The history of a Cafe Racer is to chop, flop, then re-flop. If a Modern Classic is an homage to the true Classic and one can interwebs their the look they want... F yeah!!!
I was very lucky m; my friend bought a black 120 and was diagnosed with dementia one month later so he gave it to me for $5000 Aus he paid $20000 for it brand new. It's everything I thought a brand new bike plus and what joy with all the torque Great bike 5 stars from me
Really appreciate your time and input in making this video👏👏👍👍 I’m in the middle of having my chrome spokes changed out for black spokes plus I’ll be doing some of the stuff you’ve done 👍👍
10:59 I learned the hard way you don’t actually have to disassemble the foot peg. I learned from another video you can simply press the peg in the closed position, then remove the nut. Reassembling that foot peg is a complete PITA
Reading the comments... I hope you think they are as funny as I do. Stock... mods... just do what makes you happy. One question though. I heard you said the LED tail lights were too short. I want the same lights but saw that there is 3 options for wire length. So if you were to buy the same lights again, would you recommend the 20mm length wire for the back? Thanks and have fun with your bike!
Yep. Everyone like something different. In my case, I can never leave anything stock. Get the longest wire you can for the back as you will need it all to reach the Motone harness.
Looks good! cool direction for the T120. Doesn’t look right stock to me unless it’s a gloss color with chrome parts. Those look better as the classic look. But the matte and black colors look much better customized. What size tires did you go with? I’m considering the Mitas E07 for my black stealth edition
Some of the rear fender eliminator kits assume that you will be replqcing the seat to a shorter and slimmer one. Not all the vendors mention this but ive seen quite a few that will be a bro and give you a heads up. I suspect that was why you didnt have quite enough clearance.
@sobrevivido9998 Yes, you can. The peashooter exhausts have a rubber stopper attached to them on one side which the centre stand rests on when not in use. Remove the peashooters, and the centre stand rests higher but it doesn't foul the chain. You may or may not like the look. 👍🏾
Very nice! I have the T100 Black, and played around with it a bit, but the problem in Spain is that every two years to pass the road inspection you have to remount all the original equipment. That sucks and you just get fed up of going backwards and forwards with the bike. What are those tyres called and how do you find them on the road. I have the motone staurn pipes and I am thinking of decating the bike, is yours with the cat in??
My bike still has the cats. It would be frustrating returning back to stock every 2 years. See some of the other comments about the tire specs. They are average on the road.
Really love the bike. May I kindly ask what size is the front tire and is that the widest you can go without changing the tripple clamp? I would want to put 120/80s in the front but not sure if it will fit
some of the changes are passable but at a certain point you can end up destroying the mojo that makes a bonne. Its everything together that is the source of the magic. when that line is crossed is a matter of opinion. It turned out nice. As a grandpa i will say it.
Its a good thing you did these mods for yourself and not the haters 😂. I have the same tips and attached them directly to the ends of the stock pipes. No more hose clamps or funky adapters and the tip sits flush with the exhaust shroud.
Very nice bike! I just got my T120 this weekend and am loving it! I am curious to know about those bar end mirrors. How do you like them so far? They look a bit small. Thanks!
They are actually pretty good. I have good visibility behind because the stick out past the bars. Some are even with the bars and all you see is your shoulders!
Easy mods. Welcome to the world of Motone customs. I’m intrigued with those tyres. I’m always concerned with these off road rubbers when pushing on tarmac. I had a similar pair on an r9t scrambler and they were scitty and untrustworthy into corners. Style of substance I presume?
I've run these Shinko on a few street bikes and never had too many concerns since I'm not dragging a knee on this bike anyway. But for sure some style over function sacrifice.
@@sobrevivido9998 Yes, you can. The peashooter exhausts have a rubber stopper attached to them on one side which the centre stand rests on when not in use. Remove the peashooters, and the centre stand rests higher but it doesn't foul the chain. You may or may not like the look. 👍🏾
The bike looks great. Especially like those indicators. One question about the Motone exhaust tips. Any concern with hot air blowing near the tires and chains' o-rings?
I think the bike would have to be sitting at idle for LONG time before enough heat could affect the chain or tires. Friction in those areas generates more heat than the exhaust could.
