is beautiful, powerful (enough), and pleasant to ride on every aspect. It has flaws? Maybe. Like everything has. It depends on the views from where you’re looking at it. This Bike evoques the ancient Triumphs of 1959 and near that. But it is just an evocative bike. It isn’t nothing like the original model it resembles. But the looks of it…wonderful! It’s a modern bike with a retro look. And we pay the price of gathering this two features in one product. That’s why it costs what it costs. It gives the best of two ages. Man, for me the brand nailed it! This is a true segment of the market and I say, congrats Triumph! You managed to get a new Era of paying new costumers. And in the end, the bike is a lot fun to ride! That’s my opinion. Thanks again for the video.
A nice honest review of the bike. Thank you. I have had this for almost 500 miles now and have already changed the rear stock shocks, which are like lumps of wood, to Hagon 2810s and will shortly change the front springs to progressive springs from tec. The bike is heavy and the 2810s bottomed out on the softest preload but were fine once I moved it to the central position and adjusted the damping to number 3 of 10. I may ask Hagon to trial a heavier spring so that I can have increased preload for pillion and gear. A great bike, apart from the dire suspension. Change it or suffer. Also, I ride it in rain mode because with all that power I would rather have it less tetchy when I'm in town stop start traffic and it has more than enough power on the open road in rain mode. The headlight has a day time running light, a dipped beam and a full beam finger switch. I at first thought that I had made a mistake, due to back pain, but with the suspension upgrade I'm warming to it.
themassofmen I have to say that I ended up really warming to this bike after I finished recording, and I found that the suspension seemed to improve the harder that I pushed it. The roads were damp with liberal patches of wet mashed up leaves, but I was still able to confidently give it big handfulls out of corners with the TC off. I would enjoy taking one out on a Sunday just to embarrass a few Fireblade and GSXR riders. It makes me want ti try the Thruxton R now
These bikes are all about looks and feel good factor so who cares if the carbs are fake. Also they are toys so designed to be taken out on nice days and lovingly cleaned and polished inside a nice dry garage on bad days. Its not designed as an every day commuter vehicle. My 2017 model still looks like it came out of the show room following those principals.
I'll never be sold on the faux retro looks, but that engine is mint, AND it could be used for commuting duties just as well as being used as a weekend toy 👍
T120 rider in Thailand here. Very good review! I have had mine for just over a year and 15,000 kms and most of your observations are sound for the circumstances in which you ride the bike. I am 55 yrs old and the style of this standard bike is great for me. Gearbox, clutch, torque and usability in most conditions are superb. Not a sportsbike that I need to keep revving above 6k to keep it running, I give you that. LOL. I am not heavy and do not carry to much weight on the bike but the front end could do with being better. Luckily, a new set of fork springs in the front sorts that out apparently. Mr Fillingham's youtube channel has a good feature on that very subject. I really like your impartiality for most of this video. Thanks, keep up the good work.
Just read through the comments and cant see that anyone else has mentioned it so I thought I would. Nice review of a bike that you say isnt your choice of style. I have a T120 and love it. I do find its a bit of work on cornering and you can very easily drift wide if you're not careful. Of course that might just be my lack of skill lol. The thing that made me want to comment was what you said about the headlight. What you seem to be confusing is that they actually have daylight running LED lights that are switchable on the light rocker switch. To get to main beam you have to be in dipped lights and then use the flash/pass light switch. This puts it in to main beam which in my opinion is pretty good. I always ride on dipped lights so daylight running is a bit of a waste to me but it's law to have them now i believe.
Jim Woollard I found the same thing with the Street Triple RS headlights, but they were only test rides so it wasn't explained to me, and I'm glad to hear that the lights work properly and it's not an issue. With handling in the corners, I found that the bike likes to be ridden hard, and if you grab it by the scruff of it's neck and throw your weight into the inside with a goodly dab of counter steer, it holds its line suprisingly well. You just have to trust the front but it'll handle surprisingly well 👍
Excellent, comprehensive review. Feel like I’ve ridden the bike after watching. Perhaps will trade up from my beloved 2012 110th anniversary Bonnie, which will be painful to part with. The 2019 Bonnie in pearl white with the silver Union Jack underlay on the tank looks intriguing.. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and opinions, most appreciated! Cheers.
