By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Retro Classic
Triumph Bonneville T120 (MY2016) vs Bonneville Spirit (MY2015)
Triumph Bonneville T120 vs Bonneville Spirit: which one to buy once you're past the looks.
Parked side by side at the curb, the Triumph Bonneville T120's engine tucks its liquid cooling out of sight behind brushed heat shields. The Triumph Bonneville Spirit's air-cooled twin doesn't hide a thing.
So which one do you buy?
The Bonneville T120 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: Bonneville T120
On a winding road, the Bonneville T120 comes out a touch ahead. Put it down to more feel through the bars. You wouldn't bet much on a gap like that.
Character, looks and sound
Small edge: Bonneville T120
The Bonneville T120 has a bit more presence and character. This one still comes down to taste.
What makes each one tick
Bonneville T120
Pull comes almost straight off idle on the T120, carried by an off-beat pulse that feels more like a V-twin than an old British twin. The throttle draws a deep shove from low revs, and there's no need to wring it. High revs add little. The low-slung weight melts away once it's rolling.
Bonneville Spirit
There's a quick kick off idle in the Spirit, and its midrange keeps that pep going through town. The pace stays relaxed. The 865 cc lump racks up miles on basic servicing.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Bonneville Spirit has the lower seat: 30.5 in (775 mm) vs 31.1 in (790 mm).
- The Bonneville Spirit has the lower wet weight: 505 lb (229 kg) vs 520 lb (236 kg).
- The Bonneville T120 makes more peak power: 78 hp (58 kW) vs 67 hp (50 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Wrong job for both
Neither one is built for long-haul comfort. For big miles, look at a proper tourer or sport tourer.
These two run dead level on commuting and running costs. Sit on both in the showroom and trust what your body says.
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
Bonneville Spirit
What owners say
Strengths
- Legendary reliability of the air-cooled 865 parallel-twin
- Peppy and responsive engine character
- Timeless classic styling with modern reliability
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.
Bonneville Spirit
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Final drive
- Chain
Where the spec sheets split
| Bonneville T120 | Bonneville Spirit | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) | 30.5 in (775 mm) |
| Wet weight | 520 lb (236 kg) | 505 lb (229 kg) |
| Bonneville T120 | Bonneville Spirit | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1200 cc | 865 cc |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled | Air-cooled |
| Power | 78 hp (58 kW) | 67 hp (50 kW) |
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (105 Nm) | 50 lb-ft (68 Nm) |
| Bonneville T120 | Bonneville Spirit | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 3.8 US gal (14.5 L) | 4.2 US gal (16 L) |
| Bonneville T120 | Bonneville Spirit | |
|---|---|---|
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 5-speed |
| Front tire | 100/90-18 | 100/90-19 |
| Rear tire | 150/70-17 | 130/80-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Bonneville T120 | Bonneville Spirit | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Standard | Not offered |
| Traction Control | Standard | Not offered |
| Ride Modes | Standard | Not offered |
| Cruise Control | Option | Not offered |
| USB Charging Port | Standard | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