I have done 3k miles with these tips. No damage to the tires or chain, but now there is loads of road grime on my saddle bags. Very easy to do chain maintenance. I only don't like the metal scraping sound from the right side pipe as shown in the video.
In particular the mirrors and the arrows, I would like to buy them but I can't find them online. Can someone help me understand where to find the same ones, Triumph branded mirrors
Does the grab handles no longer fit with the motone tail tidy or you chose not to reinstall? Trying to find smaller lights for my T100 and want to keep the grab handles(same set up as yours)
I did some digging around and and finally found one... got the R&G Racing Tail Tidy and it fits with both grab rails and handles... found Stuart Fillingham's video by accident and quite useful... @@BigDadsMoto Nice bike by the way...
@@BigDadsMoto Your's doesn't pop? When the engine is running hot enough for the fan to kick in, mine does pop a little on a decel after a hard acceleration. Now I am worried 😬
The whole point to the Bonneville is the traditional retro look, that's why I purchased mine, why make it look more contemporary? Maybe a Street Twin would have been a better test bed.
The rear end looks so much better with a small fender, like the speed twin. The tail tidy you have, imo, is jut too abrupt, it looks like something is missing.
The only useful mod you did was the casing protectors. IMO i'd spend cash on performance (suspension) and maybe decat it. But thats what you like, great ! It does look nice.
If I was looking for performance, I would have started with a Speed Twin or Thruxton. I just wanted something cool looking that was fun to ride. Although some new shocks are on the list of next mods. :)
I did the Fox piggy backs shocks on the rear of my T120 and added the King n Queen comfort seat. It made a huge difference. I will probably progressive shocks in the front. I've been looking at exhaust options to free up chain area for maintenance. This one is my traveling bike, although I have thought about doing a T100 air-cooled for a knock around bike
pretty sure on the Triumph configurator the seat you have needs to be swapped with the light weight rear end....the standard seat doesnt fit, as you found out
Being a grandpa, and remembering the bikes from the late 50s from which your bike was spawned, I think you should consider getting a different bike. Leave this lovely retro bike as is. Maybe get a Speed Twin, or a Thruxton.
I don't see the point of buying a bike and then throwing half of it away when you could have bought a different bike that corresponds more to your taste in the first place. If you want a Triumph Scrambler, buy a Triumph Scrambler. Why buy a T120?
@@BigDadsMoto you're comparing apples to oranges. The Triumph Scrambler has been available in various iterations since 2006. I'm sure that one of a similar age to your Bonnie could have been had for similar money. If you prefer to personalize your bikes, that's fair enough. My objection comes from far too many UA-camrs telling their audience that it's worth spending time and money on "upgrades" that would have come stock from the factory if they had purchased what they wanted in the first place.
In my opinion, you ruined it! The shorty front fender will throw lots of crap into the radiator. The P shooters are classic Bonneville and it looks goofy with them off. Tires indicate you want to do off roading? yeah? Not really the bike for that. Maybe you just should have purchase a Scrambler. Back seat atop the tail light...meh! In my opinion, you it's not a Bonnie anymore but some Frankenstein freak.
You have zero taste dude. This bike went from a 2 out of 10 on looks to a 20 out of 10. Did all the best mods to bring out the best in the bike. Makes me want to drive to a dealer right now to get one and copy this exact thing. Beautiful build.
I do customize some, but I try and buy something that is 90% the way I want it. Lighting for visibility might be the biggest change I make to my T120. My customize everything days are over for sure.
I think it looks gorgeous stock, and i don't even have grandkids.
I bought mine because of the classic looks!! I've only changed the mirrors to end bar type and added windshield, saddlebags. It looks perfect!!
The history of a Cafe Racer is to chop, flop, then re-flop. If a Modern Classic is an homage to the true Classic and one can interwebs their the look they want... F yeah!!!
I was very lucky m; my friend bought a black 120 and was diagnosed with dementia one month later so he gave it to me for $5000 Aus he paid $20000 for it brand new. It's everything I thought a brand new bike plus and what joy with all the torque Great bike 5 stars from me
Nice video and good work on the bike. Looks like a scrambler now. Congrats🎉
Really appreciate your time and input in making this video👏👏👍👍 I’m in the middle of having my chrome spokes changed out for black spokes plus I’ll be doing some of the stuff you’ve done 👍👍
I like the modifications you made, and it was not too much. I gonna do the same on mine!
