A living legend: Triumph Bonneville SE

THE bike simply draws
attention.
"Nice old bike," quipped a
rider beside me at a junction.
"Nope, it's new," I corrected.
"Triumph is back!"
Yes, the legendary British
marque is back with a range
of exciting of motorcycles.
The Bonneville, launched in
1959, was one of the stars for
Triumph.
The T120 Bonneville was a
dual-carburettor version of
the Bonneville Salt Flats
record-breaking Triumph
650cc twin.
It was a huge success,
especially in the USA, and
remained successful until
production eventually ceased
in 1983.

Richard Gere rode a black
Triumph T140E Bonneville in
the popular 1982 movie An
Officer and A Gentleman and
a T120R Bonneville in a later
movie, Mr. Jones.
Gere in fact bought a Triumph
Bonneville direct from the
factory with his first pay
cheque whilst touring Britain
with the Broadway production
of Grease in the mid 1970s.
A completely new Triumph
Bonneville 790 by Bloor's
Triumph Motorcycles Ltd
debuted in 2001.

Maintaining the same
configuration of a torquey
twin-cylinder engine with an
easy-handling chassis and
classic, the 790 was aimed at
riders of all ages, both male
and female, looking for a
good looking, practical
machine with a lively
performance and pleasant
power characteristics.
A fuel-injected 865cc DOHC
parallel twin-engine that
starts easily with the push of a
button powers the 2010
Triumph Bonneville.

The Bonneville feature EFI,
and those Keihin carbs
complete with choke-like fast-
idle knob are faux, just to
keep an authentic retro look.
Standard fitment would be a
low-slung megaphones pipe
but the unit we got to test was
fitted with aftermarket
Arrows.
The tank sports a traditional
chrome Triumph tank badge,
complete with logo-embossed
rubber kneepads, giving it a
touch of yesteryears.
Triumph's intention with the
Boney was to produce a
machine that combined the
old model's timeless appeal
with modern technology
proved successful.
Click it into gear, ease out the
clutch, and the smooth low-
end power sets you on your
way.

The engine has a broad spread
of power, to give effortless
acceleration plus strong
performance whether riding
solo or with a pillion.
The air-cooled, twin overhead
camshafts powerplant has a
frame-mounted oil cooler to
ensure consistent running
temperatures.
This, coupled with the chain
driven camshaft, ensures
optimum reliability for years
of smooth riding.
With a comfortable, upright
riding position and controls
within easy reach, the well-
balanced Bonneville is very
easy to handle.
Low 29-inch seat ensures
urban stress-free riding, and
the relaxed posture is perfect
for sightseeing.
Retro styling is the key
element of the Bonneville's
appeal and the speedometer
and switchgear add elegance
and functionality.

The Bonneville is a
confidence-inspiring capable
steed offering a smooth,
stable ride: the kind of bike
that would make you'd like to
take your kid for a ride
around town.
Tradition lives on in the new
Bonneville.
Engine: 865cc air-cooled,
DOHC, parallel-twin, 360
degree firing interval
Bore/stroke: 90 x 68mm
Fuel system: Multipoint
sequential electronic fuel
injection with SAI

Transmission: Five-speed
Maximum power EC: 67PS /
66bhp / 49kW @ 7500rpm
Maximum torque EC: 68Nm /
50ft lb @ 5800rpm
Price: RM68,900
By Salihin Abd Rahim
Recent Stories
Oldies are
goldies