Triumphrat

Greaser

I can't beleive it has been 12 years since the Bonnie 2.0 hit the floors. I call it 2.0 in that unlike the T120-T140 based bikes, from 1959 right up to the 1988 harris T140, thwese bikes were a clean sheet design and owing nothing, technology wise to Edward Turner.
I was re-reading the now defunct Moto Retro special new Bonnie issue from autum 2000. The articles made realize how long ago this was. Alan Cathcart wondered if the Bonnie would be the success Hinckley hoped it would be. Other scribes wondered too how the buying public would recieve this new Bonnie.

jonkster

The T120 came out in 1959 and was made until 1972 (when the T140 replaced it).

13 years. So in a sense the 'new' Bonneville has been made for about as long as the T120 version of the Bonnie was made.

I find that kind of cool - the 'new' Bonnie may end up being manufactured for longer than the classic bike that inspired it.

(OK I know the T140 was a Bonnie too but grant me some poetic licence )

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leftarmlogan

Those retro bikes will never catch on.

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TrumpetRat

Any idea how the numbers of "new" Bonnies sold compare to the Meridan sales numbers?

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triumpt120rv

Technically T120's were "made", put together really, in 1973, 1974 and even about 40 as late as 1975. But I don't think that affects your "poetry" in the least.

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jonkster

Interesting.

Did the frame/engine numbers indicate the year of assembly for these later T120s?

I guess if you could find one and prove it was a 75, a 1975 T120 would be a pretty rare beast and worth a premium to some.

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triumpt120rv

Yes, frame/motor numbers would designate the years. Not sure how many of the 38 1975's have actually survived. There are members on the vintage forum with 73's and 74's (a mod even).

Edit: Last T120 built has number T120V NJ60070 (N = October, J = 1974 but were designated as 1975 bikes (confusing))

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triumpt120rv

I think 250,000 Bonnies up until 1972. I've only seen one Hinckley and that's Dogtired's but I believe more have been made.

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Junipero

You've really got to get out more there buddy!

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leftarmlogan

Yeah, T120, you do have to get out more.

I've seen three.

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