Great presentation, the dialogue was perfect, just like a rider would be thinking to himself as he meanders through . I fully agree with his thoughts as well.
Test road, analyzed, and assessed my own riding interests and bought the T120. The bike is awesome. In the heart of Indian and HD country of Middle America (Nebraska), nothing rides like this. Use it for daily work as much as possible, although my daily driver is a diesel truck. Cleaning up some of the Euro5 limitations, added bags, addressing shocks simply because I can…and Ive owned my T120 for 18 days and have 700 miles… Ride your bike more….stop judging before you get to know her. It’s like complaining about your spouse after a week of marriage. Get over it…adapt…enjoy…tweak if you want to because, heck, why not. People change paint color in a house for no reason other than they want to…just change it and enjoy it. Love my 2022 T120!
On the first morning of the honeymoon (Benidorm), my second wife told me she was going to ween me off sex for life coz she never has never liked it. No 3 is a psycho, but fit for purpose...
Agree with you about the OE tires. A set of Avon Roadrider IIs in the stock sizes transformed the handling of my T120. Can also recommend Bridgestone tubes. They do not quickly leak down the way the stock tubes did.
Michelin Road classics are much better than the stock tires have to agree hated them on my 2018 t100 black had a sports demon set on it I wasn't too thrilled with either ...
Great initial thoughts video, and despite having a Thruxton R and not a t120 I found myself totally agreeing with your number 3 like, the way it makes you feel. They make you feel good not only riding them but looking at them at times you can't ride, talking to people admiring your bike and the pride of ownership that brings, it all adds to the experience and I guess its the same for most triumph modern classic owners. Also regarding puncture repairs, I had a puncture in my rear tyre that caused sudden rapid deflation, caused by a small nail that in a normal tubeless tyre would have resulted in a slow puncture at worst, after that I sealed the rims to run tubeless and feel much safer, and still perfectly sealed after 10k miles. I would seriously consider it if you're changing tyres anyway.
@@mlcmotorcycling9392 I used 3M extreme sealing tape but there are at least three easy diy methods plus ready made kits available , some good how to' s on triumphrat forum. I've had two punctures in tubeless tyres, not on the thruxton, and neither resulted in anything more serious than a slow leak if that, because the object normally stays in the tyre, the exact same incident with my tubed tyre and it literally went down in seconds, apart from every spoke there's a massive gap around the valve stem and the air can escape all at once, so tubeless is a no brainer for me.
I am the proud owner of a 2019 t120 bonneville diamond edition , Relaxed ride , effortless , no over reving , smooth and grunty. Absolutely love the bike and do the same thing by going into the garage to fire her up and just look forward to the summer months.
Agree with what you've said. I've over inflated my phantom tyres which isn't ideal but they performe much better. Will change them as soon as they wear.
Re tyres, try Conti Road Attack 3, amazing back road tyre. Fantastic predictable grip in dry and incredible wet weather performance too. Last a long time yet seem to grip from cold like shit to a blanket.
I've have the T120 Bud Ekins, I absolutely love it, I have made a few modifications to make it truly mine. I've fitted progressive front springs with pre-load adjusters, they completely transformed the ride, I did fit the rear piggy back shocks too but the gas can got in the way of my SW Motech slc side bag carriers so I put the stock ones back on, cnc'd clutch and brake levers (as you say the stock ones are cheapo rubbish), clutch cable bottom bracket and cnc'd oil filler cap. I've also de-catted the exhaust system and fitted a booster plug to help with the sketchy throttle response and fitted a pair of 30 mm bar risers to give a more upright riding position. I don't have a problem with the stock tyres, They do a decent enough job for everyday riding, I don't hoon about on the Bonnie and they haven't given me any cause for concern. I'll swap them out when they wear out for something a little chunkier, but that's more for aesthetics than for performance reasons. All in all its a cracking bike and deffo a keeper!
Thanks for the comments, great to hear from another happy Bonneville owner. Interesting comments on the tyres, I find them fine in the dry but terrible in the wet. I would be interested to know what tyres you choose when you change out the stock ones.
@@mlcmotorcycling9392 Thinking of fitting Avon AV54 Trailriders, Bridgestone A41's or Metzeler Tourance. I want a desert racer chunky tyre look on the bike. 90% road and 10% dirt capability.
14K miles on my 2017 T120 Black and still love it like day 1. I agree about the tires. Although I purposely avoid the wet like the plague. Original Perelli's lasted 9.5K before switching to Conti RA3's. A great improvement over OEM Perelli's.
My only dislike of my T120 is no self canceling turn signals. Love love everything else about this scooter. I own a HD Ultra Classic and a BMW Grand America and I find myself rolling my little Bonnie out more than the other two.
I have the little sister - a Triumph Bonneville Street Twin 2016 and I'm absolutly agree with your opinion about the tyres. The Pirelli Phantom are racing and nice weather only crap and not useful on such an allrounder motorcycle. Very slippy in rain and on street patches or cobblestones. The front tyre wear out extrem fast. At least last year I had switched to Avon Spirit ST tyres and the handling of my machine improved dramatically. Experience time: ~28000km = ~17398miles
Couldn’t agree more. I have a 2020 T120 Black and I’ve put just over 13,000 miles on it. Best bike I’ve ever owned. I’ve put a Metzeler Tourance on the rear, and a Dunlop F20 on the front - vast improvement. I’m a Brit but live in California now. Can I ask where this was filmed? Looks vaguely familiar but can’t place it. I’m originally from Cheshire. Nice video. Thanks for sharing.
