2020 · Retro Classic · Buyer's Guide
750 Chances to Own One
The Bobber TFC is Triumph's factory-custom reading of the post-war bobber, built as a limited run of 750 machines. Its 1200 cc parallel twin makes 86 hp and a thick 81 lb-ft, delivered through Ride-by-Wire throttle maps that keep the electronics out of sight. Carbon-fibre bodywork, twin Brembo M50 front calipers, and an upside-down fork push it well past a styling exercise. What you get is a purist silhouette with the hardware to back up the look. Emotion comes first here, and the engineering earns its keep quietly underneath, exactly the way this kind of bike should be built.
On the road it trades on fat low-end shove and a planted feel at speed that belies the stripped bobber stance. It rewards a rider who wants presence over practicality, someone who cares how the bike looks parked outside a diner as much as how it rolls away. The honest caveat is range: the 2.4 gal (9 L) tank keeps your legs short between stops, and at 525 lb (238 kg) it is a heavy thing to shuffle around a garage. A few owners have seen intermittent turn signals and minor oil weeping from gaskets. Buy it for the object first, and the ride lands as a bonus.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 86 hp (64 kW) @ 6,250 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 81 lb-ft (110 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1200 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 310 mm |
| Front tire | 100/90-19 |
| Rear tire | 150/80-16 |
| Wheelbase | 59.4 in (1510 mm) |
| Seat height | 27.2 in (690 mm) |
| Wet weight | 525 lb (238 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 2.4 gal (9 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Lighting
Safety
The named systems that set this bike apart — and what each one does for you.
Braking
Throw a leg over and the first thing that registers is how low you sit, 27.2 in off the deck, with your feet reaching out ahead to the pegs. The parallel twin settles into a deep, even beat you feel through the seat and the wide bars more than you actually hear it. At a stop the 525 lb hangs low and hides itself well, though you notice every pound the moment you back it out of a tight spot. The single seat and cropped tail plant you right over the rear wheel, an old-school position that looks right and stays honest at town pace. Wind hits you square with nothing up front to duck behind. Everything your hands land on, the switchgear, the tank, the finish, carries real weight and a cold-metal density that photographs never quite catch.
Malfunctioning turn signals
Some owners have reported intermittent turn signal failures, potentially caused by wiring or relay issues.
Minor oil leaks
A small number of owners have noticed oil weeping from engine gaskets, requiring resealing.
Where this Triumph Bonneville Bobber TFC pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Bonneville Bobber TFC is actually built for.
If classic style and quiet two-lane routes are your thing, this bike delivers the look better than almost anything. Just build your day around the small tank and short fuel range.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
For Sturgis or Daytona, the TFC brings sound, presence, and a bike people gather around. The single seat and short range make it a statement piece more than a hauler.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
For relaxed Hill Country cruising and BBQ stops it fits the mood well. If you want a sharp weekend tool for hard carving on the twisties, this leans style over sport.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Triumph Bonneville Bobber TFC. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
