Since the wraps came off the new Triumph Bonneville range in October, we?ve had to plenty of time to digest the upgrades. But it?s only now that we can sink our teeth into the products.
To say we’ve been looking forward to saddle time would be an understatement. The first true redesign of Hinckley?s line of modern classics was long overdue, and the hype surrounding them has been huge.

So it seemed odd that Triumph only scheduled one day in Portugal for the press to ride the two flagships of the stable?the Bonneville T120 Black, and the Thruxton R. It made us wonder.
Was it because the cruiser and the cafe racer are still simple variations on a theme" The same bike, sold two ways"

The short answer is no. These are two very different beasts indeed. Each has been developed with its own rider in mind, engineered to exude its own performance nuances and individual character. In fact, after riding them back-to-back, it’s hard to believe the two share more than a sales floor, let alone radiators and that 1200 cc, liquid-cooled engine.

Triumph Bonneville T120 Black Thrumming through the narrow and winding streets between Cascais and Sintra, the blacked-out T120 I’m riding feels like a breath of fresh Atlantic air.
It’s relaxed and easy to ride, has an engaging soundtrack and communicates better than any stock Bonnie I’ve ridden before. It’s the perfect way to casually take in the sights.

The seat is supportive and extremel...