10:59 I learned the hard way you don’t actually have to disassemble the foot peg. I learned from another video you can simply press the peg in the closed position, then remove the nut. Reassembling that foot peg is a complete PITA
Dope. Not sure about the tires, but love everything else. Thanks for making this video.
Thanks for watching!
I would think twice before shortening the fender. Where will all the spray go now ..
Probably my back!!
the secret ingredient is not living somewhere that it's always wet. ;)
Really nice work, congratulations!!
Could you indicate in the video comments list where you bought the spare parts?
Awesome, I hope to get this exact bike as my first at some point after all the training and certifications.
The T120 is a fantastic bike and looks great stock or there are tons of ways to modify it more to your liking! Good luck!
Reading the comments... I hope you think they are as funny as I do.
Stock... mods... just do what makes you happy.
One question though. I heard you said the LED tail lights were too short. I want the same lights but saw that there is 3 options for wire length. So if you were to buy the same lights again, would you recommend the 20mm length wire for the back?
Thanks and have fun with your bike!
Yep. Everyone like something different. In my case, I can never leave anything stock. Get the longest wire you can for the back as you will need it all to reach the Motone harness.
Grandpa bike is a real looker as-is.
Nice van. Grand paw
Great work. Looks very good. Where did you get the case savers? I can not find them in internet
Case savers are a Triumph part. Any Triumph dealer can get them.
Looks good! cool direction for the T120. Doesn’t look right stock to me unless it’s a gloss color with chrome parts. Those look better as the classic look. But the matte and black colors look much better customized. What size tires did you go with? I’m considering the Mitas E07 for my black stealth edition
Thanks! Tires are 150/70-17 in rear and 4.10-18 in the front.
Looks great stock but I get it!
I would have upgraded the suspensions as first mod. Looks nice though.
Shocks and fork internals are coming.
very nice amazing what small changes can do
I have five of these Bonnevilles and do extensive modifications. Curious how you like those nobby tires? Do you get much vibration on pavement?
Tires are good. I've used them on other bikes in the past.
Some of the rear fender eliminator kits assume that you will be replqcing the seat to a shorter and slimmer one. Not all the vendors mention this but ive seen quite a few that will be a bro and give you a heads up. I suspect that was why you didnt have quite enough clearance.
Yeah, would have been good to know before the purchase/install.
Looks great, will do something similar when i get mine
Thanks. They are great for modifying.
😍 triumph 🚀
Looks dope. Do an update video.
Thanks. Update coming, just a little too hot in Atlanta right now. :)
The indicator bracket goes on top of the tidy.. so the Motone letters show on top...
Hello there. Can I ask you if you removed or if I can still keep my centre stand if installing the exhaust tips from Motone? Thanks
@sobrevivido9998 Yes, you can. The peashooter exhausts have a rubber stopper attached to them on one side which the centre stand rests on when not in use. Remove the peashooters, and the centre stand rests higher but it doesn't foul the chain. You may or may not like the look. 👍🏾
Brillant. Thanks a lot for your response mate. Will purchase this and install them. I am sure will be ok. Thanks again. Take care
Very nice! I have the T100 Black, and played around with it a bit, but the problem in Spain is that every two years to pass the road inspection you have to remount all the original equipment. That sucks and you just get fed up of going backwards and forwards with the bike. What are those tyres called and how do you find them on the road. I have the motone staurn pipes and I am thinking of decating the bike, is yours with the cat in??
My bike still has the cats. It would be frustrating returning back to stock every 2 years.
See some of the other comments about the tire specs.
They are average on the road.
Really love the bike. May I kindly ask what size is the front tire and is that the widest you can go without changing the tripple clamp? I would want to put 120/80s in the front but not sure if it will fit
Mine is a 4.10-18 and there is still some room between the forks.
some of the changes are passable but at a certain point you can end up destroying the mojo that makes a bonne. Its everything together that is the source of the magic. when that line is crossed is a matter of opinion. It turned out nice. As a grandpa i will say it.
Spoiler alert. I'm also a grandpa.
Its a good thing you did these mods for yourself and not the haters 😂. I have the same tips and attached them directly to the ends of the stock pipes. No more hose clamps or funky adapters and the tip sits flush with the exhaust shroud.