Totally agree with each of your comments. I found that I needed to do a few very important mods to make this a rideable machine. #1) Gearing; added two teeth to the rear sprocket. They are geared too tall to meet USA emissions requirements. 2) De-Cat & Exhaust; Norman Hyde makes the best pipes for this bike, they are amazing 3) Booster Plug; to get rid of the snatchy throttle. 4) I switched to the Fox shocks by Triumph. The only thing I have left to get it completely sorted is the Tires. I HATE the stock tires, they are shit.
I also own a T120 and for me it's the best bike I've ever had the pleasure to ride. Can relate to most of your review other than the tyres, I've ridden my bike in pouring rain and I found the performance of the tyres to be perfectly acceptable.
@@mlcmotorcycling9392 What great tyres my friend. As I said in my other post, I put those on my T120. Love the road tec. You won’t be sorry if you put the Metzeler on the T120. Unsure why Triumph stuck with the comps. Perhaps it was the retro pattern.
@@mlcmotorcycling9392 Shall trade my T120 for a 2022 model next Year in May. I see they still put on the comps, so that will be ok. But when they wear out I shall put Metzeler on.
Good evening and congratulations on your work. I am very worried and I want your help. I have a height of 1.70 cm Do you think that the specific fly screen on the bike helped you? What is its brand?
I am 1.84cm, the fly screen does take a little pressure of the chest and is comfortable up to about 65mph but after that its a naked bike so you have to expect wind blast. The fly screen on my bike is from triumph but I believe it is a Dart Classic fly screen rebranded for Triumph.
2018 T120 owner, and I agree entirely. The bike is just the right blend of modern refinement and classic character. It's a pleasure to ride on the quick side, but far more rare is it's also a pleasure to ride slow, and that's what makes it superior to the Speed Twin that I also tested. The stock tires got squirrely on me when they shouldn't have, so I swapped for Conti Road Attack 3s. Disagree a bit on the bike's worst qualities: headlight high beam is awful; the lights on the instrument cluster vanish in sunshine; and the bike is a little slow to turn in (but this also makes it more stable). Overall, it's absolutely a peach and 100% delivers what motorcycling should feel like. And it's all-around comfortable.
My likes would be the wonderful good looks, the engine and the sound of the pipes. Much like yours. I wish I could own one, but I can't. My wife always rides with me and she has battled cancer eight times, with 12 surgeries in ten years, maxwd out on Chemo, Radiation and Cyber Knife treatments. SHe is now on innumotherapy every 28 days and will be for the rest of her life. She started hvaving seizures two years ago so we went to a trike. We feel if she had a seizure on a two wheeler it might cause an accident. On the trike I think I should be able to pull over and to her needs. But I love the Triumph Bonneville T120, for me the Gold Line would be the one I want. As far as dislikes, the high price. I think they are over priced for what they are. Second, tube tires, but that's the price you pay tp have the retro look with s[oked wheels. That's it! Some people don't like a chain drive, but I would rather have a chain than a belt. I don't mind cleaning and lubing a chain once in a while and they are much easier to change the gear ratio if I want to. Thank you for the video. After watching it I want a Bonneville even more!
If I had to give 3 complaints about the T120 it would be: 1. You can not change the clock to read 12 hour time, only 24 hour. 2. I had to modify the gas cap because I can't stand having to use the key every time I need to open it. Now I can either lock it with the key, or turn the key to unlock it and remove the key and leave it unlocked. 3. No self canceling turn signals. My other bike has this and as soon as it leans and straightens up or after a short distance it automatically turns off. I'm so use to that feature that I sometimes forget to turn the signal off on the bonniville. And the bulb on the dash is so dim I can hardly see it on a bright day.
Hi ! I have a 2019 Bonneville T120. I take nothing. Mind you it is tubes. I am a member of AA and also am covered by insurance for break down. So 2 covers. Have put Metzeler road tec 01 on mine. Million times better. I plan to upgrade in 2022 to to the latest T120. Great bike. Auckland. NZ
In many years of riding, I've never had a flat. It's just not something that gives any concern. Of the many bikes I've had, only one had tubeless tires and wheels. The rest all had traditional spoked wheels. Carrying some kind of a repair kit is not really an option as the wheel would need to be dismounted and the tire removed from the rim to patch the tube. Am I going to carry a 27mm box end wrench and all of the tools necessary to dismount the left muffler? No. Motorcycle tires with tubes are an old technology, but one that is thoroughly mature and reliable. Maybe a small air leak in the tube could be sealed with tire goop, but I don't carry that either.
EXCELLENT video. Simple, Honest, to the Point. THOROUGHLY ENJOYED it. 10/10. LOVED how you said you go to the garage just to look at it!!!!!!!!! Hahahahahahahaha Looking forward to your next 'review'. Regards.
