FEATURE – 2021 TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE T120 & T120 BLACK - JUST BIKES

FEATURE – 2021 Triumph Bonneville T120 & T120 Black

The Triumph Bonneville T120 and T120 Black have benefitted from some major changes made for the 2021 model year, led by a significant weight reduction, brake upgrade and improved technology

2021 Bonneville T120 and T120 Black highlights

Euro 5 compliant 1200cc twin that’s more responsive, while offering reduced emissions.
Weight reduced by 7kg
New lightweight rims
Higher specification Brembo brakes
Cruise control as standard
Enhanced Road & Rain riding modes
New instrument faces

In the shift to make its 1200cc parallel twin Euro 5 compliant, Triumph has also made that engine lighter for improved handling.

Overall, weight on the Bonneville T120 has been reduced by an impressive 7kg to 236kg (wet), with the engine’s contribution to that reduction being the adoption of a lighter crankshaft.

Outputs of 58.8kW at 6550rpm and 105Nm at 3500rpm are unchanged from the 2020 Bonneville T120, but optimised balancer shafts in the engine reduce inertia for improved throttle response.

Other contributors to the 7kg weight saving include new aluminium rims (18-inch front and 17-inch rear) for the 32-spoke wheels, which not only improve manoeuvrability when riding, but make for easier handling when parking.

To rein in the enhanced acceleration that comes with the MY21 Bonneville T120’s reduced weight, Brembo 2-piston floating calipers on the dual 310mm front brake discs are now standard, replacing the previous Nissin calipers, but the single 255mm rear disc retains a Nissin 2-piston floating caliper.

EATURE – 2021 Triumph Bonneville T120 & T120 Black — Brembo calipers on the dual front disc brakes are now standard on both the T120 and T120 Black.

Along with the reduced weight, the other major addition on the 2021 Bonneville T120 and its T120 Black sibling is cruise control. Operated via its own dedicated button on the switchgear, cruise control is designed to work with the T120’s Road and Rain riding modes, both of which have been tweaked to suit.

Changes to trim and detailing on the 2021 Bonneville T120 start with a new look for the twin-clock instrumentation. What Triumph calls “a new and premium 3D face” features Bonneville branding, with traditional typefaces and colours. The speedo and revcounter remain analogue, with the multi-function LCD displays including gear position, fuel level, fuel range, fuel economy and riding mode, with all the warning lights within the clocks, too.

The tank badge is a new and classically-inspired “heritage” 3-bar design, finished in chrome to complement other chromed T120 trim elements, like the exhaust headers, headlight trim ring, indicator shells, handlebar, mirrors, fuel cap and rear suspension components.

The seat is unchanged for 2021, also classically-inspired with its white piping, ribbed top and embossed Triumph logo at the rear. Seat height is 790mm

For 2021, the Bonneville T120 is offered in three colours: Jet Black, Cordovan Red/Silver Ice and Cobalt Blue/Silver Ice. Both the two-tone options feature hand-painted gold coachlines.

All the upgrades to the engine, along with the lightweighting measures, introduction of cruise control and new-look tank badge from the MY21 Bonneville T120 also apply to the T120 Black, but this model retains its signature dark styling touches.

These include a blackout treatment for the rims, engine covers, exhaust, mirrors, headlight trim, indicator bezels and pillion grab rail.

The T120 Black trades a black seat for brown, with available colours including Jet Black and Matte Jet Black/Matte Graphite with silver coachline detailing.