Triumph Bonneville Bobber Black: all muscles [ROAD TEST VIDEO]

You see the lacquered tanks, the fillets, the classic colors that only the English know how to choose so refined. And you think there couldn't be a more beautiful Bobber. Then you see the Black, black tank, black engine, black exhausts, black fenders, and just a few details in pure metal (some by choice, others by necessity), and you think there couldn't be a more beautiful Bobber. From an aesthetic point of view, the choice is not easy.

But Black plays the wildcard and wins: Avon Cobra inflatable boat in front mounted on the 16″ wheel. It's the first thing you notice. Then you see the double disc with Brembo calipers and the 47 millimeter Showa fork. Finally there are the LED headlights and direction indicators and the standard cruise control.
These are the innovations compared to the classic Bobber, which mounts much thinner 100/90 rubber on the 19" front wheel, has a fork with 41 mm stanchions and a single front disc.

Everything and immediately

You remember the cruise control at the end of the ride, because the beauty of this spectacular twin happens when you play with the gas. All you do is close, open wide and enjoy the kick in the ass, close, open wide and love one by one all the Nm that come at you leaving you breathless, accompanied by a tasty soundtrack, given by the perfect mix of deep sounds obtained by tuning the voice of the exhaust with the predominant one of the airbox.

Nothing beats cubic inch
Nothing beats cubic inches, the Americans say. They are right. A 1200 isn't bad at all, let alone if it's also a twin-cylinder and set up to deliver low down in full bobber style. Compared to the more traditional T120 engine, three horsepower are lost: they have never been so well spent (the T120 has 80 at 6550 rpm; the Bobber 77 at 6100 rpm). In first gear, second gear, third gear, fourth gear, the Bobber Black rips the handlebars out of your hands. And it's also very smooth down low: you can leave the throttle up to fourth gear and it proceeds without jerks, with the High Torque grumbling at minimum. At 2000 rpm it already pushes hard, at 3000 it becomes euphoric, and if the surface is not perfect, it is better not to disengage the traction control, which works very well, saving you from possible tailspins, it is better to use the Rain map if the surface is wet or particularly slippery.

The controls are excellent: the ride by wire, with a soft attack and no close-open, allows you to manage the torque and delivery with great precision; the power-assisted clutch is smooth to operate and modulatable; the gearbox is precise; ABS is standard and the rear brake is well calibrated, it avoids locking but at the same time ensures good bite, useful when braking and cornering; The double front brake is also easy to modulate, requiring only greater pressure on the control but the bite is there.

It seems good

Standing still the Bobber Black looks like a good bike. You see it as compact, with the low saddle (only 688 millimeters from the ground) and the wide handlebars, you think you can scramble it with two fingers. As soon as you lift it off the stand, however, you suspect that taming it isn't a walk in the park: it's about 250 kilos of steel as dense as a rock. She may be tiny but she's as muscular as a bodybuilder. And it's not just the engine that's bothering you, the chassis wants to feel the pulse too.

The massive Cobra in front - and which clearly distinguishes it from the Bobber not only in terms of aesthetics - is well loaded and pushes hard on the ground, but the wide handlebars, which you grasp with outstretched arms, help with driving. And the result is excellent: the Bobber Black immediately demonstrates easy balance even at low speed, and is well balanced in the curves, which it draws with the neutral steering, which is heavy and does not tend to close as often happens on classic American-style chassis with important quotas. Only in the S do you notice the weight and the good wheelbase, which smooth out the changes in direction.

The suspensions do an excellent job, they have a strong character, which limits comfort on uneven surfaces but which supports with precision during acceleration and braking, giving that hint of sportiness that doesn't hurt. And that makes the Bobber Black very tasty to ride on mixed terrain. Braking, corner entry, acceleration, it effortlessly maintains a more than brilliant pace for the category.

You can't have everything

It didn't take much for Bobber Black to win us over. We liked the bold aesthetic, with the slim hardtail and that black that envelops everything; then there is the engine, with its full, personal sound and powerful muscles; finally there is the personality of the chassis, easy if you want, effective if you like, which allows you to go for a walk without thinking about anything but also to let loose when tackling a nice mixed section. You are always alone anyway.
Yes, it's a shame not to be able to share these emotions with the passenger. However, there is a solution for this, it's called Speedmaster. Which gains the second saddle but loses the charm of the minimal tail. Well, you can't have everything.

The Bonneville Bobber Black is on sale for 14.350 euros fc.

Accessories and clothing

Although the Bobber Black is already well finished in the standard version, Triumph has prepared more than 120 accessories for aesthetics, comfort and performance. Among these we mention the more profiled saddle, the shortened mudguards, the adjustable Fox monoshock; for traveling there is a bag kit and heated grips. Two kits are also available, one inspired by drag racing, with clip-on handlebars and sports accessories, and an old school one, with ape-hanger handlebars and hand-finished saddle.

Triumph clothing has always been of great charm, both because of the history of the brand and because it was chosen and made with taste. The Bobber Black has its own line, four T-shirts, a sporty hoodie and a leather jacket to match the bobber look. Finally, the collaboration with the English brand P&Co continues to create a line of products inspired by the Bobber Black: trendy T-shirt, casual jacket, cap and engraved key ring.

PROS AND CONS
We like it:
Aesthetics, character of the engine and chassis
We do not like it:
Rigid suspension on bumpy roads, no passenger included

Triumph Bonneville Bobber Black: the Motorionline Report Card

Motor:
Handling:
Gearbox and transmission:
Braking:
Suspensions:
Guide:
Pilot comfort:
Passenger comfort:
Equipment:
Quality price:
Line:
Consumption:

Tester clothing:
Gloves: Spidi Thunderbird Glove
Jacket: Spidi Ace Leather Jacket
Pants: Spidi
Shoes: Stylmartin Iron
Helmet: LS2 Spitfire Sunrise