When the Triumph Bonneville was first released years ago, it became something of a legend that persists to today. Unlike its Japanese competitors of the day, the Triumph Bonneville sparked something in riders that transcends commuting. The 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100 harkens back to those days when you could say “Let’s go for a ride in the country,” and people wouldn’t look at you funny. The 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100 takes that 1960’s icon of motorcycling and updates it in all the right places- power, ergonomics, comfort, and reliability, while still reminding riders of why they might have bought a triumph in the first place- an unmistakable sense of style in a bike that’s as first-date friendly as any Honda Civic.
The 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100 has all the requisite retro styling cues to make the uninitiated think that you’ve just spent months on restoration. The 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100 has a peashooter exhaust; chrome engine covers, two-tone paint, and spoke wheels. Fork gaiters and a black instrument panel complete the look for the designers, while the engineers deviously worked their magic in secret. Underneath the retro skin of the 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100 beats a heart that shows no mercy to the middleweight class motorcycles. A completely updated 865cc parallel twin receives fuel injection for the 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100. Can you tell that the 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100 is fuel injected? Absolutely not, until you fire it up. The engine rumbles to life with that distinctive British parallel-twin exhaust note with no hesitation whatsoever, truly the ultimate dream of all those guys out there running around on actual sixties-era Triumph Bonnevilles. The power for the 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100 is rated at 67 horsepower with 51 Lb/ft of torque on tap. The 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100 releases its power through a 5-speed transmission and multi-plate clutch, with a chain final drive. Although gaining in popularity, a shaft drive unit would have diminished the retro character of the 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100, and so was left off.
A tubular steel cradle frame holds everything in place, while a 30.5 inch seat height is high enough for sporty riding, while still being low enough to clear the inseam of many men and women both. Most riders shouldn’t have much trouble with handling the 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100, due to the fact that it isn’t overpowered for its size, has an acceptable clutch action, and combines that with a good seat height and low dry weight of 451 lbs. For those considering the 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100 for a first motorcycle, it may be helpful to take the safe rider course first, as this size of motorcycle is generally considered best for riders who have had some time in the saddle, but still aren’t ready for large-bore cruisers.
Available colors for the 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100 are three options: Jet Black/Fusion White, Forest Green/New England White, and Claret/Aluminum Silver. You’ll have to look elsewhere in the Triumph line for British Racing Green, but chances are you’ll love the 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100 enough to just let it be. You’re wallet will most likely love the 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100 as well, as its $8,799 MSRP gets you access to one of the most attractive motorcycles on the road today.
The 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100 is representative of a departure in motorcycling today, where the focus is as much on the size and luxury of the bike as it is the joy of riding it. Where some companies shovel money into advertising to create an aura of cool around their bikes, Triumph does so with subtlety and grace, presenting the world with one of the nicest motorcycles available today to the world stage, letting the 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100 speak for itself, and speak volumes, it does.
