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Street Twin or T120

68K views 137 replies 58 participants last post by  alank43 
#1 ·
so if you were to choose the new bikes which one will you pick ? $11500 for the t120 seems like a lot money. The t120 has nice features like the double front brake disc, 83 lbs of torque, standard heated grips, and the LED headlight. with The $2500 you pay extra for the t120 i can get a new exhaust, buy the triumph heated grips or aftermarket, and maybe even buy that sweet headlight from the 1200s and still have like a $1000 left **** even improve the rear suspension? mmmm


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#3 ·
BritTwit beat me to it, big difference to me in the motor & trans. Plus smaller matters such as dual clocks, rider mode settings, does the the twin have a center stand? Etc.

Not to mention the looks. Hard to put a price on that but the T120 looks so much better than the twin, it's not even close IMO. All that is worth the extra $$ to me.

That's why a put a deposit down on a T120 Black.
 
#4 ·
street twin for me! Only criticism (apart from the fact I haven't even sat on one!) is the bias front tyre, but a pair of T30's will fix that and give you some of the best rubber. Oh, another crit, tank is a bit small.

apart from being cheaper, it's just lovely to my eyes, I don't want spokes, don't even want 6 gears, and the tapered exhaust looks so much nicer. Single disc should work just fine.

have to say the question posed has no answer, they're targeted differently.
 
#14 ·
Tubeless tires, EFI, Traction Control, ABS breaks, comfy seat, personality kits, ride by wire, slip clutch, no carb balancing, hot red color, 10,000 mile service interval, decent price. It's the bike I wish my 2007 Bonnie was, easy choice!

-Dan
 
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#17 ·
All the new models look sharp . Just a case of picking your poison based on personal taste .
 
#19 ·
The Twin catches my eye but I think the 120 would be nicer to me knees. Same reason I went with the Scrambler over the Bonnie.
 
#20 ·
I cannot tell you how many times a Bonneville SE (mag wheel) has called me for parts and mentioned in hindsight, "I wish I'd bought the T100 instead."

For me, what I'm struggling with is the choice between a '16 Thruxton and a '16 T100. I absolutely love the shape of the Thruxton tank and I'd prefer alloy wheels. But my aging back & knees are not to keen on rear sets and clip-on's anymore.

/M
 
#24 ·
You are probably right. I thought i was kind of the target demographic because i would be new to the brand and under 40 but maybe not. I had a bmw until i had to move back east ... and then had kids. At the time i got it, it was one of the few standards available -- modern classics were a year or two away when i got it. Now i am ready to get back into it. I love the look of the classic motorcycle but want performance too. Something that can handle the mountains, two-up, etc. I am no hipster. I was leaning toward t120 amd ready to put a deposit on it but the long delay has me wavering. Hence all the hand wringing
 
#28 ·
Now i am ready to get back into it. I love the look of the classic motorcycle but want performance too. Something that can handle the mountains, two-up, etc. I am no hipster. I was leaning toward t120 amd ready to put a deposit on it but the long delay has me wavering. Hence all the hand wringing
What lambroving said. I think you'd need to wring a street triple's neck when 2 up and in the mountains...that is a situation where low- to mid-range power does rule and something bigger than 675 ccs would be prudent.
 
#25 ·
Mountains? Two-up? A T-100 should do that with torque to spare and a larger, heavier chassis is better for that too.

Otherwise, buy a new R1200R probably? You'll know when you ride a T-120.
 
#29 ·
We've yet to see full fledged road tests of Street Twin and T120. Riding impressions of Street Twin are quite good so far.

Street Twin gets better gas mileage and cost of insurance will be less. Since it's a bit lighter with shorter wheelbase, should be more flickable in the twisties.

Might well be up to buyers to decide whether Street Twin is ideal for the type of riding they do and, if it is, the T120 would probably be an overkill.

To me, it'd depend on which bike would be more fun to ride regardless of displacement and power. YMMV
 
#32 ·
how many of you always look down at the tachometer to see in what rpms you are on. i have a street triple r and i ride by feel. The street triple r has a set of blue blinking lights to tell you where to shift but guess what you set it up yourself is not like the computer is telling the optimal rpm to shift for best performance. you ask how is this relevant to the twins well 90% of the time you ride by feel you are not always looking down at the tachometer. i hate the peashooter exhaust on the t120 and the spokes. can you use the street twin's exhaust on the t120.


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#34 ·
Having sat on both yesterday at the Dallas Bonnie tour, I'd take the T120. The ergos are smaller for the Street Twin, and it has the new 900cc motor. It felt pretty comfortable, and seems aimed at the 883 Sportster crowd in target market.

The T120 felt like a normal sized bike, and slightly bigger than the outgoing T100. Supposed to be a decent bit lighter too, but I didn't get to test that out really.

If I had to write a check without riding one of them, it would be the T120.
 
#35 ·
This. In the 865 line the mag wheel bikes feel/look smaller but they really are not, just smaller cast front wheels and a thinner seat. The frame and engine are the same. On the Street Twin the engine is reported to have the same cases but is I assume sleeved down to a 900 and they went to the trouble to give it a shorter wheelbase frame. If you are south of 5'10" that might work fine, if you are north of 6' tho that's apt to be hard to overcome.
 
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#36 ·
If I hadn't got the Thunderbird Sport (which is a keeper) it would be a no-brainer for me and I'd go for one of the 1200's.

