ENDURING CHARM

Triumph's iconic Bonneville gets technical upgrades and is more appealing than ever in 2026

- Story: Adam Child 'Chad'

IS THERE A MORE FAMOUS OR enduring name in motorcycling than “Bonneville”? After all, it takes some doing for a machine that originated from the British Midlands to become better known than the vast salt flats in Utah after which it was named.

The salt flats were for much of the 20th century a mecca for thrill seekers and manufacturers alike; a proving ground for performance machines and the venue for countless land-speed record attempts. When Triumph Engineering, a regular on the flats, launched its new high-performance 650-cc twin in 1959, Bonneville seemed the ideal name. And the rest, as they say, is history.

In its heyday, the Bonneville T120 was the obvious choice for many an aspiring speed addict. It was also the bike of choice for the likes of Elvis, Steve McQueen, and daredevil bus jumper Evel Knievel, who performed his infamous Caesar’s Palace jump on a T120. It was quick, and it was cool.

Today’s 1,200-cc Bonneville T120 and 900-cc T100 are of a different time but still evoke the essence of Meriden machines of the 1960s and '70s. In fact, the “new” Hinckley-based Triumph Motorcycles has become truly expert in producing “modern classics” that embrace the latest engineering technology while remaining faithful to the spirit of the past.

For 2026, Triumph has fitted a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) to both models, which means they gain lean-sensitive anti-lock braking system (ABS) and traction control, which mirrors the available two riding modes. Both models are now also Euro5+ compliant while retaining the same power and torque as before. An A2 licence restrictor kit is also available for both.