New Triumph Bonneville T100 vs T120

Triumph expanded their award-winning Bonneville range with the launch of the new Bonneville T100 at the Intermot 2016 motorcycle show in Cologne, Germany.

At only 11 kg (24 lbs) lighter than the T120 the new T100 is not quite a baby T120; they share the same chassis. In fact, the official specifications report the T100 wheelbase at 5 mm (0.2 in) longer. The T100 seat also is 5 mm higher than the 785 mm (30.9 inches) stated for the the T120.

Looking at pictures and videos, it’s hard to tell the difference. The T100 looks every bit as good as the T120.

Triumph Bonneville T100. Img Triumph UK

Triumph Bonneville T120. Img Triumph USA

New Bonneville T100 vs Bonneville T120

They share the same KYB 41mm cartridge forks with 120 mm (4.7 in) travel front and the KYB twin shocks, also with 120mm travel, at the rear.

Both feature a 18 x 2.75 in 32-spoke wire steel rim up front and a 17 x 4.25 in 32-spoke wire steel rim at the rear and both are shod with 100/90-18 tires at the front and 150/70 R17 tires at the rear.

They also feature the same size brake discs at the front and rear but the T100 has a single disc up front whereas the T120 has twin discs.

The T100 and the T120 also have the same instrument cluster design.

The main difference is the engine size, the T120 sporting the 1200cc 105 Nm (77.4 FT-lbs) mill while the new T100 uses the same 900cc 80Nm (59 FT-lbs) engine used in the Street Twin. The T100 thus also has a 5-speed gearbox whereas the T120 has a 6-speed gearbox.

Here’s how Triumph introduces the T100:

Inspired by the iconic ‘59 Bonneville, the T100 models have their own distinctive character that incorporates more of the original Bonneville DNA, along with many of the stunning finishes, features and details of the larger Bonneville T120 and T120 Black.

Price difference between the T100 and T120? At this time of writing the T100 hasn’t been announced in the USA yet but comparing the UK prices, the T100 should put in excess of 1 000 more smiles on your face when compared to the T120, which currently sells at £9,600 OTR in the UK and $11,500 in the USA. (The Street Twin costs £7,350 / $8,700.) Expect the new T100 to come in at $9,999.

New Bonneville T100 vs Street Twin

So, the new T100 is a proper Bonneville – with peashooter pipes and classic tank – with the engine of the Street Twin. But hang on, before we dismiss the Street Twin as anything less let’s keep in mind that it is part of the new water cooled Bonneville range. Triumph introduced it as such: “The Street Twin is our most contemporary, fun and accessible new Bonneville.”

The Street Twin shares the brakes, suspension and wheel sizes of the T100 and T120. But there are a number of differences between the new T100 and the Street Twin.

The Street Twin has a rake of 25.1° vs the 25.5° of the T100. The Street Twin has a trail of 102.4 mm (4 in) while the T100 has a trail of 104 mm (4.1 in).

The Street Twin has a wheelbase of 1415 mm (55.7 in) compared to the 1450 mm (57 in) of the T100. Seat height of the Street Twin is 750 mm (29.5 in) while you need to swing your leg at least 790 mm (31.1 in) high on the T100.

On the scale, the Street Twin comes in at 198 kg (437 lbs) dry while the new T100 is a more solid 213 kg (467). Once you add the lubricants and the fuel, the difference will be slightly more marked as Street Twin carries 2.5 litres (0.5 gal) less of the precious stuff:  12  l (3.2 gal) vs 14.5 l (3.8 gal).

Triumph Street Twin – Motorcyclist Magazine Motorcycle of the Year 2016

The new T100 will cost more than a thousand dollars more than the Street Twin.

Triumph Street Twin Cup

But there’s more… Triumph also introduced the stunning looking Street Twin Cup.

The Street Twin Cup is the closest you’ll get to a baby Thruxton. And that at about the same price as the T100.

The Cup is lower than the T100 but higher than the Street Twin. For sportier steering, it has slightly longer rear shocks and a rake of 24.3º and trail 98.7 mm (3.9 in). Weight is 200 kg (441 lbs).

It has the same instruments, brakes, suspension, wheels and engine as the T100 and the same cast rims as the Street Twin. However, it looks different –

Triumph Street Twin Cup

Triumph introduces the Street Twin Cup –

The new Street Cup is a stunning authentic ‘street racer’ born from the stripped back style of the Street Twin and features the Bonneville 900cc high-torque engine – perfectly tuned for blasting around town, or lively ride-outs on twisty B-roads.

All these bikes are thoroughly modern, with drive-by-wire, riding modes, ABS, traction control and the like.

Let’s face it, there is competition out there but only Triumph seems to know how to truly put the “classic” in modern classic.

04/10/2016. Category: Wheels. Topic: motorcycles, Triumph.