2017–2020 · Retro Classic · A variant of the Bonneville T100
Differences between the standard Bonneville T100 and the Black
Dark Factory Custom, Zero Compromise
The T100 Black is the Bonneville in its purest form: a 900 cc parallel twin in a steel double-cradle frame, rolling on an 18-inch front and a 17-inch rear, with a darked-out finish that gives it a custom look straight from the factory. Under the 1960s silhouette sit liquid cooling and fuel injection. That's the retro brief done right: the feeling of the old days, with modern hardware working quietly in the background. ABS and traction control come standard, as do adjustable rear suspension and a USB charging port. Nothing shouts here. It simply belongs.
The numbers tell you where this bike lives. The 'High Torque' twin makes 59 lb-ft (80 Nm) at just 3,230 rpm and 54 hp on top: on paper, that's an engine built for low-rev pull, not for chasing the redline. Add a 31.1 in (790 mm) seat, a 470 lb (213 kg) wet weight and a 3.8 gal (14.5 L) tank, and the hardware points to small-town loops, historic routes and an unhurried rhythm. It's for you if style and credibility matter more than spec-sheet bragging, and if you see a bike as a canvas to make your own. Honest hardware. Timeless shape.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 54 hp (40 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 59 lb-ft (80 Nm) @ 3,230 rpm |
| Displacement | 900 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Front tire | 100/90-18 |
| Rear tire | 150/70-17 |
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) |
| Wet weight | 470 lb (213 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.8 gal (14.5 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Safety
Over the years I've listened to what T100 owners tell me in the paddock, over coffee at club nights and in the emails and messages riders send me directly. For this bike the pattern is clear and unusually one-sided: the praise centers on its looks, its torque, its comfort and its easy handling, and no recurring complaint comes up.
Riders consistently describe a motorcycle that asks very little of you. The steering is light, the manners are stable, and the low center of gravity puts new and experienced riders at ease, especially on winding back roads. The twin pulls cleanly from low revs, so town riding is effortless, yet owners still find plenty of punch out of corners and enjoy the exhaust note. A plush seat and well-damped suspension keep long days in the saddle comfortable. Relaxed, all day.
Owners keep coming back to the look: the teardrop tank, wire-spoke wheels and all-black treatment turn heads wherever the bike stops. Long-term owners also report trouble-free running and a premium finish, and many rank it favorably against Japanese rivals. Looks and substance.
Wiring harness chafing recall
The clutch cable may rub against the wiring harness, potentially damaging insulation and causing electrical failures or engine cut‑out. This led to a safety recall (SRAN 560) affecting 2017‑2019 T100 models, requiring installation of a revised headstock tidy to prevent contact.
Where this Triumph Bonneville T100 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 T100 is actually built for.
Your best fit here: pure 1960s Bonneville style, a 31.1 in seat and low-rev pull built for small towns, historic routes and an unhurried pace, from the Kancamagus to Maggie Valley.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
A good match if identity and ritual are why you ride: real British heritage and a factory custom look. It's a modern classic, though, not a heavyweight cruiser built for the Sturgis parade.
Made for Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
A fair fit for Hill Country weekends: easy low-rev pull and a 31.1 in seat suit the back roads out of Austin, and it looks right at the BBQ stop. It favors a relaxed rhythm over a sporty one.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Texas Hill Country BDR-X · Twisted Sisters
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2002–2004
The Real Bonneville Returns
Compare to the previous model →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 T100. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2020–2025
Style First, Always Style
Roughly $1,100 cheaper used than this bike at 6 yr
Competitor · 2018
Pure Sixties Style, Modern Bones
Roughly $3,100 cheaper used than this bike at 6 yr
Competitor · 2017–2020
Italian Soul, Stripped Bare
Roughly $1,200 cheaper used than this bike at 6 yr
Same Platform · 2019–2020
Classic Bones, Real Pull
About the same used price as this bike at 7 yr
