TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 650
The
Bonneville remains Triumph's most famous model of all, and for very
good reason. Launched in 1959 as a hotted-up. twin-carb version of
the Meriden firm's existing 650cc vertical twin, the T120 Bonneville
was advertised as offering 'the highest performance available today
from a standard production motorcycle' - and the Bonnie lived up to
its billing.
For
much of the following decade the T120 was as fast as any production
bike on the road, and it was a long-lasting hit for Triumph.
Bonneville- based bikes were also raced successfully all around the
world, from the Isle of Man TT to American dirt tracks. The Bonnie
was repeatedly updated, enlarged to 750cc, and survived into the
1980s. No wonder John Bloor's reborn Triumph concern chose the famous
name for its new generation parallel twin, launched in 2001.
Back
in 1959, the name Bonneville was evocative of speed and excitement
for a different reason.
Triumph's legendary boss Edward Turner chose it in honour of the
record-breaking run by Johnny Allen, who in 1956 had taken a
streamlined, Triumph twin-engined machine to 214mph (344km/h) at the
Bonneville salt flats in Utah, USA.
The
American market was Triumph's biggest, and the name fitted the new
bike perfectly.
The
original T120 was relatively simple for Triumph to develop. Its
format of 649cc parallel twin, with pushrod valve operation,
four-speed gearbox and 360-degree crankshaft was that of the Tiger
110. In 1958 the Tiger had been available with an optional cylinder
head with splayed inlet ports, for fitment of twin carburettors, plus
a list of optional tuning parts including high-performance camshafts
and Amal racing carbs.
Following
demand from its US distributors for a high-performance model, Triumph
incorporated hot cams and twin, filterless Amal Monobloc carbs in the
new T120, increasing peak output by 4bhp to 46bhp. Initially the
Bonneville, which was conceived in such a hurry that it wasn't even
included in the firm's 1959 catalogue, retained the Tiger's headlamp
nacelle and touring handlebars. For 1960 it gained a separate
headlamp shell and sportier mudguards, plus a redesigned twin-cradle
frame that gave steeper steering geometry and a shorter wheelbase.
The
frame was strengthened for 1961, by which time the Bonneville had
become firmly established as a stylish and fast road-burner. British
magazine Motor
Cycling
wrote in June 1961 of the 'outstanding acceleration and high top
speed - without temperament' of a bike that lapped a banked
test-track at an impressive average of 108mph (174km/h). Three months
later the magazine tripped the timing lights at 117mph (188km/h) on
the same bike, now revving higher after being fitted with Triumph's
high-performance option of 'chopped' Amal Monobloc carburettors
sharing a single float bowl.
TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 650
Easy
handling and good looks
The
Bonneville was regularly updated over the next decade, notably with
the adoption of a unit- construction engine and gearbox in 1963.
Chassis stability did not always match engine performance, but the
Bonnie remained much loved for its light weight, easy handling and
good looks. In 1971 the twin gained a new 'oil-in-frame' chassis,
which was much criticized until lowered a year later. In 1973 Triumph
increased capacity to 744cc to produce the T140 Bonneville, which was
more flexible, if no faster and less smooth.
Bonnevilles
were raced with great success, notably in the Isle of Man, where John
Hartle won the production TT in 1967, and Malcolm Uphill set the
first production 1 OOmph (161km/h) lap on the way to victory in 1969.
During the 1960s the T120 took four wins in the annual 500-mile
(805km) production race at Thruxton and Brands Hatch, with
riders including Triumph tester Percy Tait. The Bonnie was still
competitive on the track in 1978, when Steve Trasler's T140 beat the
Japanese fours to win the British production championship.
TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 650
PRICE'S 2014
MINT $6,000 $12,000 £6,000 £12,000
GOOD
FAIR
PROJECT
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