Triumph Bonnevile T120 Black

[Capo]

Excellent report. These two machines are beautiful, and comparing them based on anything other than what tugs your heart strings is futile. As for tank seams, I don't get the angst over them one bit, but some people were bothered by Sophia Loren's crooked nose, so....

[dbarkdoll]

+1 on the tank seams, I really could not care less about em.

[Retsel]

(03-22-2018 07:45 AM)Capo Wrote:  Excellent report. These two machines are beautiful, and comparing them based on anything other than what tugs your heart strings is futile. As for tank seams, I don't get the angst over them one bit, but some people were bothered by Sophia Loren's crooked nose, so....

You mean people actually looked at her nose?

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[Houtman]

I never knew that she had a nose , I always looked lower down .

[Calcb]

I traded my original 2013 CB1100 for a 2016 T120. Now I have a 2014 CB1100 if that says anything...

There were a lot of great things about the T120, but I got tired of the handling (someone here mentioned the heavy steering and they are 100% correct), and its geared fairly tall (like the CB), so some shorter gearing would really help wake it up.

For CB vs T120....the CB has better brakes (not even close), handles way better, the gearboxes are very similar but the triumphs is slightly slicker, and the typical twin vs 4cyl power/torque tradeoff.

Now that I have my Thruxton R, some of the performance enhancements address the issues I had with the T120. The riding position isn’t as good for long distance but it does keep you from hanging on with the slight lean. It’s geared shorter so it is much more lively, it has more HP up top so it’s fun to rev and it handles way better than the T120.

Now, if I want to relax and take an easy ride I take the CB, if im “in a rush”, I’ll take the Thruxton.

[Jfro5687]

Just noticed this thread....I had a T120 Black and I really liked it BUT it had quality control issues that spoilt owning it so I fell out of love with it. The clocks kept misting up on sunny days, the wiring harness was really tight around the headstock and when I Turned the handle bars to the right (full lock) the headlight assembly got pulled so tight it pulled it all out of line! The front wheel was out of line in the forks by about 1cm and that annoyed me too. I could have pestered the dealer and they probably would have sorted it all but i didnt want all the faff so got rid. Shame.

[Lord Popgun]

What year was it Jfro?

[Jfro5687]

It was a late October 2016 model. With hindsight I should have waited over winter until spring 2017 to get it. I had to wait 3 months or so as it was which was a bit annoying but i was told by the dealer it was the last one available that year. Sadly regretted it. the over riding feeling I had with it was that it had been thrown together in a rush with all the bits left over.....a bit like they used to say about cars being built on a Friday afternoon. As i say i am sure the dealer would have solved it all but when i went onto the Triumph forums (like this one) many had similar niggles. So it spolit it. I know wise people say never to get the first of any new model because of stuff like this but i got swept up in it all i suppose. Not intending to slag the 120 off because there will no doubt be many very happy owners out there. It just ruined it for me. Regarding the riding experience i would echo the comprehensive write ups already detailed here. I did find the ride by wire throttle quite snatchy in town and that was a nuisance. Kind regards john