I don’t dare too much on the wet so I wouldn’t be able to tell if they are good or bad. What I think is that all this magic behind tyres is a lot of marketing; all modern tyres have outstanding performances according to their categories and range of use. The Phantom in my view are more than adequate for their purposes and category.
I had far too many 'side stepping' and tramlining to quite disagree with you. I went for Michelin Road Classics and all of that stuff is gone. The compound of the stock pirellis is totally botched.
For a dislike how about access to clean the chain or rather lack thereof … and don’t get me started on the major job it is to clean the front sprocket!
how about the seat? how uncomfortable is it on all day or weekend trips? how is the comfort seat offered by triumph? i wanna buy this bike but the seat looks ungodly uncomfortable on longer touring rides great video by the way!!!!!
Thank for the comment. I have not done a weekend away on the bike but I do plan to. I have done a 170 mile round trip and suffered no discomfort if you stop every couple of hours. For reference I am 6 feet tall and of medium build. I don't feel the need to rush and order the comfort seat.
@@bdraidian6280 I’ve both, the standard and the comfort seat and I’ve to say that for me the standard seat is more comfortable than the comfort seat. I’m 6 feet 1 inch and I took the comfort seat to the workshop and let them put another layer of 2cm more stiff foam material onto the original one, plus a new leather cover. The height is much better now. The stiffer material makes it also more comfortable (at least for me) on long rides over several days (last trip were 2000km within Swizzerland in 6 days). Due to the higher seat, I now had to increase the height of the handlebar.
The Bike is honest and it is what it is. Doesn’t pretend to be like any other but itself. That’s character, isn’t it? Although, I think that when the road is in bad condition the suspensions, front and rear, they transmitted everything to the rider and that wasn’t a nice sensation. I wonder if the suspension could be bettered…maybe a little more sophisticated suspensions wouldn’t be a bad thing here. The tyres have all the right looks but I believe that changing it could give the rider a whole different sensation, I imagine it would. But at the same time it would be a pity to change the classic beautiful looks of the bike, and the phantom Pirelli tyres give the bike that retro charming looks. I don’t know…Could be the difference, with different tyres?
I think the suspension is ok for normal paced riding, I think the issue is the tyres. I will be changing to Metzler Roadtec 01's very soon. I have these on my Kawasaki and they are superb.
Im in Australia and have the same bike and am very happy with it but, my biggest dislike would be the seat, after only half hour or so, I find it gets really uncomfortable. I know they have aftermarket better seats for ridiculous prices, but I am a bit surprised at how uncomfortable I get with the standard seat. Perhaps its my boney bums fault. 😜🤪
I agree Gregg. The riding position is good but for me the seat is uncomfortable after about 1 hour. I have read the Triumph comfort seat is not much better.
Honest review thanks. I am a Brit now living in the US, I have just passed my test and got my M endorsement at 51 years young! I also see myself trundling round like Captain Slow as you do, just enjoying the ride! I have looked at all the Bonnies including Street Twin and T100 as a first bike but I have decided on, and will grow in to, the T120! My only dilemma and would welcome your thoughts please..... T120 or T120 Black? Will the matt mark/scratch easier? Is it easier to harder to keep clean? Will it date where as the gloss black tank and polished chrome pipes etc seems more timeless? I know its a personal opinion but as a new biker, I really welcome your more experienced thoughts. Many thanks.
Hi Griff - Thanks for your questions. Without doubt the T120 Black is easier to look after, the powder coating is good and does not take a lot of looking after. Mine has a gloss black tank which if treated with a good quality wax is just fine. The matt black is a little harder to keep looking nice. If you go for the traditional look all of that exposed chrome and alloy looks fantastic but will require a lot of maintenance. It is more prone to rust and pitting if not treated regularly. If your bike is only going out in fine weather it should be fine, otherwise my advice would be to go for the Black.
I've been riding a t120 black, actually matt graphite, for about 4 years now, and haven't had any issues with scratches or marks on the finish. If anything, I think the matt finish helps to hide it better when the bike gets a bit dirty. The paint has started flaking off of the handle bars though. But, my only real complaint about the bike was the stock seat... swap it out for something more comfortable if you plan on going for long rides. The mirrors are kind of useless and silly looking too, but otherwise, it's been a great bike.
2:53 Well, it’s not just me then. I currently own an RE Interceptor 650, and I make pointless trips to my garage to look at it. I sure hope that the day I buy my own T120, I don’t make twice the number of trips to my garage just to look at both of these bikes 😂
@@mlcmotorcycling9392 😁 a year on, do you still like riding your T120? I've come across a few complaints about this bike, foremost of which is the gearbox issue. Have you faced any issues at all with the bike?
i bought my 2022 T120 Black/Grey matte about a month ago, upgrading from the TU250X - the bike felt way safer to me with all that torque and power at lower RPMs. i've ridden in the rain and wet weather to see how it handled, and I believe the rain mode is good enough for the job. I'm not sure what other styles of motorbikes inspires confidence but this one really improved my joy in riding. I added saddlebags, a mad stad windshield that detach and attaches within seconds, and now that you mention it - the levers always bugged me. I think i'll be modding those next
Thanks for you comments Dan. I agree the torque at low revs is a joy. I am going to replace the levers with those from TEC Bike Parts. I am also looking at saddlebags/panniers, which bags did you opt for?
