7 Coolest Triumph Bonneville's Ever Made

Even non-bikers seem to understand the prestige of the Bonneville, it has graced Ralph Lauren and Barbour Clothing store windows, starred in multiple blockbuster movies and fashion campaigns.

The old faithful Bonnie is a masterpiece that has stood the test of time since the very first release in 1959, it has evolved significantly while remaining true to the original design.

Let’s take a look at some of the best Bonneville’s Triumph ever made. 

You can’t have a list of the coolest Bonneville’s of all time and not include the very first model.

The original Bonneville was Edward Turner's last design to make it into production. It was a high performance version of the 650cc T110 Tiger, the main difference being twin Amal carbs and a special better performing cam.

It was named the T120 on the basis it was claimed the new model could do 120mph and ‘Bonneville’ after Johnny Allen's 1956 world land speed record set at the Bonneville Salt Flats. 

Up until 1963 the bikes were pre-unit construction meaning the gearbox was a separate component, after 1963 however, they adopted unit construction.

Despite being the ‘world's fastest motorcycle’ the Bonneville wasn’t received particularly well initially, although things did change post 1963 and the bikes started to take off. 

Estimated Price Today: £20,000/$27,000

Only 52 of these models were officially produced although later models did replicate the conversion.

Essentially the 1965 Thruxton which is the inspiration for the modern day Thruxton, was an homologation special for production racing events. 

It had an increase in power to 53 horsepower. The bikes used carefully selected components that included new cylinder heads and crankcases.

It is unlikely you will find a surviving original Thruxton today due to the limited numbers originally produced and it would likely cost a small fortune if you did.

The 68-70 bike is arguably the best of the classic Bonneville’s and for some it is the best of the classic bikes of that entire era. 

So, in 1963 the Bonnie had received unit construction and a new frame, since then the model had improved in reliability, performance and with its braking system.

The 1968 model received upgraded Amal carbs and a new front brake, it is also widely considered the best looking Bonneville with its classy styling. 

However, it was the start of the end for Triumph’s reign as the manufacturer with the ‘world's fastest motorcycle’, as for 1969 the all new Honda CB750 would take that title.

The 68-70 Bonneville is said to be the one that has inspired the modern T100 and T120s. 

Estimated Price Today: £12,000/$16,000

By the mid-70s Triumph was struggling and by 1976 Triumph’s Trident had been dropped, the Bonneville was the last existing model. 

In an attempt to keep their heads above water Triumph released the Silver Jubilee model to coincide with the Queen’s 25th Anniversary. It was painted in silver, red, white and blue livery.

Only 1000 models were initially produced, demand was such that a further 1000 were produced and 400 more for the International market. 

They are highly coveted and are ‘The Bonneville’ that collectors want to have in their collection. 

In 2002 Triumph released a Golden Jubilee model to once again honor the Queen. 

Estimated Price Today: £10,000/$13,000

In 1983 Sir John Bloor purchased the Triumph brand and several years were spent rebuilding the brand to get it back to what it once was, including a new headquarters in Hinckley. 

The Speed Triple and Thunderbird were some of the first models to come out of this new Triumph facility. In 2000 an all new Bonneville was released at the Cologne Motorcycle Show, and in 2001 it was out in the world in full production.

It was an all-new bike with a 790cc engine, it was a no-frills, stripped back machine, its importance was more in its existence as opposed to its performance. 

The bike paved the way for the modern-day Bonneville’s to become what they are today, and it is a perfectly solid machine to ride even by today's standards. 

Estimated Price Today: £3,000/$5,000

There is nothing more synonymous with the Triumph brand than Steve McQueen, whether he is scaling the fence in The Great Escape or racing his Triumph’s across the Salt Flats.

In 2012 Triumph decided it was time to produce a Steve McQueen edition of the Bonneville, and it was about time to if you ask me. 

The Steve McQueen model was limited to just 1,100 examples and it featured military-style khaki green paint, a single seat, luggage rack and black headlamp, wheels and bars. 

