Design
& Styling
Handsome is a word I would use to describe
the Bonneville T100. Like a well-heeled man, this motorcycle gets clean lines
and retro styling. The tank is evenly shaped with generous room for your knees
and carries that distinct sculpted Bonneville design. The motorcycle draws its
inspiration from the iconic 1959 Bonnie and gets a DNA rich with heritage. Adding
character to its retro appeal, the Bonneville T100 gets wire spoke wheels,
authentic peashooter silencers and two tone paint schemes with hand painted
gold coach lines. To look at, this motorcycle is smart and sophisticated, it is
reminiscent of a bygone era yet comes with the latest technology and
engineering standards of Triumph which deliver prime performance.
The rider seat height has been set at 790mm
and has an adequate sync with the foot pegs and handlebars to cater to
comfortable cruising even on long journeys. The switch gear as well is quite
easy to operate. Triumph has set an analogue speedometer and rpm gauge on the
T100 which also gets a digital display for trip meters, average fuel
consumption, current fuel consumption and average speed.
Performance
The Bonneville T100 is powered by a 900cc
parallel twin cylinder engine which is liquid cooled and puts out 80Nm of
torque and 54.2bhp. Peak torque comes in low at 3230rpm while peak power comes
at 5900rpm. Being torque biased, this engine ensures smooth and refined
cruising along with a punchy ride experience. The acceleration is linear but
extremely thrilling right from scratch. Thanks to a well engineered ride by
wire setup throttle response is crisp and accurate leaving no room for jolts
and jerks.
The engine has been mated to a 5-Speed
gearbox. Gear shifts on the bike are crisp and neat thus adding to the pleasure
of riding this motorcycle. The motorcycle rides on 41mm telescopic forks in the
front and twin shocks with an adjustable preload in the rear. Both the front
and rear suspension get 120mm of travel and are quite adept at taking on bad
and bumpy roads. The tyres lend adequate grip on tarmac and work well with the
traction control setup the T100 to provide a carefree ride.
Braking on the T100 has been facilitated by
a 310mm disc with a two pot caliper in the front and 255mm discs with a two pot
caliper in the rear. The braking on this motorcycle is extremely efficient and
inspires a lot of confidence to the rider. Coupled with traction control and
ABS, the T100 just transforms into a splendid ride with a fine tuned capability
of saving your neck in sticky situations.
Verdict
While there are quite a few retro styled
motorcycles available in the market, the Triumph Bonneville T100 carries the
distinct DNA of iconic British motorcycles. The T100 is easy to ride and quite
nimble, be it the city or the highway, this bike is adept at providing comfort.
The parallel twin engine belts out a thrilling performance and the grunt from
the peashooter exhausts add to the fun. It is essentially a fine blend of a
retro styled motorcycle with modern day technology to aid riders in traversing
varied terrain.