THE Triumph Bonneville Bobber Black may look similar to the previous Bobber. But the items that they have in common are only the frame, engine and solo seat. There are many differences between the two though they may not seem obvious at first. The reason Triumph introduced another Bobber is because it is the company’s worldwide bestseller. Still, the Bonneville Bobber Black is its own bike and not just a modified Bobber.
The engine remains the same as the Bobber, but true to its name, is blacked out top to bottom. The high-torque 1200cc 8-valve single overhead cam twin engine retains the Bobber’s classic looks, as well as its unique power delivery, which is tuned to deliver low and mid-range torque. The motor delivers 77hp at 6100rpm and 106Nm at 4000rpm. The second figure is right up there with the best and dominates both the Bobbers characters. The slash cut, shorty exhausts accentuate the 270∞ crankshaft layout’s engine note and sound great. Allied with a smooth power delivery, twisting the throttle and listening to the overrun as you barrel into a corner is satisfying.
Barrelling into a turn will highlight a significant difference between the two Bobbers. The Bonneville Bobber Black is equipped with a smaller, chunkier front-wheel. The 16 inch front-wheel has a wider tyre and changes the way the motorcycle moves. Steering is heavier and requires more effort. But the front inspires confidence and the 47mm Showa cartridge fork is well controlled. The forks are non-adjustable and the rear is adjustable only for preload.
The same turn will also require you to clamp on the other difference between the two; the new brakes. The Bonneville Bobber Black comes with twin 310mm diameter discs, bit by two-pot Brembo calipers. They look good, but brake even better. They may also even be overkill on the Bonneville Bobber Black, but who cares when they look this good. The rear 225mm disc and caliper are the same as on the stock Bobber.
The combination of the new brakes and suspension changes the Bonneville Bobber Blacks’ handling slightly over the stock Bobber. The aforementioned steering heavier feel is a fair trade-off for a more secure front-end grip. The brakes also make use of the extra grip allowing you to enjoy corners better than an ordinary Bobber. The mid-mounted footpegs scrape tarmac as easily as stock Bobbers and this puts a stop to further shenanigans.
At more sedate speeds, such as in the city, the low 27.2-inch seat height made the Bonneville Bobber Black’s 237.5kg easy to manage. In case you may be lacking in the inseam, the Bonneville Bobber Black offers two separate seat position settings that places the rider further down on the frame. The handlebars and mid-mounts remain where they are, though the speedometer pivots to allow for the change.
The Bonneville Bobber Black’s equipment level is comprehensive. It comes with a full-LED headlight (that has the option to be turned off completely), as well as a built-in daytime running light. The turn signals are bullet LEDs. But the most notable addition from the Bobber is the cruise control which is a breeze to use. One press of the button enables it and a second press sets the speed. Touching the brakes or throttle will cancel it. There are two riding modes, one for dry conditions and one for the wet. Both modes offer the same power with the difference being the way the power is delivered.
Everything else is the same as on a stock Bobber. The motorcycle comes standard with anti-lock braking system and traction control.
The single instrument on the front yoke is painted black. The Bonneville Bobber Black is up against stiff competition from the Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight, Yamaha Bolt, Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber and Indian Scout Bobber. Despite this the Bonneville Bobber Black is the lightest and most powerful when compared against its competitors. There is plenty to like about the Bonneville Bobber Black and not many modern classics can put a candle close to it.
The Triumph Bonneville Bobber Black retails at RM79,900.