It was the quickest selling limited edition model for Triumph of all time with all 1,100 models selling pretty much immediately. 

Estimated Price Today: £10,000/$13,000

With the exception of the original 1959 Bonneville, the 2014 Spirit model is my favourite edition of the modern bikes.

It is essentially a base T100 but with a Spirit Blue and New England White two-tone paint scheme. It carries through on the tank and front/rear fenders. 

The bike has a hippy/surfer/50’s feel about it. I don’t surf, in fact I don’t like water very much, but this bike makes me want to strap a board to the side and head down the coast. 

It came at a time when all motorcycles were turning to being just blacked out and moody, and the Bonneville Spirit injected fun back into the Triumph brand and motorcycles generally. 

Estimated Price Today: £4,000/$5,500

The Triumph Bonneville has the potential to make a great first bike for any rider although there are some things to be aware of before you go out and buy one for your first bike.

Bonnie’s are a good size and put the rider in an upright comfortable riding position. They are not too big and equally are not small bikes either so will ergonomically suit most riders. 

However, they are not the lightest of motorcycles, and so slow speed maneuvers, or moving the bike around the garage/drive can be a bit tricky if you are not used to moving bikes. 

Once the bike is moving though, the weight disappears and you would be hard-pressed to notice it. 

The centre of gravity is reasonably low and so traditionally Bonneville’s are very well balanced.

Used Bonneville’s are plentiful on the used market and so if your heart is set on one for your first bike, looking towards a used bike would be a good idea. 

It is common knowledge that new riders are more likely to drop their bikes, dropping a used bike will be less heartbreaking than dropping your brand new 2026 edition Bonneville. 

So, Bonneville’s make for a great first bike. Ergonomically they are great for new riders, price wise (especially used) they are priced fairly and the power is enough to grow into but not enough to terrify new riders from twisting the throttle. 

Modern Bonneville’s are known to be very reliable, solid, robust motorcycles that can go the distance and won’t have sporadic oil leaks or other equally irritating niggles.

However, this wasn’t always the case, the first series of Bonneville’s up until 1963 were plagued with problems. 

Engine oil leaks, bad fork seals, overheating engines, and weak points on the frame. Some of this was addressed with an updated engine and new frame from 1963-70 and these models are considered some of the favourites among collectors.

Fraying cables and wires, rust, flaking chrome are all issues that will plague classic bikes, so if you are looking to purchase a classic Bonneville make sure you check things over fully and you are prepared to deal with any issues that may come up.

Now, that is not to say that modern Bonneville’s are not completely problem free. 

In 2019 several Bonneville’s were recalled due to wiring harness issues and on occasion modern bikes have had issues with water getting into gauges, or squeaking brakes. 

The fact is every motorcycle ever made will encounter some issues along the way with batches and specific models however, these days modern bikes tend to get recalled very quickly and manufacturers replace problem components more efficiently. 

Overall a modern Triumph Bonneville is a very reliable machine, and if you look after it and fix/upgrade any faulty parts then a classic Bonnie can be just as reliable.  

The original classic Bonneville’s are considered to be those produced at the Meridan plant from 1959-1983. 

After a two-decade break from production, Triumph re-introduced the Bonneville in 2001 and most recently the model was reinvented in 2016 when the Bonneville was split into the T100 and T120 variants. 

Which Bonneville is better? Well, it really comes down to preference and what you want out of the motorcycle.

Classic bikes are easier to work on than modern bikes, thanks to the lack of electronics and tech packed in compared to a modern machine. 

If you are looking for a bike that you can put your own mark on, make your own and treat as somewhat of a restoration project, then there is nothing better or more satisfying than a classic Bonnie. 

However, if you are looking for a bike that you can crunch down hundreds of miles every weekend, take across the country from Chicago to Vegas or round Europe then a classic Bonneville probably isn’t the best option. 

In this case you are better off looking towards a modern Bonneville as they are definitely more reliable and will give you less grief, leaving you to just focus on the ride.