Menus
- Bonnie or Clyde? A 5-day trial
- Discovery
- Contact
- In the city
- Highway
- Departmental
- Braking
- Comfort
- Consumption
- Tires
- Convenient
- Conclusion
Bonnie or Clyde? A 5-day trial
Repression obliges, looks are
divert sports cars for more classic motorcycles,
eyes leaning on the sixties … Triumph has therefore relied on
retro models, of which the T100 is one of the elements
headlights and the sport and luxury version of the Bonneville.
The bike has recently gained 75 cc and especially 9 horsepower since
the Bonneville 800, now offering 67 hp at 7,200
rpm for a torque of 7.1 mkg at 6,000 rpm.
Discovery
The T100 immediately catches the eye with its legendary line
and its many chrome: spoked wheels, analog meter on
brushed aluminum base, chrome tank cap (without
key), ignition key on the left side of the frame, Neiman
on the right, spiral damper. The long escapements distributed
on both sides of the bike are the most beautiful effect. From a distance, nothing
does not suggest that the "old" has the latest
developments: injection, disc brakes…
The T100 wins a two-tone tank and many chrome by
compared to the "standard" Bonneville.
The meter reveals a red zone at 7,000 rpm. So,
which suggests more torque than high power in the revs.
The minimum information is there: totalizer, partial trip, indicator light
changeover to reserve and oil indicator. Side
comodos, do not look for the warning or the lighthouse call, this did not exist
not at the time.
Sitting, the long and wide saddle welcomes the pilot pleasantly
at only 775 mm high. Suddenly, the feet touch well
flat on the ground for the 1.70m pilot. Here’s one
model that will be perfect for smaller riders.
Round mirrors are easily adjusted and provide
reduced but sufficient visibility, and to all
speeds, without any vibration.
The handles are thick, contributing to this
overall impression of "fat", rewarding.
Contact
The Triumph twin-cylinder makes the characteristic turbine noise heard
of the brand, but in a more discreet way than the three-cylinder.
The 850 cc distills a soft purr. Nothing vibrates. The crutch
side folds up easily and almost disappears under
the exhaust pipe.
First, second, the bike snorts. The driving position
turns out to be very straight, with an almost high handlebars and well
large. The feet are more apart than the knees
which enclose the relatively flat reservoir. It is therefore necessary slightly
tighten the legs inward to hold the T100.
In the city
The starts are strong without surprise. The T100 tows without
problem from 1,500 rpm, find an impulse from
2,000 rpm and blithely attack the red zone if necessary
up to 8,000 rpm. The first one willingly brings him
up to 70 km / h and the second up to 110 km / h (but not
in the city).
The light and narrow motorcycle sneaks into the tiniest
mouse hole without any difficulty. Handling is
really at the rendezvous. We even wonder where are
the 230 kilos all full does. Even at a standstill
and with the stroller in the sloping garage, she moves
and is easy to handle. A point that makes her really enjoyable
in the city because the trips are done without any effort or fatigue.
Highway
The T100 takes off vigorously on the motorway, but the speed
is quick to recall the lack of protection. 130 km / h appear
here as the reasonable maximum that can be cashed by
the pilot. If the T100 is then only at 5,000 rpm, i.e. at
2,000 rpm from the red zone and with good power reserve,
this is not the ideal mode for the pilot, especially as the position
right back fatigue. She will then gladly wait for the return
on departmental.
Departmental
Because it is of course on departmental that the T100 finds its ground
favorite game.
Willful, easy to handle without violence, she willingly connects
cornering, easily taking an angle and scraping just as easily
the lugs of the footrests. She rocks naturally, has
good covers and allows you to play without being afraid.
Flexible, she even willingly accepts to cross the villages
in the last gear at 1,500 rpm and 40 km / h. At once
throttle, it starts again voluntarily and can remain oscillating
between 3,000 and 4,000 rpm, at 80 and 110 km / h respectively.
And if the urge to play suddenly takes over, she finds a
new vitality by going to titillate the red zone … to the sound
toe clips that will rub the earth just as quickly.
Braking
Unlike many models of the English brand,
the rear brake brakes well, even excellently and locks
therefore relatively easily on sustained braking, a fortiori
on wet road.
The front brake on the other hand proves to offer a
excellent feeling with good progressivity, allowing
effective emergency braking without plunging the front fork;
the motorcycle remaining stable. And yet, it’s a simple 310mm disc with
two-piston caliper, more than enough to immobilize
the old one.
Comfort
The saddle is thick but the suspensions are firm. Therefore,
the deformations of the roadway are well felt. We
would have expected more softness in view of the enormous
very thick saddle. The fact remains that it is all at
makes it possible to chain 5 hours in a row without worry and
without particular pain on normal road.
The long saddle gladly accommodates rider and passenger at the same
level, without any slippage of one or the other. Moreover,
the T100 offers excellent road behavior, without diving of
fork, even on hard braking. Suddenly, the accelerations
and braking can be followed dynamically while remaining
pleasant for the duo. She will prefer for this
reason, velvet roads and the city.
Consumption
The T100 does not particularly encourage turning the handle,
even if the couple available everywhere makes you want to take her out
the guts by frank accelerations. The consumption,
assisted by the injection stabilizes around 6.4 l / 100 km. In
urban consumption, the switch to reserve indicator light comes on
thus from 180 km. There is still 60 kilometers of autonomy
to finish swallowing the 16.6 liters of the tank.
Tires
Mounted with Metzeler Z2, they apparently offer an excellent
longevity, to the detriment of the grip which could be
improved, especially in the wet, and in view of
motorcycle braking capabilities.
Convenient
The saddle does not lift … but unscrews. Of any
way, there is no place available. There is no hook
stowage. In fact to hang a bag, these are the edges of the mudguard
rear that serve.
The passenger handle is optional, like the center stand.
Despite its 230 kilos fully packed, it is light…
pushing easily when stationary and getting up from a fall
possible just as easily without special effort.
Conclusion
Choosing a classic is a state of mind,
almost an art of living. Far from the raw performance of sportswomen and
latest generation roadsters, the Bonneville and
especially the T100 quickly becomes endearing, especially as its engine
is a real treat from day to day: the couple of a
byclindre, a zest of gniac and smoothness. And for those who
want even more, it is always possible to free the
motor with a Mecatwin kit.
It is taken in hand with disconcerting ease
and despite its 865 cm3, offers the maneuverability of a small.
In the end, we never hesitate in the morning to take it.
Urban and peri-urban daily trips are a pleasure
and weekend getaways can be easily considered
to dawdle through the detours of small roads, solo and / or
duo at their own pace.
Only its price of € 8,690 can make you think,
but then there is still the possibility of falling back on the
Bonneville standard, at only € 7,790.
Strong points
- aesthetic
- taken in hand
- driving pleasure
Weak points
- comfort
- convenient
Competitors:
Datasheet
An essay by David Morcrette
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