@@mlcmotorcycling9392 Givi E22N Side cases with the PL6410 bars to hold the cases. I really like the look and the ability to lock the cases down. I'm able to store the essential stuff without worrying about it being stolen.
On my 2016 T120, still after 50000km, the thing that annoys me most is the jerky behavior at lower rpm at constant speed. Especially when I ride slowly around town or somewhere down the hill. I cannot get used to it.
drop a cog or go up to keep it on 2000 rpm, it's absolutely the sweet spot of the T120 engine. So 4th gear doing 40mph (64kmh) or 6th for 50mph (80kmh)
But it’s all bloody black ! I also love the Bonny man, but where is the pseudo 60s chrome on the black ? Nope, can’t see any. Nice review though mate, just joking really.
I don't recognize the jerking behaviour. Second gear and steady 20mph. ... I do have the X-pipe conversion to get rid of the cat. Not so sure if you get away with the rules in your country..
You bought it for it's looks and you bought a black one? Nothing kills the look of Edward Turner's eternal classic design than layering it in Druid black
Motone Customs do an aftermarket up and over riser kit; this may help. www.motone.co.uk/triumph-bonneville-c25/motone-up-and-over-riser-kit-for-one-inch-bars-black-p2063
Just sold my 2018 t120 black. It is a nice bike, but I hated the tires with inner tube. It makes me feel insecure all the time cuz I know that I will have to call a tow truck if I have a flat tire. I did get a flat tire last month. 135 dollars to have the repair shop replace the inner tube. I would choose Speed twin over t120 even though I like the t120's classic look. In addition, I think the aftermarket parts are very expensive for t120 and hard to find.
Hi Sean! Thanks for your comments and sorry to hear you sold your T120; what have you replaced it with?. I do have some concerns about the tubed tyres but not enough to stop me riding. The Speed Twin is a great looking bike but I prefer the more classic looks. With regard to aftermarket parts the Triumph ones are extremely expensive however there are loads of others available (such as Motone Customs and TEC Bike Parts) at extremely reasonable prices.
Yes get rid of those stock pirellis, they are outright dangerous and uncomfortable. The compound is botched. So sure, they last forever but lack any grip unless it's a really hot and dry day
I really enjoyed this.. I'm 49 years old and especially during the winter months in Kansas city mo I peek into the garage and view my bike. Enjoy sir
I glad you enjoyed, thanks for the feedback 👍🏻
Great presentation, the dialogue was perfect, just like a rider would be thinking to himself as he meanders through . I fully agree with his thoughts as well.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
Test road, analyzed, and assessed my own riding interests and bought the T120. The bike is awesome. In the heart of Indian and HD country of Middle America (Nebraska), nothing rides like this. Use it for daily work as much as possible, although my daily driver is a diesel truck. Cleaning up some of the Euro5 limitations, added bags, addressing shocks simply because I can…and Ive owned my T120 for 18 days and have 700 miles…
Ride your bike more….stop judging before you get to know her. It’s like complaining about your spouse after a week of marriage.
Get over it…adapt…enjoy…tweak if you want to because, heck, why not. People change paint color in a house for no reason other than they want to…just change it and enjoy it.
Love my 2022 T120!
Thanks for the comments.
On the first morning of the honeymoon (Benidorm), my second wife told me she was going to ween me off sex for life coz she never has never liked it. No 3 is a psycho, but fit for purpose...
I had a T120 sold it regretted it and brought another one 6 months later bloody fantastic bikes
I agree, I think mines a keeper!
I love the New style gauges, and the black edition. Thanks for sharing your opinion and experience about the T-120.
👍🏻
Agree with you about the OE tires. A set of Avon Roadrider IIs in the stock sizes transformed the handling of my T120. Can also recommend Bridgestone tubes. They do not quickly leak down the way the stock tubes did.
Thanks for the advice; I'll take a look at those 👍🏻
Michelin Road classics are much better than the stock tires have to agree hated them on my 2018 t100 black had a sports demon set on it I wasn't too thrilled with either ...
You are from Stourbridge area, I am also from Stourbridge. Good to know somebody from local. :)
👍🏻
Great initial thoughts video, and despite having a Thruxton R and not a t120 I found myself totally agreeing with your number 3 like, the way it makes you feel. They make you feel good not only riding them but looking at them at times you can't ride, talking to people admiring your bike and the pride of ownership that brings, it all adds to the experience and I guess its the same for most triumph modern classic owners.
Also regarding puncture repairs, I had a puncture in my rear tyre that caused sudden rapid deflation, caused by a small nail that in a normal tubeless tyre would have resulted in a slow puncture at worst, after that I sealed the rims to run tubeless and feel much safer, and still perfectly sealed after 10k miles. I would seriously consider it if you're changing tyres anyway.
Many thanks for your comments, much appreciated. I'm interested in sealing my rims, would you mind describing the materials and process you used.
@@mlcmotorcycling9392
I used 3M extreme sealing tape but there are at least three easy diy methods plus ready made kits available , some good how to' s on triumphrat forum.
I've had two punctures in tubeless tyres, not on the thruxton, and neither resulted in anything more serious than a slow leak if that, because the object normally stays in the tyre, the exact same incident with my tubed tyre and it literally went down in seconds, apart from every spoke there's a massive gap around the valve stem and the air can escape all at once, so tubeless is a no brainer for me.
