2017 Triumph Bonneville T100 - FIRST RIDE REVIEW

In the tire tracks of five fresh additions to the Bonneville family this past year, Triumph has kept the momentum rolling into 2017 with recently announced Bonneville Bobber, Street Cup, and newly revamped T100 models. Whether 900cc or 1200cc variants, all new Bonnies share the same basic ride-by-wire, liquid-cooled, 8-valve, sohc, 270-degree parallel-twin engine architecture credited with breathing new life into Triumph's retro-style line.

Rich in character, this engine blends a magical mix of tactile feel, purist sound, and smooth torque delivery, all of which played a major factor in Cycle World's selection of the Triumph Street Twin as the Best Standard of 2016.

While I got a firsthand look at the brawly 1200cc Bobber on display at Triumph’s annual dealer meeting staged in downtown Los Angeles, I was also treated to a brief ride aboard the new Bonneville T100. The complete family makeover is said to have been five years in the making and Triumph’s largest engineering project to date, so it stands to reason the venerable T100 would not be left out.

Combining the 900cc powertrain of the entry-level Street Twin with the upscale chassis and classic styling of the larger displacement Bonneville T120 has delivered an easier handling and $1200 more affordable T model. While the T100 and T120 share an identical silhouette, key differences (aside from engine displacement) amount to the T100 making due with a single front disc setup and no center stand, passenger grab rail, heated grips, or daytime running light. It also has a black seat cover (rather than brown) and doesn’t offer selectable ride modes, but retains traction control and ABS as part of the package.

The T100’s flat 31.1-inch high saddle offers an inviting perch for most any rider and its generous padding agreed with my bony butt. The engine settles into a steady idle with minimal vibration and its torque assist clutch demands very light effort. Pulling away from a stop is a cakewalk thanks to the perfect combination of clutch engagement feel, bottom-end torque, and spot-on fueling. Heck, I was even able to chug along in top (fifth) gear at 1200 rpm with only a hint of throttle.

Gearbox action is very light with just enough positive indexed feel to communicate with the rider all is well and engaged. Finding neutral at a stop (plenty of those in inner LA traffic) was never a concern either. Short shifts at 3000-5000 revs built upon the “I’m chillin” mentality I like about this genre of bike without hindering forward progress at all.

Escaping LA onto local freeways allowed a bit more speed where the T100 proved silky smooth at an indicated 65 mph, 3500 rpm top gear cruise. Upping the pace to 75 mph/4000 rpm saw a bit of buzz build in the grips.

The single front disc proved plenty sufficient in feel and stopping power with the added benefit of a marginally lighter steering feel. The slight kick felt in the lever or pedal when ABS intervenes also offers tactile rider feedback.

At $10,300 in Jet Black, $10,550 in Matte Black, or $10,800 for a two-tone scheme, as well as 150-plus accessories for the offing, the 2017 Bonneville T100 delivers some affordable options for the buyer attracted to the classic looks of the well-received Bonneville T120.