By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Retro Classic
Triumph Bonneville T120 (MY2016) vs Bonneville T120 (MY2025-Black)
Turn into a bend on the 2016 Triumph Bonneville T120 and it doesn't fight you, steering neutrally on a low center of gravity. The 2025 Triumph Bonneville T120 sets you upright on a plush seat through the arc. Your hands don't stretch for a single control.
So which one do you buy?
The 2025 Bonneville T120 has the edge if…
Character, looks and sound
Narrow edge: 2025 Bonneville T120
On style, the 2025 Bonneville T120 makes a slightly stronger case. Go see both in person.
What makes each one tick
2016 Bonneville T120
There's pull barely above idle on the 2016 Bonneville T120, its off-beat twin thumping more like a V-twin than an old British parallel. The front brake lever doesn't bite hard until you squeeze it firmly. Fast bumps outrun the soft fork. In town, the shocks soak up broken pavement.
2025 Bonneville T120
There's an easygoing calm in how the 2025 Bonneville T120's chassis stays planted on the move. The throttle doesn't need much of a roll before the big twin shoves hard. The exhaust's rumble keeps every ride from going quiet.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- Front Suspension Adjustable: standard on the 2025 Bonneville T120, not offered on the 2016 Bonneville T120.
- Cruise Control: standard on the 2025 Bonneville T120, option on the 2016 Bonneville T120.
- Heated Grips: standard on the 2016 Bonneville T120, option on the 2025 Bonneville T120.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both fall short
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, 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
2025 Bonneville T120
What owners say
Strengths
- Charismatic, torquey parallel-twin
- Proven reliability and low maintenance
- Comfortable, relaxed ergonomics
- Timeless classic styling with premium finishes
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.
2025 Bonneville T120
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Seat height
- 31.1 in (790 mm)
- Wet weight
- 520 lb (236 kg)
- Displacement
- 1200 cc
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 78 hp (58 kW)
- Torque
- 77 lb-ft (105 Nm)
- Fuel capacity
- 3.8 US gal (14.5 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Front brake
- 310 mm
- Front tire
- 100/90-18
- Rear tire
- 150/70-17
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 2016 Bonneville T120 | 2025 Bonneville T120 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front Suspension Adjustable | Not offered | Standard |
| Cruise Control | Option | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Standard | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