Thanks very much. You might miss your current bike initially, but that 1200 High Torque engine is an absolute peach and it'll win you over straight away 👍
I got a super laugh about ur been to the past, comment 😂. You're very honest about your re review. So cool. I'm 68, and have never had a Triumph, but love the look, so after a Suzuki t 500, a 75 Honda CB 750, and a Yamaha VMAX, I thought a Triumph is suitable for me at this point. So I bought a 2005 air cooled Bonnie. Thanks for your nice review. Gives me hope
Oooh a Vmax, now there was a big lad's bike. I never owned one, but I had the use of one for a few weeks back in the 90s and I loved it. It was that bike which gave me my enduring love for the V4 engine 👍
@@VeeFour Sure nuff. V boost was a trip. At 6000 rpm it kicked in and u knew it. Like a super charger on a rail. Wish sometimes I hadn't of sold it. That and my 67 GTO. But life is full of wishes. Take care.
Haha I’m reading the comments and let me just say, you don’t have to be in the older camp to enjoy this bike. If you have a relaxed personality and wanna put bags on it and get out of town for a few hours then go for it. So if any younger guys read this it’s ok, buy it. It might even get ya laid. Great review Dave!
Jool A motorcycle has only directly got me laid once. It was 1998. I was an itinerant scuba diving instructor in Cyprus and she was a Russian bar manager who looked like Jerry Ryan (The actress that played Seven Of Nine in Star Trek Voyager). The bike was Yamaha Vmax 1200 and that V4 beast was the ultimate wing man. Damn that was a good week
It's liquid AND air cooled, hence the relatively compact radiator and pretty fins rather than a great big slab in front of an ugly sleeved lump. Also, a street triple RS is a different beast - twitchy, uncomfortable and less torquey by comparison - and a pillion? Forget it.
I'm a biker. To the bone, to the dick. When I did can have a Harley, already had used over 20 various bikes... and from then onwards I've ridden exclusively big twins from Milwaukee. Now, at 70, I've sold my last beast Twin Cam carb'ed Softail and bought (NEXT WEEK NUMBER-PLATED!) a shining, classy, ANTI-DULL-MAT black T120.
Very Useful information. How you say I do find it a bit expensive, if it wasn't so I would have bought it... I find this bike ideal for my age. Thank you for all.
I don't think anyone is trying to "fool" anybody...it's the modern continuation of a Triumph Bonneville (yes it is subjective). BTW...is there anybody in the UK that doesn't have a RU-vid channel?
To begin I was going to switch channel but I thought let’s hear him out I’ve watched all their is on RU-vid for this bike and it’s actually quite refreshing to hear a honest review I haven’t got one of these as yet but I turn 50 next year and I’m feeling the years slip by and I think this bike could fit me well into the future at the moment I have a Xj6 ‘Wr250r and a BMW yes mid life chrisses great vid loved every minute kind regards Phil
Thanks Phil. I try to be fair and objective, and although I don't like the overly retro styling of this one, it's a fun bike to ride once you get use to it's quirks, and the engine has some real character. It's well worth a test ride.
Nice, not much a love of these types of retro bikes, that being said if you could have a different bike for a different mood, it would def be something I would consider, also something that you could quite happily chuck the kids on and have some fun. There is one key thing i got form watching this vid and that's how I miss the UK country roads, NZ is amazing but just not the same for the roads, great vid buddy.
MCProcrastinator really? You miss Uk roads? They are really busy and pot holed to hell. What's the problem with NZ roads? I'd have thought that they would be amazing given all that countryside
NZ is amazing, but the roads are def not high quality and the drivers here well they are awful!!! Maybe I just rem the UK being better than it was, used to love the country roads in Wales I used to ride, but like all things been away for 10 years now, I guess you forget :")
Pretty good review my friend, I have had a test ride,, as you said , much inprovement on old model, but still room for inprovement, I suggest to anyone owning one to check out Tec Bike parts, I particularly found the suspension pretty shoddy for the price,
Well VeeFour, I thank you, an excellent review, and as a lot of folks say, you do give an honest opinion of the bike, and that's what we need to hear. But for God's sake slow it down a tad on those country lanes/roads, you're taking all of us along as your pillion passenger and I confess, I was someway nervy of some stray animal jumping out in front of you near the end of your review. Thanks btw, I actually enjoyed that ride immensely. Can't wait until next year to when I join the club, cheers...
