Triumph Bonneville SE 2009 Cruiser Motorcycle Review

[tunza60]

all this stuff about "made in Britain". Im British..from London..and i owned a 1978 Bonny..and it was a nightmare...same as Leyland, Rover, Norton..thats why they are out of business...coz they were crap then. I now own a 2010 T100 ..and its brilliant...the new Triumph has its shit together...built in UK even..assembled in Thailand. Get over the "built in Britain" crap,...coz crap they were. I know..I rode one.

[abendroth85]

67 likes? Why??? It starts out sounding like this guy is going to give us a review, and then it just cuts to some other guy who works for Triumph and tells us about the thing. Motousa, you've wasted my time for the last time.

[DrXitomatl]

Where the hell was the review?? 

[mrwindsorpodomous]

The Bonneville T100 is absolutely awsome. Drove one out the other day and am extremely impressed. Handles great at high and low speeds, corners like a sport bike but has the comfort and ridability of a cruiser. Extremely fun and not so expensive that the average person can't afford it. I highly recommend one, as I am about to get one as well. Also, has plenty of power, so it doesnt dottle. I had it up to just over 80 mph without being wound out. will do well over 100 if you want...

[katana258]

steers like a scooter ,ride it and its to twitchie in cr. the t-100 or thruxion is the way, for real road riding handleing

[nzquiznz]

They are made in Thailand

[mingacorre]

my father dreams of riding a triumph it hurts to have seen hanging on that tree.

[brandonkelley]

I thought this was a review not a sales pitch

[Livenlaff]

What is the top end speed for this bike?

[atreewithnolife]

I ride a TL1000s, still love riding the bonneville though!

[chrisve1973]

You call this a review?????!!!!!

[zappatx]

Tough choice betwix this and Moto Guzzi's offerings...

[sooupdragon]

@zappatx if you read more about Guzzi bikes, you will notice they still haven't got their quality control sorted - we're talking defective electrics and parts falling off, or failing. Triumph have a far higher quality control standard

[michaelb1one]

Nice video. It would have been better if you got the bike in the shot while he was talking about it.

[soobeng]

Triumph. Motorcycle porn. I want one.

[TAKIDANI]

A review ??? come on , its a commercial !

[Thruxton8]

You could always buy the bonnie and spend the extra cash savings on performance upgrades which would bring it very close to a Duc 1000, some simple suspension and brake upgrades a 904cc Wiseco/Hyde engine kit a free flow exhaust. Making something perform better than factory standard is heaps of fun and creates an element of suprise when your'e lined up beside that bike with the big reputation at the lights ;) I'd take a tricked up Bonnie that goes like stink!

[ranrio70]

Just got a 2010 T100 Black. 2-2 Arrows,center stand,crash bars. She is a beauty,handles well. I thought about it for a while since assembled in Thailand. The heart(engine)is made in Hinckley. Jap,Brazil, Germany, you name it where the parts are from. Still get looks and people love it. It's a big world get use to change! I use to work for Chevrolet, I even own a few. Parts are from all around the world. Nothing stays the same!

[bonnevillefilm]

cooooooool!!!

[nrhbmw]

Wow, that guy was clearly reading a script.

[jellyking12345]

Triumph is awesome, shits all over harleys any day.

[ildsc]

the down pipes on this bike are seriously stained :O and they've only been testing it and its a brand new bike!

[suprum]

@ildsc

the headers get stained because of the sir injection system :)

remove the air injection and VIOLA! No staining!

[suprum]

@ildsc

the headers get stained because of the sir injection system :)

remove the air injection and VIOLA! No staining!

[robertb6112]

i like everything but the small front tire. That is why i'm gonna get the t-100. Because they look better. That small front wheel bugs the hell out of me. Still rather have it then a harley davidson.

[corneliusmaxx]

How did you talk your Grandmother into letting you film in her living-room?

[nrhbmw]

@corneliusmaxx hahaha, I was wondering where on earth and why it was filmed there!

[thewatchslot]

i had a mate with one about 1974, I rode it and it vibrated bad.

[ToranK]

Hi, Watchslot. As I heard the pistons on the older Bonnevilles went up and down at the same time, resulting in vibration. It's now a thing of the past. The Bonnie is one of the best bikes around.

[poshi12]

Can i get one that doesn't have an electronic start?I love the kickstart

[clintonearlwalker]

@poshi12 Interesting comment. I don't think there are any production motorcycles made by any company that still come with a kickstart.

[poshi12]

@clintonearlwalker so i will hafto put one in...or I should build my own custum cafe racer.Both sound great.it'll cost the same as getting a bike off the showroom floor.

[clintonearlwalker]

@poshi12 I've been riding motorcycles for 40 years and I've never know of anyone putting a kickstarter on a bike that didn't come with one originally. It would be nearly impossible. If u really want a kickstart, I suggest looking at old bikes that had them, and getting one that is in pretty good shape and fixing it up. About 1980 is when kickstarts starts started going away. My uncles CB 750K has electric and kickstart.