I love my 2016 T120 Black. this one is to keep. cheers.
Thanks for the comment. I also think my T120 is a keeper.
I am the proud owner of a 2019 t120 bonneville diamond edition , Relaxed ride , effortless , no over reving , smooth and grunty. Absolutely love the bike and do the same thing by going into the garage to fire her up and just look forward to the summer months.
Well said, and thanks for the comments 👍🏻
Agree with what you've said. I've over inflated my phantom tyres which isn't ideal but they performe much better. Will change them as soon as they wear.
👍🏻
Re tyres, try Conti Road Attack 3, amazing back road tyre. Fantastic predictable grip in dry and incredible wet weather performance too. Last a long time yet seem to grip from cold like shit to a blanket.
Thanks for the advice 👍🏻
I can fully agree. On Saturday I’ll get my next pair of CRA3
I've have the T120 Bud Ekins, I absolutely love it, I have made a few modifications to make it truly mine.
I've fitted progressive front springs with pre-load adjusters, they completely transformed the ride, I did fit the rear piggy back shocks too but the gas can got in the way of my SW Motech slc side bag carriers so I put the stock ones back on, cnc'd clutch and brake levers (as you say the stock ones are cheapo rubbish), clutch cable bottom bracket and cnc'd oil filler cap.
I've also de-catted the exhaust system and fitted a booster plug to help with the sketchy throttle response and fitted a pair of 30 mm bar risers to give a more upright riding position.
I don't have a problem with the stock tyres, They do a decent enough job for everyday riding, I don't hoon about on the Bonnie and they haven't given me any cause for concern. I'll swap them out when they wear out for something a little chunkier, but that's more for aesthetics than for performance reasons.
All in all its a cracking bike and deffo a keeper!
Thanks for the comments, great to hear from another happy Bonneville owner. Interesting comments on the tyres, I find them fine in the dry but terrible in the wet. I would be interested to know what tyres you choose when you change out the stock ones.
@@mlcmotorcycling9392
Thinking of fitting Avon AV54 Trailriders, Bridgestone A41's or Metzeler Tourance. I want a desert racer chunky tyre look on the bike. 90% road and 10% dirt capability.
Nice! Let me know how you get on 👍🏻
I did the same, and the progressive forks springs with adjusters made a huge difference. Best upgrade choice.
A man after my own heart.....go out to the garage just to take a look.
Sad but true 😁
i know exactly what you mean and feel about these bikes , great video
Thanks! 👍
14K miles on my 2017 T120 Black and still love it like day 1. I agree about the tires. Although I purposely avoid the wet like the plague. Original Perelli's lasted 9.5K before switching to Conti RA3's. A great improvement over OEM Perelli's.
I had used to avoid the rain but it doesn't worry me anymore.
Love my T120 but I agree about the tyres, changed for Metzler road techs after 450 miles along with Ikon suspension as I do a lot of 2 up riding.
I will change to the Metzler's this summer.
My only dislike of my T120 is no self canceling turn signals. Love love everything else about this scooter. I own a HD Ultra Classic and a BMW Grand America and I find myself rolling my little Bonnie out more than the other two.
Thanks for the comment. In the good weather by Bonnie always out ahead of the Kawasaki
I have the little sister - a Triumph Bonneville Street Twin 2016 and I'm absolutly agree with your opinion about the tyres. The Pirelli Phantom are racing and nice weather only crap and not useful on such an allrounder motorcycle. Very slippy in rain and on street patches or cobblestones. The front tyre wear out extrem fast. At least last year I had switched to Avon Spirit ST tyres and the handling of my machine improved dramatically.
Experience time: ~28000km = ~17398miles
Thanks for the comment. Can't wait to wear out the stock tyres.
Couldn’t agree more. I have a 2020 T120 Black and I’ve put just over 13,000 miles on it. Best bike I’ve ever owned. I’ve put a Metzeler Tourance on the rear, and a Dunlop F20 on the front - vast improvement. I’m a Brit but live in California now. Can I ask where this was filmed? Looks vaguely familiar but can’t place it. I’m originally from Cheshire. Nice video. Thanks for sharing.
Hi there, thanks for the comment. This was filmed in Worcestershire, England, not far from where I live.
Totally agree with each of your comments. I found that I needed to do a few very important mods to make this a rideable machine. #1) Gearing; added two teeth to the rear sprocket. They are geared too tall to meet USA emissions requirements. 2) De-Cat & Exhaust; Norman Hyde makes the best pipes for this bike, they are amazing 3) Booster Plug; to get rid of the snatchy throttle. 4) I switched to the Fox shocks by Triumph. The only thing I have left to get it completely sorted is the Tires. I HATE the stock tires, they are shit.
Thanks for your comments. I am going to wait before I do any mods until the warranty has expired.
Have also put high quality spark plugs and a K & N air filter in mine. A lot better and not as stuttery low down.
I thought I wanted a Bobber, but the more I look at the T120, the more I'm not so sure. This bike just makes more sense.
