This past week you may have seen thee “leaked” photos on Facebook and other social media sites of a possible new Triumph twin prototype photographed in Spain. It appears to be fairly well developed and near completion.
Visor Down posted this article:
New 1100cc Triumph café racer spied testing – Standard and R model spied testing in Spain
Motorcycle.com wrote an article about the photos titled:
Triumph Street Tracker And Street Tracker R Spied! All-new liquid-cooled motor forms the basis of upcoming Bonnevilles
Cycle World published the following article:
SPIED: 2016 Triumph Street Tracker and Street Tracker R – New Bonnevilles get a boost with bigger engine, higher performance and liquid-cooling.
You can view the best set of photos online starting here.
What’s in a name?
As I read these, the main thing that struck me is that Triumph may be leaving the traditional air-cooled twin design in favor of an at least partially water-cooled solution. Since it was a twin air-cooled bike that set the land speed record and give birth to the Bonneville model, should these new models likewise bear the “Bonneville” name? Where is the line where you have gone so far from the original, that you’ve changed the meaning of the name? I wonder if calling these new bikes a “Bonneville” will detract from the simplicity and appeal of the original classic design and dilute the values that the name and brand has come to represent.
I’m not sure how well this will play with the hard-core, air-cooled, Bonneville twin fans.
2016 Triumph Street Tracker
So this one looks a lot like a water-cooled Thruxton! The front wheel has double disc brakes, and the forks have billet triple trees.
Triumph Street Tracker Spy Photo – 1
Triumph Street Tracker Spy Photo – 2
Triumph Street Tracker Spy Photo – 3
Triumph Street Tracker Spy Photo – 4
2016 Triumph Street Tracker R
So this one looks beefed up with bigger radiator and exhausts, and higher performance front forks, suspension and brake setup.
Triumph Street Tracker R Spy Photo – 1
Triumph Street Tracker R Spy Photo – 2
Triumph Street Tracker R Spy Photo – 3
Triumph Street Tracker R Spy Photo – 4
Triumph Street Tracker R Spy Photo – 5
Triumph Street Tracker R Spy Photo – 6
Triumph Street Tracker R Spy Photo – 7
Triumph Street Tracker R Spy Photo – 8
Triumph Street Tracker and Street Tracker R Spy Photo – 1
Triumph Street Tracker and Street Tracker R Spy Photo – 2
I will buy two.
Yes, love the idea Triumph is going to make this new midsize bike. If it keeps the looks of the Bonneville family line of bikes with about the same weight or less they should have a big hit.
très moche, je préfère de loin la bmw ninet ou la norton commando . pour la norton c’est le prix qui ne va pas
Translation into English: “Very ugly, I much prefer the BMW Ninet or Norton Commando. For Norton is the price wrong?
The original Triumph weighed only 363 lbs. My 2012 Triumph Scrambler tops out at over 500 lbs. I’m gettin’ old and need a lighter bike!
They seemed to have hidden the plumbing,if only they could reduce the size of the radiator.
I love that they offer an R model. Smaller radiator and I would love one.
Man i hope this happens. Both my girl and i are wanting to buy thruxtons in the future but the power downgrade from my vtx 1300 would be big let down. But an 1100cc bonnie would make this an easy decision. Come one Triumph! you know they’d sell like hot cakes
I had a 2010 T-100 with hot cams,hot exhaust,air box removal kit,dyno jet power commander,dyno tuned. Then went to a 2013 T-Bird Storm with BC Hog Slayer exhaust. I will trade my Storm for this bike if Triumph produces this bike. Storm still has the biggest parallel twin on the planet! Come on Triumph! It’s time for a new twin!
This bike seems to be more along the lines of the old Legend TT of Thunderbird Sport than a replacement of the Bonnie. Hope the exchange rate between the dollar and the pound doesn’t make this too expensive. Looks like a winner.
Someone said “I’ll buy two”, that’s what I did: both 2012 models. A Bonneville SE and a Thruxton. Both weigh 500lbs with 4.4 gallons, the Bonnie gets over 55 mpg consistently. It will be a BIG surprise if these new models have even a 200-mile range with the added displacement. Bigger and more complex isn’t always better. Having the catalytic converter under the engine will drive oil temperatures up and tax the water-cooling system. Making them heavier, adding electronic nannies and driving the prices way up is a curse waiting to happen for the Triumph brand. If you want all the bells and whistles go buy an Aprilia or a Ducati. All of a sudden the BMW SS 1000 looks like a bargain when compared to the new Thruxton R. After 50 years of riding and having owned everything except a U.S.-made Hogley I wonder why Triumph thinks they need to re-invent the motorcycle. Will keep my 2012 GSX-r 750 and my two air/oil-cooled 2012 Trumpets. Glad I bought those three to enjoy now that I am retirement age. Each to his/her own, however.
Frederick,
Thanks for weighing in. After visiting Triumph headquarters in Atlanta this week and inspecting the new Bonneville T120, the good news is that the fuel efficiency will be even better than the current air-cooled models, in spite of the horsepower and torque gains! I believe the European Union emission standards played a major role in Triumph’s decision to “re-invent” the Bonnie. I don’t think they did it just for the same of doing it, but rather to survive and compete in the global marketplace as it exists today.
Randy