By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Retro Classic
Triumph Bonneville T120 (MY2016) vs Bonneville (MY2007-SE)
Roll on the Triumph Bonneville T120 from a crawl and it's already shoving hard. The 2008 Triumph Bonneville swells evenly, then punches through the midrange.
So which one do you buy?
The Bonneville T120 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: Bonneville T120
On a twisty road, the Bonneville T120 edges ahead. Put it down to harder acceleration and more feel through the bars. Not by enough to settle it alone.
Character, looks and sound
Slight edge: Bonneville T120
The Bonneville T120 carries slightly more attitude. Thank a better engine note and more engine character for that. A close call, and a personal one.
Daily commuting & city riding
A touch ahead: Bonneville T120
For the Monday-to-Friday grind, the Bonneville T120 pulls a nose in front. Credit simpler maintenance. Your own commute could easily flip it.
Keeping running costs low
By a nose: Bonneville T120
Day to day, the Bonneville T120 works out slightly cheaper to own. The saving is small.
What makes each one tick
Bonneville T120
The T120's off-beat crank gives its engine a pulse that's closer to a V-twin's than to a traditional British one. There's usable torque the moment the throttle opens from idle, with the peak arriving at 3,100 rpm. On the Blue Ridge Parkway, the low center of gravity hides the bike's weight, and the steering's neutral through each bend. The twin's tugging at every light.
2008 Bonneville
The 2008 Bonneville's air-cooled twin pulls smoothly around town, and it's still got an answer when a backroad starts to wind. You're sitting upright behind a wide bar, with the seat just 29.5 in (749 mm) off the ground. The single front disc wants a firm pull on the lever and doesn't say much back. The chassis holds a steady line.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 2008 Bonneville has the lower seat: 29.5 in (749 mm) vs 31.1 in (790 mm).
- The 2008 Bonneville has the lower wet weight: 496 lb (225 kg) vs 520 lb (236 kg).
- The Bonneville T120 makes more peak power: 78 hp (58 kW) vs 66 hp (49 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Wrong job for both
Long-haul comfort is a weak spot for both. If you tour, shop with that in mind.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Bonneville T120
What owners say
Strengths
- Strong torque-led 1200 HT engine character
- Easy, accessible handling despite mass
- Authentic retro styling and finish
- Modern essentials present and unobtrusive
Trade-offs
- Front brake lacks initial bite
- Mass for some riders
- Soft, basic suspension
- Pre-LED-era halogen replacement aside, basic headlight beam pattern
- Snatchy / abrupt throttle in Road mode at low rpm
2008 Bonneville
What owners say
Strengths
- Classic, authentic looks
- Comfortable, neutral ergonomics
- Smooth, torquey engine character
- Good value retention
Trade-offs
- Weak front brake
Known problems to check before you buy
Bonneville T120
- Fuel pump sub-harness moulding defect can allow fuel to seep along wire insulation, risk of electrical short and fire Recall 19V133000 A moulding defect in the fuel pump sub-harness allows fuel to migrate along the wire insulation and reach the main harness connector, where it can cause an electrical short and ignite.
- Clutch cable can chafe through main harness cover and damage internal wiring Recall 19V133000 The clutch cable contacts the main harness cover at the headstock and abrades wires inside, leading to symptoms including loss of headlights, indicators not flashing, or unexpected stall. The fault is the root cause of many community indicator-failure reports.
- Gear-change selector mechanism failure The gear-change selector mechanism can fail through a broken internal return spring or through a bent claw on the detent wheel (often after a left-side drop), causing the bike to lock in a gear or refusing to downshift. Triumph released an updated shifter-mechanism kit (P/N T1191968) in October 2019, retrofittable to the start of production.
- Abrupt throttle response in Road mode at low rpm in 1st and 2nd gear The ride-by-wire ECU map in Road mode is described by owners as having coarse throttle resolution — small wrist inputs produce comparatively large throttle-body movements at low engine speed, resulting in an on/off character in tight low-speed riding. Rain mode smooths the response but reduces overall throttle authority. Common community workarounds: Booster Plug device, ECU re-flash with adjusted throttle map.
- Fuel gauge under- or over-reads; reserve light triggers inconsistently Owners report that the dash fuel gauge does not track tank level accurately and the reserve warning may activate with substantial fuel still in the tank. Triumph has reportedly issued a dealer memo and replaced the fuel-level sender under warranty in confirmed cases.
- Surface corrosion on grab-rail bolts, spoke nipples, brake disc carriers and TPS cover Within months of use, owners commonly report rust forming on exposed steel hardware: grab-rail bolts, spoke nipples, brake-disc carriers, throttle-position-sensor cover. Reported even in non-coastal, non-winter climates. Cosmetic, not structural; progressive if unaddressed.
2008 Bonneville
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front brake
- 310 mm
Where the spec sheets split
| Bonneville T120 | 2008 Bonneville | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) | 29.5 in (749 mm) |
| Wet weight | 520 lb (236 kg) | 496 lb (225 kg) |
| Bonneville T120 | 2008 Bonneville | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1200 cc | 865 cc |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled | Air-cooled |
| Power | 78 hp (58 kW) | 66 hp (49 kW) |
| Peak power at | 6,550 rpm | 7,200 rpm |
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (105 Nm) | 52 lb-ft (70 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 3,100 rpm | 6,000 rpm |
| Bonneville T120 | 2008 Bonneville | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 3.8 US gal (14.5 L) | 4.2 US gal (15.9 L) |
| Bonneville T120 | 2008 Bonneville | |
|---|---|---|
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 5-speed |
| Front tire | 100/90-18 | 110/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 150/70-17 | 130/80-17 |
| Wheelbase | 57.1 in (1450 mm) | 57.2 in (1453 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Bonneville T120 | 2008 Bonneville | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Standard | Not offered |
| Traction Control | Standard | Not offered |
| Ride Modes | Standard | Not offered |
| Cruise Control | Option | Not offered |
| Slipper Clutch | Standard | Not offered |
| USB Charging Port | Standard | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Standard | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