But I'm thinking about a 900 to use on minor tarmac/gravelly roads (given up on trail riding in the UK) and give it a scrambler look but being 6'1" given the comment above it may be a bit cramped for me and so one of the earlier models may be a better bet for me.

As said though, trying one is the only real test.
 
#38 ·
Mr. Grumbler has a good point when he notes that the only ride reviews available to date are for the Street Twin, with no such reviews yet on the newT120 or Thruxton. So it's tough to make a good comparison right now. The reviewers of the Street Twin seem to generally feel that it is a delightful bike though.
 
#39 ·
for me, comfort is the issue. my 12 base bonnie is fully sorted + only thing the 1200 adds is power + complexity which i really don't need or want but a more comfortable-more straight down to the pegs could sway me. a nice test ride that will need be a LOT BETTER will tell the story!!!
 
#41 ·
I much (MUCH) prefer mag wheels of spokes. But I liked the seating position of the T100 a bit better than the Street Twin, at least for the couple of minutes I was able to sit on them. The T100 foot pegs were more forward and underneath me while the Street Twin's are more set back. The Street Twin was also much smaller feeling than I figured it to be, even smaller than my mag wheel.

So the answer is, I need a demo or three!!!
 
#44 ·
I read an article in one of the bike mags years ago complaining that whilst the average height of riders was getting greater bikes were getting smaller.

Why is this still happening with some bikes, apart from adventure styled machines?

I can understand it to some extent with bikes like the Bonnie which will continue to be bought by older riders who may be a little shorter (i.e. when the average height was less) but many younger riders may be put off if they think the bike looks too small for them even if the riding position is fine.
 
#43 ·
Triumph’s bonneville reborn tour, dallas

I had the opportunity to see the new bikes last weekend on a rainy Saturday. Food, drink, and good conversation with many enthusiastic Triumph fans. I usually am not impressed by such events, but this was good. The Triumph folks were working hard to answer questions as we went from sitting on bike to bike. I encourage you to attend if they come to your area.

I own a 2015 Bonneville preceded by a 2007 Bonneville T100. I like both, but enjoy the handling of the newer smaller wheel size bike. The seat has been redone on the T120, and seems much more comfortable. The bike is light off the side stand, and can be thrown around easily like my 855cc bike. The stainless pipes look great, and the spoke wheels look good. I would not let the spokes keep me away from it. The street twins have good specs, abs, traction control, and the new clutch assist on all the bikes would make the endless red light waiting more tolerable.

I would lean towards the T120 based on my history and what I like in these bikes, but no one will lose with any model.
 
#47 ·
I had the opportunity to see the new bikes last weekend on a rainy Saturday. Food, drink, and good conversation with many enthusiastic Triumph fans. I usually am not impressed by such events, but this was good. The Triumph folks were working hard to answer questions as we went from sitting on bike to bike. I encourage you to attend if they come to your area.

I own a 2015 Bonneville preceded by a 2007 Bonneville T100. I like both, but enjoy the handling of the newer smaller wheel size bike. The seat has been redone on the T120, and seems much more comfortable. The bike is light off the side stand, and can be thrown around easily like my 855cc bike. The stainless pipes look great, and the spoke wheels look good. I would not let the spokes keep me away from it. The street twins have good specs, abs, traction control, and the new clutch assist on all the bikes would make the endless red light waiting more tolerable.

I would lean towards the T120 based on my history and what I like in these bikes, but no one will lose with any model.

how big is the T120, compared to your 2007? I was waiting for a smaller bonnie, and it seems that is finally bigger.
 
#51 ·
So, it seems like Triumph is testing a 900 Bonneville to release later this year. And this is exactly what i´ve been waiting for years, a smaller, lighter, bonneville, like the old loved ones. As it uses the Street Twin body, at this point it lacks fake carburetors.
 

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#52 ·
Nope, that's a very old photo from when they were testing the new range... Early Stage of what the Street Twin became or what the T120 became.

Remember the Bobber we saw as well ? Well, they have been testing a lot of different configurations ;)

Don't expect anything else in the Bonneville Range just yet.

Plus, why would they do Small Bonneville ? It exists already, it is called the Street Twin !

:)
 
#56 ·
Plus, why would they do Small Bonneville ? It exists already, it is called the Street Twin !
I think sonic and others are put off by the cast wheels and sport fenders on the Street Twin...these folks are hoping for spoked wheels and full fenders like found on the carbed bonnies/T100s for that 60's vintage look. If Triumph doesn't produce a style kit, it won't be long for the aftermarket to respond...probably as simple as fitting a set of 865 thruxton wheels & T120 fender set.

Cheers,

--Rich
 
#53 ·
Plus, look at the radiator... Man it's ugly !
They improved its look a lot and the versions we saw (the one coming soon) are pretty well done !

Way better than the prototype the picture shows is !

I remember when we first saw the pictures of these protos, here, we were so scared and we kinda hated them... But then, we saw the actual models and, apart from a few people, we all agreed that thy did a pretty neat job !


;)
 
#55 ·
Plus, look at the radiator... Man it's ugly !
They improved its look a lot and the versions we saw (the one coming soon) are pretty well done !

Way better than the prototype the picture shows is !

I remember when we first saw the pictures of these protos, here, we were so scared and we kinda hated them... But then, we saw the actual models and, apart from a few people, we all agreed that thy did a pretty neat job !
;)

Do love the road wash patina on the pictured bike and rider though.
A real road warrior.
 
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