Old School, New Kid

Triumph’s Bonneville T120 recreates the magic of old school but in a modern way

- Ravi Chandnani

“Do you wish to own a beautiful classic but don’t like the hassles associated with old bikes? Then look no further as the new Triumph Bonneville T120 is here to satisfy your craving for nostalgia!”

Sounds like an advert, doesn’t it? Well, actually it isn’t. The reason for introducing the bike in this manner is because I find myself in the grip of that nostalgic vibe. Writing about this new modern classic from Triumph I couldn’t resist the temptation of describing it in the same way a radio voice artist would have done it back in the 1960s. The Bonneville T120 is one motorcycle that takes you back decades to the days when Bonnies were a global phenomenon, just as ‘Pokémon GO’ is today.

In the past I have talked extensively about this motorcycle because I was among the first Indian journalists to ride it, in Portugal, earlier this year. Now I have ridden this bike in India and, honestly, I was amazed to see that it performed beyond my expectations on Indian roads too.

To start with, the T120 is a motorcycle with tremendous amount of nostalgia bundled with modern technology. Its styling is era-appropriate; the modern gadgetry lies in the details. The fusion of old and new is so flawless that you have to look closely to notice it. Like the neatly integrated daytime running lights (DRL) in the headlamp unit — they not only look swanky but do the job quite well. The tail-lamp unit, too, uses LED lighting. The retro looking twin-pod dials cleverly hide two small digital displays that give an array of information such as odometer, trip meter, fuel-gauge, gear indicator, riding mode and also the fuel-tank range. Now that is fusing old with new, isn’t it?