Nothing screams classic like the English-born Triumph Bonneville. In 1959, it kicked off the cafe racer movement and became even more famous when Marlon Brando straddled his own Bonneville in The Wild One.
The Triumph Bonneville’s parallel-twin four-stroke engine, well known for its power and speed, was famously combined with Norton featherbed frames to create the elusive Triton. In 2008, fuel injection replaced the need for the dual carbs, but throttle bodies were redesigned as dummy carbs to maintain the original look of the engine.
The Triumph Bonneville has retained its stylish, quintessentially British looks through several generations: production started in Hinckley in 2001 and continues today.
The current ‘Modern Classics’ range was launched in 2016 with the Street Twin, Street Cup and Street Scrambler at the lower end of the range. The Bonneville roadster is available in the traditional T100 and T120 variants, and the Thruxton and Thruxton R are modern day cafe racers. A ‘factory’ 1200cc Bobber completes the range.
Even after more than 120 custom builds, Tamarit Motorcycles isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. In their continued search for motorcycling elegance, the Spanish custom shop has based their latest work on a carbureted 2004 Triumph Bonneville. Named ‘Circe’ after the minor goddess from Greek mythology, the venerable Bonnie has been elevated with hints…
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I spend time around people who love old English bikes, and I feel like the Triumph Bonneville T140 cops a bit of flak from the Triumph crowd. Granted, its legendary predecessor, the T120, was a tough act to follow. But while the T140 doesn’t quite have the same allure, it does make for a brilliant…
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The Spanish masters Tamarit give us a peek at their 101st build, Norton reveal the revamped V4SV, and CCM throw the wraps off the Classic Tracker. Plus news of a most unusual 1924 Harley-Davidson that went under the hammer, and a heavily modified Moto Guzzi from Italy.
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Some of the most prolific custom shops out there have found success by settling on a winning recipe, then replicating it countless times. But the real trick is to find new ways to riff on the same style, so that it doesn’t become stale. And Tamarit Motorcycles has that down to an art. Sure, if…
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It’s all about mixing modern components and classic style this week. We’ve got a Triumph Bonneville from Spain, a BMW K1100 from…
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Hayden Roberts once quipped that when he moved from England to California in the early 2000s, it was “about 40 years too…
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Unless you’re handy with a grinder and welding gear, it’s not cheap to put a custom bike in your garage. But if…
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Triumph’s current modern classics are wonderfully designed machines that recall the marque’s history, while offering contemporary performance. But their complex electronics and…
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There’s something to be said for using the right tool for the job. But there’s an almost defiant joy to choosing a…
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The alt-moto scene is full of enthusiasts that have a measure of good taste, but don’t have the means to build or…
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Classic Triumph bobbers tend to be commissioned by riders with many years and miles under their belts. After all, it usually takes…
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After exactly two hundred editions of Bikes of the Week, we’re retiring the format and switching things up a little. Our new…
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