David Hamilton Don't worry, the Superview wide screen setting on my GoPro really projects an exaggerated perception of speed and narrowness. In reality the roads and gaps are much wider than they appear on the footage.
Ah, thank you, as it did appear that the speed was well up there, and looking at the speedo needle, it's position didn't seem to correlate to what we were seeing, cheers...
Nice honest review mate, I have the same bike, well a 2016 model and I love it, although I agree about the front end on slow running, I hated the tyres, and is now much improved with Bridgestones BT45s, the original Pirellis white lined, and did feel unstable. The mirrors too, I changed them to bar ends, and I changed the seat to their 'comfort seat'. I do go camping on mine and have toured extensively. Incidentally, the pipes will not 'blue' as they are double skinned . I actually warmed to your review, as it progressed, initially I thought you were too negative and had an agenda, but like I said at the start, you have certainly been honest with your first impressions. (I'm 66 by the way, so I am an old 'un, and have been riding since '68) anyway, good review, and I think I'll check out your "little" channel, all the best, Dave
Thanks Dave. I don't mind a bike thats styled along retro lines with a definite nod to the past, I just don't like all the phoney stuff like cosmetic cooling fins and fuel injector throttle bodies made to look like carbs, because they reduce a bike to costume jewellery. However I knew the bike would be good because Triumph don't make a bad bike, and once I got riding I started to understand how good a bike it really is. I loved the low down grunt and it got better the harder I rode it, so I'd love to take one out on a sunday and embarrass a few sportsbike riders 👍
fair play Dave, agree, but for me, I do like all the styling!, I had a 1970 T120, and I wanted a retro bike, if you want to call it that, that looked like my old Bonnie, but without all the leaks and the kick start! cheers, Dave
*Dave Harriman* Hi Dave, I'm Dave from Australia. VeeFour mentioned about corrosion on the alloy cases, but back in the day, 1963 to be exact, with my 1959 650cc Triumph Thunderbird, we also experienced extremely harsh winters where I lived, and so we used a product called, Goddards Glow, it being a white paste metal polish in a tube. The more you used it the better the result, so that the highly polished alloy looked to be almost as bright as chromium. In all the years I owned the bike, I never had a problem with pitting as the polished protected it somewhat. That and the fact that it was polished quite extensively. It was unheard of back then to have a dirty bike. I've never seen that brand basically since the 1970s, but the next best thing that's equal to it, is a German product, called Solvol-Autosol, same white paste in a tube metal polish. As for the "fake" cooling fins, I personally feel it's far better to still incorporate that styling, mainly because that engine would just look like a solid lump of metal without them and detract from it's overall iconic looks. Besides all motorcycles have continued with finned barrels, be they water cooled or not. Also what better compliment is there, with Triumph reintroducing the iconic looks of the Bonneville, for us to relive again today, what we experienced way back then, but with the added bonus of added safety features, together with modern electronics. Next year, my wife and I are going to move to the Philippines, as Australia is becoming almost impossible to survive on the old age pension. She is from there and has not been home for many years. The cost of living there is so much cheaper and I can still receive my pension, albeit somewhat reduced with concessions taken off. So it's easy to see that there maybe a new Triumph T120 Bonneville there with my name on it, lol...
I always thought that the 1980's Japanese big in line fours were the best looking bikes to me, so I'd be interested to see a modern take on the look, so long as they didn't add phoney touches like faux cooling fins and such
@@martinmartin5904 I had a 75 CB 750, was a very decent semi cruiser cafe racer street combo for the era. It actually had pretty good umph for the time. Kinda miss it honestly. The t 100 I have now is similar in style. Hang in there,,
Thanks, but Triumph aren't trying to "con" anyone! We all know it's water cooled, it has a radiator, and we all know we cannot have carbs anymore. Just keeping the original look which is fine.
