EVERYONE LOVES a bit of history these days. Except the nasty stuff about the wars and the genocide and that, obvs. And global motorcycle mega-brands are no exception. Whether it’s MV Agusta and its Superveloce 800 retro-race replica, Suzuki and its Katana or Ducati and its Scrambler, we’re all suckers for heritage.
None more so that Triumph. It’s got more than most of course, with the original firm dating back to 1902, and the current range of ‘modern classic’ Triumphs is a good one, with slick styling, solid performance and loads of high-tech accessories.
So these two Bonnevilles tick all the boxes. The Ace Café edition Bonnie celebrates that much-loved transport caff on the North Circular, where mythical bikers in the 1950s met up for rock ‘n roll, 100mph runs to Hanger Lane and back, reminiscing about rationing and all that general 1950s stuff. It’s a high-end version of the standard Bonnie underneath, with special paint, logos and a trick old 3D ‘Four-bar’ tank badge, just like yer Grandad used to have. It’s limited to 1,300 bikes worldwide, and you get a certificate signed by Ace Café boss Mark Wilsmore and Triumph's Nick Bloor. Whether you like it or not.
The Diamond bike obviously celebrates the 60thanniversary of the Triumph Bonneville, which first appeared in 1959. Again, under the skin, it’s a high-end T120 Bonneville, with the 1200 motor, and all the modern rider aids, but with a very posh finish. There’s special white and silver paint, with a Union flag design on the tank, and the same old-style ‘Four-bar’ tank badge as on the Ace Café bike, this time in chrome. Sadly, there’s another signed certificate for you to lose instantly, and there’s only 800 of the buggers being made. So get down to the dealers sharpish!
Both bikes boast a really high spec – ride by wire throttle, traction control, ABS, heated grips, power riding modes, LED lighting, and much more. There’s also a load of optional extras available from the dealer. More info: www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk
