TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE BOBBER BLACK (2018 - 2020) Review

Very uncomfortable 10 miles enough . Used more than a couple of miles a month would give you hemorrhoids.

Reliable but not well finished

Expensive service costs. Why ?

Looks OK

Twin discs up front is definitely needed. I've upgraded the pads to Brembo sintered and they make a huge difference

This is the heart of the whole experience. For me the torque delivery is brilliant. 2nd to 3rd to 4th to 5th at full snap throttle is very very good and really brings out the power from the engine block. One can alter the gearing if they choose to for more intense drive. I have and it does make a difference.

Superb attention to detail. For me one of the best finishers of various models. British engineering at its best

Very good service intervals.

The whole look is dialled in to look imposing. Wolf in sheep's clothing. Beautiful natural flowing lines. No other bike like it out there.

Im quite light and I have no problem with the factory ride set up. I do know the heavier rider would probally need to uprate the rear shock as it does bottom out quite easily, however I have spent hours at a time on there in relative comfort. I was suprised overall on how well the bike goes through the corner and bends and accelerates very well. The brakes are ok but I still find them a bit lacking if you have to come to a stop quickly. For a cruiser-esque style bike it is an absolute hoot to blast around on through the Welsh twisties.

Its a big twin with plenty of tourque and pulls like a train. Its obviously no sports bike but it still gets you to naughty speed quickly enough to put a grin on your face. I have had no issues so far with reliability and long may that continue. The throttle is a little twitchy at low speeds but a spacer in the grip control sorted that right out.

Overall very good. Well crafted parts and frame giving it a good solid feel but it is a little on the heavy side when pushing it about. My bike was an ex demo and had some corrosion on the break discs and some of the metal finished parts may tarnish. However this is my only bike and I have used al year round and has stood up very well to the elements. My only real moan is the plastic rear light. Everything else was painted and well finished it looks like an after thought.

The servicing costs are not to bad with £160 at the dealers. With my dealer this gives a life time engine warranty which is always good. The fuel cost about £10 a tank for about 100 miles with a reported 65mpg.

There are a ton of high quality bolt on accessories from triumph and numerous after market companies. The base bike is a blank canvas and is designed to customise at will.

The bike was a bit disappointing at first as it was very firm , but has softened up a bit now and is great

Plenty of performance , and now the catalyst has somehow disappeared the engine note on standard exhausts is perfect , ( who needs Vance and Hines )

No issues at all , but I think you need to stay on top of the cleaning as I have seen some scutty looking engine side covers on bikes

Don’t really do many miles , so no big expenses yet , lube up the chain and polish !

Love the heated grips and the cruise control , very disappointed that you can’t get a genuine wind deflector , but there are very good alternatives , pannier bags are overpriced and it will put people of buying them , which makes the bike far mor practical to get , milk , chips , booze

Standard rear shock is not great, I have been shot out of the saddle on more than one occasion. Brakes are good but I cannot trust the ABS as it is possible to lock the front wheel in very hot weather. Traction control can also go missing from time-to-time in hot weather also. I learned to ride in the 80's so do not rely on these aids preferring to use my wits, but the idea they may let me down in a dire situation is not confidence-inspiring in the slightest. I have ridden 200 miles in a day and it is pretty wearing and you need to stop for gas every 80 miles, planning a trip around fuel stops is not fun and if you are in a group it becomes tiresome for your companions. I was also bothered that the rear wheel is held in place without a castle nut and split pin. This is simply unacceptable from a safety point of view, so buy yourself some threadlock.

The engineer pulls very strongly, which I love and having grown-up with the sound of '70s Bonnevilles it stirs my soul, however I find that the engine is extremely rough between 3300rpm and 3800rpm. There is sufficient vibration to cause very numb fingers particularly when running at say 70ish for long periods, I rarely use 6th as it is very tall, unless I am on a motorway. If you are in 6th you will need a downshift (or two) to overtake smartly and safely 3rd and 4th are my preferred gears out of town on A/B roads as that keeps things brisk. Fuel consumption is around 45mpg in the real world, so be prepared to stop a lot if travelling any distance.

Oil leak, seriously Triumph, you can take authenticity too far. Bike under warranty so will be returned in next fortnight. Reading various forums this is not at all uncommon on the 1200 Bonneville unit. Frankly I find this unacceptable if touchingly authentic. The engine runs extremely hot and coolant seemingly evaporating, also the fan stops once the ignition is off, this cannot be correct or if it is, I consider it a design fault?

See previous comments regarding ABS and TTS. The fuel gauge only ever registers 3/4 full and the pessimistic fuel light will come on after around 65 miles, ignore this at your peril. The only sure way I trust fuel level is knowing 45mpg and using the trip meter. The LCD display is very good and all the relevant info is available. The indicators are not self cancelling which is a step backwards for any modern vehicle. 40 years riding means turning them off is like muscle memory, but may befuddle the younger riders out there.