[mertvak]

i had the same cust wheels on my very old sachs hercules

[daedalx]

They made it ride like a scooter.

[eargrey]

@daedalx a scooter!! I don't think you know what youre talking about.

[ilikesuzuki]

another great bike is the kawasaki w 650.

[noushitaisa]

@ilikesuzuki Yup! I've got one of them and IMHO it is the old Bonneville with knobs on. Now discontinued (emission regs) it is rapidly becoming a classic. Not quite as classic as an original Bonnie -- but muchos less hassle...

[ridinged92]

man i feel stupid now they looked exactly like two constant velocity carburetors...

[ridinged92]

he sead it has electronic fuel injection at 0:50 how the fuck is that possible when hes sitting right in front of a pair of carburetors the dumb fuck

[LedZeppelin13k7]

it is fuel injection...its made to look like carbs.

[jdabel1]

@ridinged92

I'll tell you how its possible. The Bonneville EFI housing is designed to look like carbs to keep the classic look. Who's the dumb fuck now? Sometimes its better to remain silent and appear ignorant instead opening your mouth and removing all doubt. Ha.

[ridinged92]

@jdabel1 hey FUCK you buddy for your info i corrected myself afterward a simple mistake faggot try a tampon it works wonders for bitches like you. ha.

[ridinged92]

@jdabel1 try putting on your glasses next time shit head

[cabritorsss]

You guys want an American or British made motorcycle? Why do you buy Japanese cars? Hammer your politicians to lower taxes and manufacturing back come back to our countries....

[balubulaba]

triumph hast got to be made in great britan....not some fucked up asian mass production stuff!!!

[MrNithinchandran]

Guys ,the very reliable kawasaki ninja 250s r being built in thailand 4rom ages & has been running problem free.Nobody seems 2 moan about the KAWI?.Quality of product depends upon the manufacturer & the quality control measures they undertake.Japs have proved that by having manufacturing plants outside japan & still produce quality products.

[MITCHWILD]

What the F..k?

Don't know about anybody else, but i cant understand that.

[MITCHWILD]

Nothing is what it appears anymore.

A Triumph made in Thailand is a FAKE!!!!!!!!!!!

[eargrey]

let me guess !! you ride a harley.

[MITCHWILD]

Nope! read back a bit and you will see i ride a Triumph Daytona 955i at the mo.

Was thinking of getting another Bonnie, but not if they are made in Thailand......you must be joking!

[eargrey]

o.k my bad. sorry man .. I agree that i kinda a joke..

[atreewithnolife]

kirkonway , it aint areal bonnie dont get me wrong , i love em , but they aint real , sorry .

[atreewithnolife]

hey we all think alike, wots triumph doin ? do they watch utbe ? they should !!

[MITCHWILD]

They certainly should, they have lost a loyal customer as far as i am concerned, Fucking Thailand!...............Jesus!

[MITCHWILD]

That is very wrong indeed!

I will NEVER buy a Triumph that is not built and assembled in Britain from mostly British parts.

I can understand them using German tyres, Italian wheels if they must, even Japanese brake calipers, but the whole point of buying a Triumph, especially a Bonneville, is to buy something built in Britain.

I have been considering another Triumph to replace my Daytona955, i am seriously pissed off about this, might as well buy another Suzuki.

We all know where they are made.

[bmwonex]

This bike reminds me of some of the last Meriden Triumphs, which were the best mechanically. I like the cast wheels and the entire look. It REALLY bothers me that they are not made in England. Triumph, are you listening?

[MITCHWILD]

Mine was a 2005 T100, that was made in the UK.

Some engine components were made elsewhere, like the Crankshaft for example was made in Spain, Italian wheels, Jap Carb's.

I heard rumours that they are now made somewhere else, where is that?

[bmwonex]

Most Bonnies (if not ALL) are now made in Thailand. Look for the "T" in the 11th digit of the VIN, vs "J" (for Jacknell Rd, Hinkley). I understand that the components are often sourced from elsewhere, but I just think that something as iconically British as a Bonnie should be made there. I would pay more for a Hinkley-made Bonnie.

[MITCHWILD]

That's how they keep the price down i suppose,

compared to a Harley sportster they appear good value.

That is as long as you believe you are getting a proper triumph.

I just remembered, my fairing on my Daytona 955i has "Made in Thailand" on the screen,

Does that mean what i think it means?

I thought that meant that the fairing was made there, if that's the case, OK .

Otherwise I'm selling it!

[MITCHWILD]

Yes i would be prepared to pay more for a Hinkley Bonneville, i would love another one, but i absolutely will not buy a Triumph of any kind that has been made anywhere else but Britain.

[atreewithnolife]

dont like the pretend carb injector housings , dont like fake stuff, nice bikes though.

