Triumph Bonneville T120 United Kingdom roadtrip

The route

The place which I always wanted to visit from the time I was a kid was Wales. I had grown up reading and watching UK reviews, and Wales was their favourite destination. That doesn´t come as a surprise when you consider what Wales has to offer - stunning landscape, curvy roads and minimal traffic. So my bike trip started from London, went through some busy motorways, visited the mesmerising Black mountain pass in Wales, had a tour of the iconic Triumph factory in Hinckley and then back to London.

The bike

There are a wide range of Triumph motorcycles to choose from. But from the beginning I wanted a modern classic for this ride and what better than the Triumph Bonneville T120. It is a beautifully finished motorcycle, with loads of chrome to add to its appeal. It has the typical 1960’s silhouette and wherever I went, it grabbed eyeballs and got lot of compliments too. On the surface it might look like a classic, but underneath it is thoroughly modern. It gets ride by wire throttle body, traction control, ABS and ride modes. It is powered by a 1200cc liquid-cooled ‘high torque’ engine, which delivers 105Nm of torque through a six-speed transmission. Although the peak power figure of 79bhp isn’t very exciting, this parallel twin motor’s pulling power is its party trick. Triumph claims that this engine delivers a staggering 54 per cent torque in the lower rev range. The ergonomics are aimed at comfort on the T120. The forward set foot pegs, wide handle bars and a well-cushioned saddle are a proof of that.

The gear

I did this trip around end of March, when temperatures were still hovering around in single digits. Although my riding jacket was mesh, it had a nice warm inner liner and I wore thin woollen thermals for added warmth. Underneath my textile riding pants, I wore padded cycling shorts which just adds to the comfort especially during long stints on the saddle without giving you a sore bottom. Then I had the comfortable Alpinestar SMX6 boots which are not too stiff but provide good protection. I was using my Schuberth SR1 helmet. Being a race spec helmet, it is heavily vented which isn’t the most ideal when its cold. So underneath I wore a thin woollen balaclava. Also it had a pinlock visor, which is a boon when it´s cold and rainy.

The ride

Starting from London was chaotic. Peak hour traffic was as bad as we experience in India, the difference being that this one was well organised. Not once did I hear anyone honking! Despite its massive 244kg girth, the T120 felt right at home and the high handle bars made wading through traffic a breeze. Once on the M4 motorway towards Brecon, traffic thinned out and I really started enjoying the ride. As there is no wind protection on the Bonnie, it is best to cruise around 100-120kmph. Above that the wind blast is quite severe, as on an open motorway crosswind intensity is quite high and sometimes it’s a struggle to keep the bike in your lane. What made life on the motorway easy was the enormous torque from the engine. Be it in any gear, the engine pulls from as low as 1800rpm effortlessly which made quick overtakes just a twist of the right wrist away. Even on lumpy road surfaces the T120 felt taut and provided a flat and consistent ride. 

Once I exited M4 onto the narrow country road the whole riding experience transformed. It wasn’t a boring straight road anymore. In front of me lay a piece of road which was beautifully paved with long sweeping corners. Here too, the Bonneville felt right at home as it felt stable and when not rushed, it is a pleasant bike to be on. The throttle was smooth, so was the engine and despite its weight, the powerful brakes gave me sense of good control. 

But when I approached the A4069, according to my GPS, the landscape changed once again. I was on the acclaimed Black Mountain pass! It was a sight to behold with beautiful mountains on one side and a stunning piece of snaking tarmac surrounded by lush green trees right in front of me. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t too kind to me, as it was raining constantly with temperatures just above freezing. This road is easily the best I have ever ridden on. Every section of the road feels like, it was picked from the best racetrack in the world. There is a mix of everything – Long sweeping bends, technical double apex corners, quick change of direction chicanes and tight hair pin bends. But what makes this road even more special is the scenery which is just mesmerising. Of course, you have to be careful and not get too carried away, as margin for error is minimal. Even the Bonneville isn’t too adept on such kind of roads as it feels too heavy, doesn’t have much lean angle and the engine isn’t the happiest when you wring its neck. But despite that I thoroughly enjoyed my time on this road and it proved to be even better than I thought it would be.

Triumph Factory Visitor Experience

So once done with going up and down the Black Mountain pass several times, I headed to the birthplace of the Bonneville, the Triumph factory in Hinckley. My main purpose of coming here was to visit the brand-new museum and take in Triumph’s rich heritage and history. Friendly staff are always at hand to greet visitors at the Factory Visitors Experience Center. In the main hall, one can clearly see how much this British marque has grown in over a century of its existence. The large cavernous room is lined with landmark models of the last century, right from the basic 1902 Triumph No1 with less than 2hp to the 1996 Daytona that made 107! There is a nice café and a very tempting merchandise shop here too. Among all the classics, one bike that caught my attention was the 1968 Bonneville T120. The resemblance between the current bike and the 60 year-old one is uncanny. It is commendable how Triumph has integrated all the modern gizmos without compromising on the looks and charm of the original. 

Pictures by Ameya Dandekar