The Bobber is a beautiful bike to look at but far less practical than a T120 IMO
I also own a T120 and for me it's the best bike I've ever had the pleasure to ride. Can relate to most of your review other than the tyres, I've ridden my bike in pouring rain and I found the performance of the tyres to be perfectly acceptable.
That's interesting. Maybe I am comparing to my Versys which runs Metzler Roadtec 01 SE's which are a great tyre.
Hi Mark ! Yes it’s either or I have to admit. I found the comps totally useless.
@@mlcmotorcycling9392 What great tyres my friend. As I said in my other post, I put those on my T120. Love the road tec. You won’t be sorry if you put the Metzeler on the T120.
Unsure why Triumph stuck with the comps. Perhaps it was the retro pattern.
@@johnmartin7158 I'll be changing to the Metzlers as soon as I can justify it
@@mlcmotorcycling9392 Shall trade my T120 for a 2022 model next Year in May. I see they still put on the comps, so that will be ok. But when they wear out I shall put Metzeler on.
Good evening and congratulations on your work. I am very worried and I want your help. I have a height of 1.70 cm Do you think that the specific fly screen on the bike helped you? What is its brand?
I am 1.84cm, the fly screen does take a little pressure of the chest and is comfortable up to about 65mph but after that its a naked bike so you have to expect wind blast. The fly screen on my bike is from triumph but I believe it is a Dart Classic fly screen rebranded for Triumph.
2018 T120 owner, and I agree entirely. The bike is just the right blend of modern refinement and classic character. It's a pleasure to ride on the quick side, but far more rare is it's also a pleasure to ride slow, and that's what makes it superior to the Speed Twin that I also tested. The stock tires got squirrely on me when they shouldn't have, so I swapped for Conti Road Attack 3s. Disagree a bit on the bike's worst qualities: headlight high beam is awful; the lights on the instrument cluster vanish in sunshine; and the bike is a little slow to turn in (but this also makes it more stable). Overall, it's absolutely a peach and 100% delivers what motorcycling should feel like. And it's all-around comfortable.
Thank you for the comments. A agree its a little slow to turn in, it may be the 18 inch front wheel and heavy spokes. It's a keeper!
My likes would be the wonderful good looks, the engine and the sound of the pipes. Much like yours. I wish I could own one, but I can't. My wife always rides with me and she has battled cancer eight times, with 12 surgeries in ten years, maxwd out on Chemo, Radiation and Cyber Knife treatments. SHe is now on innumotherapy every 28 days and will be for the rest of her life. She started hvaving seizures two years ago so we went to a trike. We feel if she had a seizure on a two wheeler it might cause an accident. On the trike I think I should be able to pull over and to her needs. But I love the Triumph Bonneville T120, for me the Gold Line would be the one I want. As far as dislikes, the high price. I think they are over priced for what they are. Second, tube tires, but that's the price you pay tp have the retro look with s[oked wheels. That's it! Some people don't like a chain drive, but I would rather have a chain than a belt. I don't mind cleaning and lubing a chain once in a while and they are much easier to change the gear ratio if I want to. Thank you for the video. After watching it I want a Bonneville even more!
Thanks for your comment and I'm sorry to hear of your challenges. I love the Bonnie but the tubed tyres is a real issue for me.
If I had to give 3 complaints about the T120 it would be:
1. You can not change the clock to read 12 hour time, only 24 hour.
2. I had to modify the gas cap because I can't stand having to use the key every time I need to open it. Now I can either lock it with the key, or turn the key to unlock it and remove the key and leave it unlocked.
3. No self canceling turn signals. My other bike has this and as soon as it leans and straightens up or after a short distance it automatically turns off. I'm so use to that feature that I sometimes forget to turn the signal off on the bonniville. And the bulb on the dash is so dim I can hardly see it on a bright day.
I agree, the gas/petrol cap is fiddly!
I would be interested to know what puncture repairs solutions any Bonneville owners carry. This is my first bike with spoked wheels.
Hi ! I have a 2019 Bonneville T120. I take nothing. Mind you it is tubes. I am a member of AA and also am covered by insurance for break down. So 2 covers.
Have put Metzeler road tec 01 on mine. Million times better.
I plan to upgrade in 2022 to to the latest T120. Great bike.
Auckland. NZ
I am not a fan of slime and other solutions you put inside tubes or tyres.
In many years of riding, I've never had a flat. It's just not something that gives any concern. Of the many bikes I've had, only one had tubeless tires and wheels. The rest all had traditional spoked wheels. Carrying some kind of a repair kit is not really an option as the wheel would need to be dismounted and the tire removed from the rim to patch the tube. Am I going to carry a 27mm box end wrench and all of the tools necessary to dismount the left muffler? No. Motorcycle tires with tubes are an old technology, but one that is thoroughly mature and reliable. Maybe a small air leak in the tube could be sealed with tire goop, but I don't carry that either.
@@tsmgguy Thanks for the comment. Maybe I should just stop worrying and ride 👍🏻
EXCELLENT video.
Simple, Honest, to the Point.
THOROUGHLY ENJOYED it.
10/10.
LOVED how you said you go to the garage just to look at it!!!!!!!!! Hahahahahahahaha
Looking forward to your next 'review'.
Regards.