[MITCHWILD]

Nor me, i hate anything fake, i had a Bonneville T100 for three years, nice bike but to much plastic, side panels, indicators, and other things spoil a beautiful bike.

[SIMBER9]

Triumph build bikes in Thailand because the Labour government tax companies so much. On a recent visit to the Triumph factory in Hinckley we were told that on the number two factory they had to pay two million pounds a year in business rates whereas in a factory in Thailand the same size they paid twenty thousand pounds a year. If this useless excuse for a government or any British government wants Triumph or any other British company to build in the UK the have got to reduce taxes.

[flyingskip]

I like the bonnies but they are all too small. People were shorter and smaller in the 50's and 60's. Triumph and R.Enfield seem to ignore it:( Im deciding between the Sakura (if on), CB1100F, or GT1000.

[MITCHWILD]

I'm Six Feet tall, i had no issues with the size, found it perfect actually.

[njd2389]

@MITCHWILD What's your inseam?

[pbr2424]

I have a 2005 Bonneville and prefer it to the SE. I don't like the new handle bars, the smaller front wheel, the cast wheels, the lower seat or the looks of it combined. The tweaking doesn't do it for me. Looks more sissy or girly. Much prefer the Bonneville T100. Just my opinion.

[MITCHWILD]

Yep.

[53ferret]

just bought one. First impressions, handles well, smooth gearbox and clutch. Exhaust note is pants

[MITCHWILD]

I had the "Racing Pipes" on mine, illegal but sounded ace.

[davinhci]

sexy that's gonna be my next bike

[dmunoz12]

a very nice bike and you can drive on it very easy and all day

[Buttmunch5000]

what annoys me about triumph having a factory outside UK, is that they could have done it in the UK, and if a company is based in a country it is better to build in the country its based, as money says in UK, and i have seen that factory and it is amazing.

I find that it cheapens the brand, and its not like triumph are a mainstream manufacturer so they dont really need to chase a million plus bikes a year

[AdamTesta]

does the 2009 model still have a very bumpy feel?

[boywaimea]

nice looking bike. is it a reliable bike?

[Bashers79]

Not sure why people are so hung up on the Thailand factory thing, after all, when i had my all American sportster every HD part i bought for it was made in Japan, my authentic all American harley-davidson leather jacket was made in Japan. It begs the question how much of stock harleys are "made in Japan". is it really that much of a surprise that a motor company in a country that has very high wage costs might open a factory in, or source parts from another country. Anyway, lovely bike.

[WTU208]

So with over a 100 years of history behind us, Triumph is still a privately-owned British company. Our motorcycles are designed, developed and built at our factory, one of the most technologically advanced plants in the world, which is located in Hinckley, in the heart of Great Britain.

Triumph uk website

[knght1216]

Thailand factory

Nevertheless, the company, which by then employed more than 650, quickly rebuilt the facility and returned to production by September that year. Furthermore, in 2003, Triumph opened a new manufacturing facility in Thailand. An assembly and painting facility in Thailand was opened in 2006 by Prince Andrew.] In September 2008 Triumph announced that they were expanding their Thailand factory to increase capacity to over 130,000 motorcycles. You Got that, howardsway782.

[kirkconway]

the bonny is a bonny is a bonny,

nothing else,

classic sound

classic looks ,

classic handling,

In Otherwords,

A REAL BIKE, for real people.

[knght1216]

Yea right, no British connection now, They're made in Malaysia and the friggin Philippines. So much for for that marketing nightmare. Happiest day? When I sold my Thruxton....

[djfung]

having EFI is one thing but what the fuck's up with fitting the injector in a carb looking case? that's just beyond gay.

[juneride]

I like the Speedmaster and Bonneville. How smooth and enjoyable is the shifting? Who knows?

Does the gearbox clunk?

How come they never describe the gearbox performance?

[o7bonnie]

The Bonnie is NOT a sports bike at heart. I've owned an 01, 06 & now an '08. EFi somehow does not seem to fit the sprit of the bike. Neither is trying to make it a sports bike. Don't compare it with other modern bike, it's... a Bonneville a bike in a class by itself.

[njd2389]

@o7bonnie Exactly. I don't think it's fair to call it a cruiser either.

[CalamityJesus]

@o7bonnie The original Bonneville was the sport bike of its day. FI was made mandatory on cars in 1995. 15 years ago!!  EFI bikes run well from the moment they're cranked in all weather at all elevations,... no fiddling with a choke, stuck floats or turning screws to fix dead spots. They can even be tuned more quickly and easily and can make better power across the rev range. Being a technophobe isn't doing you any favors. You should try riding a '09+ Bonnie.. they handle very well.

[posro1988]

@o7bonnie in a nutshell it's awesome

[cynic150]

This bike has the first good colour I have seen on a Bonneville.

It is all very well lowering the seat, but what about us tall guys? It should be adjustable for ALL heights.

Cleaner emissions - great!

[cfodk]

Lol - did you just scratch the paintwork with your engagement ring 0:45????