First Look! Triumph Bonneville T100, T100 Black and Street Cup Revealed

Triumph Reveals a new Street Twin-derived platform and launches the Bonneville T100, T100 Black and the Street Cup

With a new emission standard (Euro 4) in full force next year and a once again healthy market, a high number of new models are expected for 2017. Triumph flew a handful of journalists to its factory a couple of weeks ago to get a sneak peek at what’s new for the new year. The trip was worth it.

After signing a few pages worth of confidentiality agreements, no less than (number censored) upcoming models were rolled out. The first bikes Triumph is allowing us to talk about are the new Bonneville T100 and Bonneville T100 Black, along with the new Street Cup. The embargo for these models was lifted today, coinciding with their reveal at INTERMOT, the International Motorcycle Show in Cologne.

TRIUMPH Bonneville T100 Black

TRIUMPH Bonneville T100

TRIUMPH STREET CUP

The Street-Twin Platform

Interestingly, every one of these new models is based on the Street Twin introduced in 2016. And, who knows, more could come.

All share the same double-cradle steel frame and the same 8-valve, 5-speed, 54 hp, High-Torque 900 cc vertical Twin with Ride-by-Wire. Wheel sizes along with brake and suspension components are also practically identical, essentially transforming the Street Twin into a new platform within the Triumph lineup. ABS and Traction Control is standard across the board.

Harley-Davidson has been using the «one platform/multiple variants» formula with great success for decades and while Triumph also used that strategy up to a certain point with the prior Bonneville platform, the British brand now seems to have completely adopted it. It’s smart business as it keeps new model development costs low and makes buyers happy by giving them the chance to choose a ride that matches their image and personality.

The new 2017 Street Cup features Café Racer styling thanks to low clip-ons with bars-end mirrors, a bullet seat with a seat cowl, fork protectors and shortened silencers.

Stylistically, the new 2017 T100 Bonneville and T100 Bonneville Black have been made as close as possible to the new gen T120 Bonneville launched in 2016. The fuel tank is actually lifted right off the T120.

• Betrand Gahel