Thanks for the feedback much appreciated. Hope to get more videos out as the weather gets better
I run the Pirelli Phantom on my St.Twin and they are absolutely fine
If they work for you that's great. I've found them good in the dry but poor in the wet on the T120
I don’t dare too much on the wet so I wouldn’t be able to tell if they are good or bad.
What I think is that all this magic behind tyres is a lot of marketing; all modern tyres have outstanding performances according to their categories and range of use.
The Phantom in my view are more than adequate for their purposes and category.
I had far too many 'side stepping' and tramlining to quite disagree with you. I went for Michelin Road Classics and all of that stuff is gone. The compound of the stock pirellis is totally botched.
For a dislike how about access to clean the chain or rather lack thereof … and don’t get me started on the major job it is to clean the front sprocket!
Your absolutely right; I forgot to mention that.
A barely wet road is the most dangerous. When the road has had a good soaking the greasy feeling disappears.
I agree
I am looking hard at getting the same bike. It sounds you made a good case the change the tires now instead of later. $$$$
👍🏻You won't regret it
how about the seat? how uncomfortable is it on all day or weekend trips? how is the comfort seat offered by triumph? i wanna buy this bike but the seat looks ungodly uncomfortable on longer touring rides
great video by the way!!!!!
Thank for the comment. I have not done a weekend away on the bike but I do plan to. I have done a 170 mile round trip and suffered no discomfort if you stop every couple of hours. For reference I am 6 feet tall and of medium build. I don't feel the need to rush and order the comfort seat.
@@mlcmotorcycling9392 thank you for your reply
@@bdraidian6280 I’ve both, the standard and the comfort seat and I’ve to say that for me the standard seat is more comfortable than the comfort seat. I’m 6 feet 1 inch and I took the comfort seat to the workshop and let them put another layer of 2cm more stiff foam material onto the original one, plus a new leather cover. The height is much better now. The stiffer material makes it also more comfortable (at least for me) on long rides over several days (last trip were 2000km within Swizzerland in 6 days).
Due to the higher seat, I now had to increase the height of the handlebar.
I bought a British Bike Bits custom seat and my behind thanks me for my decision. Before: ride an hour and take a break. After: ride all day.
I have a 2018 at120. So the bike is a bit stiff on twisties. What is it, tires? What did you guys do to fix it
It may be the 18inch front wheel. I have a Kawasaki with a 17inch and it turns in much easier.
The Bike is honest and it is what it is. Doesn’t pretend to be like any other but itself. That’s character, isn’t it?
Although, I think that when the road is in bad condition the suspensions, front and rear, they transmitted everything to the rider and that wasn’t a nice sensation. I wonder if the suspension could be bettered…maybe a little more sophisticated suspensions wouldn’t be a bad thing here. The tyres have all the right looks but I believe that changing it could give the rider a whole different sensation, I imagine it would. But at the same time it would be a pity to change the classic beautiful looks of the bike, and the phantom Pirelli tyres give the bike that retro charming looks. I don’t know…Could be the difference, with different tyres?
I think the suspension is ok for normal paced riding, I think the issue is the tyres. I will be changing to Metzler Roadtec 01's very soon. I have these on my Kawasaki and they are superb.
Im in Australia and have the same bike and am very happy with it but, my biggest dislike would be the seat, after only half hour or so, I find it gets really uncomfortable. I know they have aftermarket better seats for ridiculous prices, but I am a bit surprised at how uncomfortable I get with the standard seat. Perhaps its my boney bums fault. 😜🤪
I agree Gregg. The riding position is good but for me the seat is uncomfortable after about 1 hour. I have read the Triumph comfort seat is not much better.
Honest review thanks. I am a Brit now living in the US, I have just passed my test and got my M endorsement at 51 years young! I also see myself trundling round like Captain Slow as you do, just enjoying the ride! I have looked at all the Bonnies including Street Twin and T100 as a first bike but I have decided on, and will grow in to, the T120! My only dilemma and would welcome your thoughts please..... T120 or T120 Black? Will the matt mark/scratch easier? Is it easier to harder to keep clean? Will it date where as the gloss black tank and polished chrome pipes etc seems more timeless? I know its a personal opinion but as a new biker, I really welcome your more experienced thoughts. Many thanks.
Hi Griff - Thanks for your questions. Without doubt the T120 Black is easier to look after, the powder coating is good and does not take a lot of looking after. Mine has a gloss black tank which if treated with a good quality wax is just fine. The matt black is a little harder to keep looking nice. If you go for the traditional look all of that exposed chrome and alloy looks fantastic but will require a lot of maintenance. It is more prone to rust and pitting if not treated regularly. If your bike is only going out in fine weather it should be fine, otherwise my advice would be to go for the Black.
I've been riding a t120 black, actually matt graphite, for about 4 years now, and haven't had any issues with scratches or marks on the finish. If anything, I think the matt finish helps to hide it better when the bike gets a bit dirty. The paint has started flaking off of the handle bars though. But, my only real complaint about the bike was the stock seat... swap it out for something more comfortable if you plan on going for long rides. The mirrors are kind of useless and silly looking too, but otherwise, it's been a great bike.
2:53 Well, it’s not just me then. I currently own an RE Interceptor 650, and I make pointless trips to my garage to look at it.