It's a taste think I know, but I've witnessed lay people mistake modern retro Triumphs for genuine 60s machinery, and there's just something about this level of mimicry that I find unsettling. To me it's trying to hark back to an era that people (if they were even alive then) gloss paint over with a sickly sweet layer of phony pathos. I have always been a forward thinking man, and I like motorbikes to be progressive with an eye to the future, as since being a kid they represented the future for me. I personally think that Triumph by sticking air cooling fins, throttle bodies that mimic carbs, and generally aping the styles of the 1960s, are just cynically targeting people of a certain age and dispisible income, with the intent to generate a sickly misty-eyed rewriting of the past were British bikes were generally crap, and the world was a horribly miserable place full of intolerance and hatred. Still, it's a lovely and very pleasant bike to ride. That torque! ooooh it's fantastic! 😉
Hi Dave, Very interesting, like you, I've not been really been interested in the retro look, but do like naked's, I had a Hornet 900 for 12 years which I now wish I hadn't sold, and as you say, the linear air flow was less of a problem than the buffeting half faired/screened bikes like the Crossrunner and the Tiger 800 (I now own) give, on the Hornet the dials and tank shape seemed to work quite well deflecting the worst of the flow, regarding TCS, I would guess (and it's only a guest) that after having to have ABS (Euro 5 or is it 4?) the cost is only the initial software cost (plus timing ring and selector switch), then once you've done this, then have ride by wire, it probably doesn't cost any extra to add riding modes. You mentioned the weight (230+ Kg wet), I've never ridden one so I take your word that it hides it well, but I did a test in a dealers to see how heavy it was to lift off the side stand (to get an idea of what it would be like to manhandle into the garage etc), and I found it to be very heavy especially compared to the Hornet (and my Tiger). Changing the subject, I think you must have quite a few years before you need think about giving up riding, I'm 74 (and a half), and I'm still riding, not only my Tiger but any other bike I can blag from a dealer (managed 115mph the other day on a Honda X-ADV). 😉
Gordon Waltham Thanks Gordon. I've never ridden one, but in my opinion I think that the Hornet 900 possibly began the sports bike inspired naked muscle bike class, and is unjustly overlooked. I remember reading about its launch in the motorcycle press at the time, and how astonished and excited everyone was about how you could buy an off the peg bike everyday useable bike, that had a full blooded sports bike engine at its heart (lifted from the 900 Fireblade). Before that, if you wanted such a bike you had to build it yourself, and I knew a couple of blokes who bolted GSXR 1100 engines into Kawasaki Z650/750 frames with varying degrees of success. Some might argue that the Suzuki Bandit was thd first, but it's engine was old even begore the first ones left the production line. Every credit to you for sticking to 2 wheels, and I can't think of any reason why I won't be doing the same in s few decades from now 👍👍
Hi Dave, It was (for me) a real hooligan and fun bike, what I can't understand is why are modern bikes so heavy, the Hornet (a full blown 4 cylinder jobee) weighed in at 194Kg (dry), it seems the only way you can get a litre class bike under 200Kg these days is by getting one of the big twins. 😐
Funny how a kid like me that was born in the 60’s, grew up in the 70’s and 80’s and now fifty years old finds this bike to be beautifully designed and fun because it has a v-twin, a cable clutch, a powerful yet tame demeanor, brushed aluminum, and chrome pea shooters. Yet, you who speak as I would guess is at least a generation older has little appreciation for it. I remember as a kid seeing the flared pipes getting popular and eventually commonplace and thinking, damn those megaphone pipes are hideous. To each his own...
I'm almost 50 myself, but motorbikes have always been a symbol of progression and modernity to me. So I prefer them to be styled with an eye to the future, not fixated on a stagnant past. It's lovely to ride though
Dear Mr. VeeFour: If you're upset about the "cooling" fins on the jugs (i.e. twin cylinders), take a look at the new Harley's. They too have combination air/water cooled engines on the large cross country cruisers. If you would read up on the engineering of the current Triumph engines, you will find that Triumph Modern Classics keep the radiator size smaller, due to using the cooling fins on the cylinders to assist in cooling the liquid in the water jackets. Your Fellow Rider, AJ
*VeeFour". That's been a feature of all the Triumphs I've looked at. My '59 T-Bird had them. Oh, and I watched an excellent review, where it was reported that the pipes will not burn blue on this model as they're "double skinned"...
Hi.. Good review. I test rode one a couple of days ago and really liked it. Totally agree about the mirrors though. After my Tiger I felt as if I hadn’t a clue what was going-on behind me. Bar-ends would be a must. Bought my Tiger in September. It’s fabulous , but I’m struggling with the weight. At 65 I should have known better. Fancy the Bonnie a lot. Going to take a big-hit if I chop the Tiger though. Regards. Bill.