Very nice bike! I just got my T120 this weekend and am loving it! I am curious to know about those bar end mirrors. How do you like them so far? They look a bit small. Thanks!
They are actually pretty good. I have good visibility behind because the stick out past the bars. Some are even with the bars and all you see is your shoulders!
Got the exact same bike and color but 2018 version
Easy mods. Welcome to the world of Motone customs. I’m intrigued with those tyres. I’m always concerned with these off road rubbers when pushing on tarmac. I had a similar pair on an r9t scrambler and they were scitty and untrustworthy into corners. Style of substance I presume?
I've run these Shinko on a few street bikes and never had too many concerns since I'm not dragging a knee on this bike anyway. But for sure some style over function sacrifice.
Where did you get the exhaust tips from? I want some for my 2023 T-120 black Bonnie
Motone Customs in the UK. Jupiter exhaust tips. I have the same on my 2016 T120 Black, and they sound great. About £80 👍🏾
Hello. Great video. Do you know if I can keep my centre stand with this exhaust tips from Motone?
@@sobrevivido9998 Yes, you can. The peashooter exhausts have a rubber stopper attached to them on one side which the centre stand rests on when not in use. Remove the peashooters, and the centre stand rests higher but it doesn't foul the chain. You may or may not like the look. 👍🏾
@@sobrevivido9998 I don't really know
What size are the exact specs for the tires? Looks really cool.
Sorry for the delay in responding. Tires are 150/70-17 in rear and 4.10-18 in the front. Shinko 705
Looks great
Thanks!
Love thise tires, what maker are they and where did you get them.
Links for the items can be found here: www.bigdadsmoto.com/post/customizing-a-bonneville-t120-black
The bike looks great. Especially like those indicators. One question about the Motone exhaust tips. Any concern with hot air blowing near the tires and chains' o-rings?
I think the bike would have to be sitting at idle for LONG time before enough heat could affect the chain or tires. Friction in those areas generates more heat than the exhaust could.
I have done 3k miles with these tips. No damage to the tires or chain, but now there is loads of road grime on my saddle bags. Very easy to do chain maintenance. I only don't like the metal scraping sound from the right side pipe as shown in the video.
spray that headlight with a more matte finish and it will be solid
Good idea. I should do that !
In particular the mirrors and the arrows, I would like to buy them but I can't find them online.
Can someone help me understand where to find the same ones, Triumph branded mirrors
Mirrors are a discontinued part by Triumph. The indicators are Euro sized from Triumph that I found on EBay.
Does the grab handles no longer fit with the motone tail tidy or you chose not to reinstall? Trying to find smaller lights for my T100 and want to keep the grab handles(same set up as yours)
No. I was very disappointed that the grab handle no longer fits with this tail tidy.
I did some digging around and and finally found one... got the R&G Racing Tail Tidy and it fits with both grab rails and handles... found Stuart Fillingham's video by accident and quite useful... @@BigDadsMoto Nice bike by the way...
Not for me me, prefer stock but not really the point as it’s your bike and if it makes you happy then that’s all that matters. Love my t120 black
The exhaust sound great! Did you put an x pipe? Or the sound is with the cat?
Sound is with the cat. Bike tuned itself and doesn't pop on decel or anything. Very happy with the result.
@@BigDadsMoto Your's doesn't pop? When the engine is running hot enough for the fan to kick in, mine does pop a little on a decel after a hard acceleration. Now I am worried 😬
Looks like you'd rather have a speed twin based in the mods, excluding tires of course.
Love the Speed Twin but the price on this T120 was too good to pass up.
Can you let me know the decibel reading of the Motone exhaust. I am thinking of getting a pair just need to know how loud it is before I buy them 😂
They honestly aren’t very loud. You’d be surprised how much the cat suppresses the sound.
Are those tires tubesless?
Can i know front tyre shinko size?
4.10-18
Hi,
Can you tell which size of tyre did you put ? :)
150/70-17 Rear and 4.10-18 in the front. Shinko 705.
What size Shinko 705 do you have on your front tire? Thanks
4.10-18 front tire.
The whole point to the Bonneville is the traditional retro look, that's why I purchased mine, why make it look more contemporary? Maybe a Street Twin would have been a better test bed.