I sure hope that the day I buy my own T120, I don’t make twice the number of trips to my garage just to look at both of these bikes 😂
😂🤣
@@mlcmotorcycling9392 😁
a year on, do you still like riding your T120? I've come across a few complaints about this bike, foremost of which is the gearbox issue. Have you faced any issues at all with the bike?
can you please tell which bar-end mirrors you have on the bike here? Thank you for your time. Nice bike.
And the windscreen too please while you're at it :D
They are from TEC Bike Parts in the UK.
The windscreen is a Triumph OEM part although it is manufactured by Dart Flyscreens in the UK. You can purchase direct from Dart.
On their website it appears as if the mirrors have a blue / green tinge to them. Is this the case?
Its not really noticeable.
i bought my 2022 T120 Black/Grey matte about a month ago, upgrading from the TU250X - the bike felt way safer to me with all that torque and power at lower RPMs.
i've ridden in the rain and wet weather to see how it handled, and I believe the rain mode is good enough for the job. I'm not sure what other styles of motorbikes inspires confidence but this one really improved my joy in riding.
I added saddlebags, a mad stad windshield that detach and attaches within seconds, and now that you mention it - the levers always bugged me. I think i'll be modding those next
Thanks for you comments Dan. I agree the torque at low revs is a joy. I am going to replace the levers with those from TEC Bike Parts. I am also looking at saddlebags/panniers, which bags did you opt for?
@@mlcmotorcycling9392 Givi E22N Side cases with the PL6410 bars to hold the cases. I really like the look and the ability to lock the cases down. I'm able to store the essential stuff without worrying about it being stolen.
@@ridingwithdan1337 Thanks for the information. They look good but I think I’m going to go for soft luggage
@@ridingwithdan1337 I went for the SW Motech Legend Gear soft bags
@@mlcmotorcycling9392 I'd love to see a review of it!! where did you find it?
I want one so bad…..❤
Get one, you won't regret it.
On my 2016 T120, still after 50000km, the thing that annoys me most is the jerky behavior at lower rpm at constant speed. Especially when I ride slowly around town or somewhere down the hill. I cannot get used to it.
Thanks for the comment. I've only had mine for a few months so it hasn't bothered me too much yet; also I dont really do town riding or commuting.
drop a cog or go up to keep it on 2000 rpm, it's absolutely the sweet spot of the T120 engine. So 4th gear doing 40mph (64kmh) or 6th for 50mph (80kmh)
Haha “pointless trips to the garage..” very recognisable 😆
👍
But it’s all bloody black ! I also love the Bonny man, but where is the pseudo 60s chrome on the black ? Nope, can’t see any. Nice review though mate, just joking really.
Thanks for the comment. If you want the chrome then go for the standard T120 👍🏻
Triumph is killing Harley Davidson. 270 degree crank sound is sweet.
Thanks for your comment; I think Harley and Triumph have different customer bases. Both definitely have their place in the market.
What about slow speed, in town where it’s 20mph it absolutely hates it, jerks like crazy
Thanks for your comment. I always switch into rain mode through the town; I find that really smooths out the throttle response.
I don't recognize the jerking behaviour. Second gear and steady 20mph. ... I do have the X-pipe conversion to get rid of the cat. Not so sure if you get away with the rules in your country..
You bought it for it's looks and you bought a black one? Nothing kills the look of Edward Turner's eternal classic design than layering it in Druid black
If we all liked the same things life would be dull
Too much weight on my shoulders. Wish I could get some risers for it. T120 2020.
Motone Customs do an aftermarket up and over riser kit; this may help.
www.motone.co.uk/triumph-bonneville-c25/motone-up-and-over-riser-kit-for-one-inch-bars-black-p2063
@@mlcmotorcycling9392 Thank-you that's great.
Just sold my 2018 t120 black. It is a nice bike, but I hated the tires with inner tube. It makes me feel insecure all the time cuz I know that I will have to call a tow truck if I have a flat tire. I did get a flat tire last month. 135 dollars to have the repair shop replace the inner tube. I would choose Speed twin over t120 even though I like the t120's classic look. In addition, I think the aftermarket parts are very expensive for t120 and hard to find.
Hi Sean! Thanks for your comments and sorry to hear you sold your T120; what have you replaced it with?. I do have some concerns about the tubed tyres but not enough to stop me riding. The Speed Twin is a great looking bike but I prefer the more classic looks. With regard to aftermarket parts the Triumph ones are extremely expensive however there are loads of others available (such as Motone Customs and TEC Bike Parts) at extremely reasonable prices.
What would you do if you had a flat tire on a tubeless?
In fact, with a tube tire, you can fix a simple puncture without even taking the wheel off.
Not only clutch lever were Chinese made, the wires of the bike and the led bulbs also made by Chinese, you still want to ride the Truimph?
Thanks for your comment. I love the T120; if there are a few parts I'm not happy with I'll upgrade them. This one's a keeper 👍
Yes get rid of those stock pirellis, they are outright dangerous and uncomfortable. The compound is botched. So sure, they last forever but lack any grip unless it's a really hot and dry day
I am changing to Metzler Roadtec 01's. I'll let you know how I get on
Dislikes??? Wtf
OK
Blah
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