By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Retro Classic
Triumph Bonneville T120 (MY2016) vs Bonneville T120 (DU01A)
You'll find the 2016 Triumph Bonneville T120's bars turn in neutrally once it's rolling, and its mass seems to fade away. Grab the 2019 Triumph Bonneville T120's bars and they're placed to sit you bolt upright. Its padded seat keeps your hips settled and your back straight.
What makes each one tick
2016 Bonneville T120
The 2016 Bonneville T120's off-beat crank gives the engine a throb that feels more V-twin than old-school British. There's usable pull the moment the throttle opens off idle, and the engine works hardest well below the top of the tach. Up top, it loses interest. In stop-and-go traffic, the twin's pulling from a crawl.
2019 Bonneville T120
Plenty of torque low in the revs hauls the 2019 Bonneville T120 along, and passing slower traffic doesn't take much planning. The damping at either end can't keep up with a sharp bump on broken pavement. Hard braking makes the fork dive.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 2016 Bonneville T120 has the lower wet weight: 520 lb (236 kg) vs 538 lb (244 kg).
- Cruise Control: standard on the 2019 Bonneville T120, option on the 2016 Bonneville T120.
- Slipper Clutch: standard on the 2016 Bonneville T120, not offered on the 2019 Bonneville T120.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither is a natural fit
Both of these get tiring on a long day. A proper tourer will treat you better on big miles.
These two run dead level on character, commuting, twisty roads, 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
2016 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
2019 Bonneville T120
What owners say
Strengths
- Timeless styling and curb appeal
- Torque-rich and characterful engine
- Comfortable all-day riding position
- Premium build quality and finish
Trade-offs
- Basic suspension can feel under-damped
- Brakes lack initial bite
Known problems to check before you buy
2016 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.
2019 Bonneville T120
- Gear selector ring failure causing downshift difficulty Some bikes suffer from a binding or locking gear selector ring that makes downshifting increasingly stiff, often appearing outside warranty. A modified selector assembly (part T1191968) is available as a fix.
- Front brake squeal Earlier models (2016-2017) suffered from loud brake squeal. Triumph added a rubber damper ring to later bikes, but residual noise can occur, especially in wet conditions.
What they share
- Seat height
- 31.1 in (790 mm)
- Dry weight
- 494 lb (224 kg)
- Displacement
- 1200 cc
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Peak power at
- 6,550 rpm
- Torque
- 77 lb-ft (105 Nm)
- Peak torque at
- 3,100 rpm
- Fuel capacity
- 3.8 US gal (14.5 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front brake
- 310 mm
- Front tire
- 100/90-18
- Rear tire
- 150/70-17
- Wheelbase
- 57.1 in (1450 mm)
Where the spec sheets split
| 2016 Bonneville T120 | 2019 Bonneville T120 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 520 lb (236 kg) | 538 lb (244 kg) |
| 2016 Bonneville T120 | 2019 Bonneville T120 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 78 hp (58 kW) | 79 hp (59 kW) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 2016 Bonneville T120 | 2019 Bonneville T120 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise Control | Option | Standard |
| Slipper Clutch | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