Yeah the trade in hit is a pain, and it's not the time of year to be selling bikes privately. It suprised me after the ride to find out just how heavy the Bonny is, because it felt very light with it's low seat and small size
Cant understand why this guy even bothered to test the bike in the first place especially as he said he'd been here before in the old days and it wasn't that good anyway.
My wife has a T100 which is a 2006. Doesn't ride it anymore so we are trying to sell it. Not my favorite either but it is super easy to ride. It's just not so comfortable for me. The ergos are well off for what I like.
I didn't know they had been running this model for so long. They just feel to small for anyone over average height to me, but great for the smaller lighter rider.
VeeFour I think 2005 was the first year they brought them to the US. Bonny and Bonny T100. Now they have the 120 which sounds like a much more powerful bike. Also my wife's is only 5 speed if I recall. It sits low to the ground for sure. I don't care for the couch to sit on. Never quite sure where to be on it. It is a nice bike for just meandering through quiet mountain roads though.
VeeFour I actually rode a 2016 or 2017 R1 a few weeks back. Liked it more than I thought I would. But I felt like I was sat up on the tank like a circus bear and the clip ons had such little space from lock to lock it was tough to get it out of the parking lot. Did you do anything on yours with the clip ons? Maybe it isn't a problem for you but I am used to a bar like my Tuono.
I just got used to the clip ons and eventually I learned to live with them. The R1 is just to highly strung for the road though, so mine is being reserved for track duties only in 2018
You have your headlight mixed up,when you showed the headlight it was on low beam,when you changed it went to DRL- Daylight Running light....the dippwer for the high/low should be on a switch to the front of the left hand switch gear
Why are you so negative about styling triumph have added to keep the retro feel. It has the benefits of a modern bike while looking retro .... that's the point right?
It was a while ago now, but I think I explained in the vid. I don't like retro styled bikes as I don't go in for the dewey eyed phony pathos for an era that was basically crap in every respect, and having been born and raised in the said era I speak from exoerience. In all things I prefer progress and modernity and I like to see this in the vehicles I own. It was a lovely bike to ride, just not at all to my taste styling wise
They're not trying to "fool" anyone; they simply returned to a "look"... I don't like the pea-shooters either, gives it a sissy-ish sort of look; and they're too quiet. Loud pipes save lives; at least in Central Texas, they do... It is a little pricey; I too have been considered the Street Triple RS over the Bonneville T120, however, I have yet to give the Street Triple a go. I like the ThruxtonR a LOT, but I'm only 5' 6 1/2"; 29" inseam, and it's a bike made for people over 6'.
Christopher Berry I can heartily recommend that you test the Street RS. It's looks might leave a lot to be desired, but its handling is sublime and forgives all sins
Hipster bikes, power rangers, Ewan McGregor wannabes....I think every bike is trying to sell a lifestyle. Not sure what my lardy old 1300 Pan is doing for me though :)
It's doing the job is what it's doing, and I'll bet that it's paid for itself 10 times over. Those Pans last forever and can still out tour any other bike out there :)
Then you missed the whole point of what I was trying to communicate, and you certainly missed me heaping tons of praise on it in the riding and perfirmance department. However, if your first concern for your prefered type of bike is how it looks over how it rides, then you've not missed anything of interest to you. Ride safe 👍
Oh, dear. Where did they get this guy from? Such a negative attitude. It is good to hear the downside but not when it is stupid opinion only e.g. the comments on corrosion. If someone is so lazy that they can't spray some ACF 50 around they deserve the corrosion they get. It doesn't mean that the bike has a predisposition to corrosion.
No one got me from anywhere, this is my personal chanel, and all the opinions are my own objective observations. You deride my opinions as stupid, yet claim that somene who is too lazy to buy an aftermarket anti corrosion product, and apply the said product to a motorcycle designed, manufactured and marketed in a country that has since prehistory, been well known for having a climate thst is hostile to bare metal, DESERVES THE CORROSION? Sort your own stupid opinions out before you troll mine
Yes, we get bad weather. That is why people with a brain use anti-corrosion products. Those that don’t get what they deserve. Before making comments just think them through like I have when commenting on your opinions.
That wouldn't be a very thorough review would it? It's a shame you bailed early as (other than the looks) it really really grew on me. Thanks for the useful and constructive feedback 👍
I like the fact that you started out as a skeptic (and you were very upfront about it) but as you rode the bike, it grew on you and you came to appreciate the bike’s qualities. Good review!