Got a screaming deal on this bike so that's where we started!
You should have bought the V&H exhaust. Sounds great. These corks from Motone look awfull..
The rear end looks so much better with a small fender, like the speed twin. The tail tidy you have, imo, is jut too abrupt, it looks like something is missing.
I agree and i'm looking at some shorter fender options for the future.
You maybe should have bought the Triumph Thruxton for a more sporty look.
I prefer the original look .
I owned a 2018 Thruxton. It was very comfortable. But it was fun.
The only useful mod you did was the casing protectors. IMO i'd spend cash on performance (suspension) and maybe decat it.
But thats what you like, great ! It does look nice.
If I was looking for performance, I would have started with a Speed Twin or Thruxton. I just wanted something cool looking that was fun to ride. Although some new shocks are on the list of next mods. :)
I did the Fox piggy backs shocks on the rear of my T120 and added the King n Queen comfort seat. It made a huge difference. I will probably progressive shocks in the front.
I've been looking at exhaust options to free up chain area for maintenance.
This one is my traveling bike, although I have thought about doing a T100 air-cooled for a knock around bike
pretty sure on the Triumph configurator the seat you have needs to be swapped with the light weight rear end....the standard seat doesnt fit, as you found out
Ayyo where did you find the exhaust from?
Motone Jupiter. Got mine from NewBonneville.com
Being a grandpa, and remembering the bikes from the late 50s from which your bike was spawned, I think you should consider getting a different bike. Leave this lovely retro bike as is. Maybe get a Speed Twin, or a Thruxton.
Too late now. I already modified this one.
Didn't the exhaust mod change the ecu
The stock ecu adapts to the change in exhaust so the bike still runs great.
What are those tyres?
Shinko 705s
Grandpa bike?
all that effort and still running tubes
Whats the tire?
Shinko 705
@@BigDadsMoto Front 120?
@@Dueh-yq7lg4.10-18 on the front.
you turned it into a scrambler
Not a fan of the mods especially the exhaust one. Looked better before
So much shade on grandpa's and "grandpa bikes".
And I’m even a Grandpa! 🤪
I don't understand why you bought a retro bike
No, no no. It’s supposed to look like a bonneville. Don’t change it to something else man .
It's still got the basic Bonneville look with just a few tweaks now.. :)
I don't see the point of buying a bike and then throwing half of it away when you could have bought a different bike that corresponds more to your taste in the first place. If you want a Triumph Scrambler, buy a Triumph Scrambler. Why buy a T120?
A new Scrambler 1200 costs way more than this bike and the seat height is much taller. I built this on the cheap.
@@BigDadsMoto you're comparing apples to oranges. The Triumph Scrambler has been available in various iterations since 2006. I'm sure that one of a similar age to your Bonnie could have been had for similar money.
If you prefer to personalize your bikes, that's fair enough. My objection comes from far too many UA-camrs telling their audience that it's worth spending time and money on "upgrades" that would have come stock from the factory if they had purchased what they wanted in the first place.
In my opinion, you ruined it! The shorty front fender will throw lots of crap into the radiator. The P shooters are classic Bonneville and it looks goofy with them off. Tires indicate you want to do off roading? yeah? Not really the bike for that. Maybe you just should have purchase a Scrambler. Back seat atop the tail light...meh! In my opinion, you it's not a Bonnie anymore but some Frankenstein freak.
Way to criticize someone else’s taste
@@CBW0314Yup. Lame to jump on here and do that. You don’t like it, just move on.
@@CBW0314are people not allowed to give their opinion anymore unless they like what they see??
Douche move.
You have zero taste dude. This bike went from a 2 out of 10 on looks to a 20 out of 10. Did all the best mods to bring out the best in the bike. Makes me want to drive to a dealer right now to get one and copy this exact thing. Beautiful build.
If you’re going to do that much, you should have bought a different bike.
Dude, no offence but you ruined the Bike 😅, It looked much better before…
Opinions vary.
Buy something else if all your going to do is change a classic bike.
I don't leave anything stock!
I do customize some, but I try and buy something that is 90% the way I want it. Lighting for visibility might be the biggest change I make to my T120. My customize everything days are over for sure.
Can you name a bike that looks like this?
😢