Triumph Bonneville

The bonneville a3 and its stablemates (the t100, thruxton, scrambler) are destined for true classic glory in a few decades if not earlier. They are the last of the air-cooled motors from the legendary triumph motorcycles. Since 2016, even the 'modern classic' range from the british marque has had to bow down to the demands of the environment and go liquid cooled for better efficiencies from a given size. They will pass on into history much like two strokes and biplanes. When triumph launched themselves into the indian market in 2014, motorcycle enthusiasts were only just waking up to power and engineering above the homegrown pulsars and karizmas with access to the hallowed harley davidson and the relatively more exotic ducati. Triumph wasn't exactly an unknown quantity thanks to our imperial past, much in the lines of bsa and norton, but harley was still king of the hill when it came to brag value at the dhaba runs on sunday. But i knew, i wanted myself a slice of continental eccentricity and not american straight-line muscle. And the bonneville was one of the most evocative designs i had laid eyes on.A quick test ride on the two versions (t100, wire wheeled and the alloy rimmed a3) told me in no uncertain terms that the a3 was both more practical with its tubeless tyres and sharper handling with smaller dia wheels. Being cheaper by almost half a lac made the deal even sweeter. So, a long agonising wait later from the day i booked it, i rode home my black bonneville on a warm june evening in 2014.In the three years and few months that i have had it with me, the bonneville has been nothing short of magnificent. It does look its age lately when compared to the newest motorcycles with heaps of electronic aids, but if i would sum up the beauty for what she is, it would run thus:Ride: like i mentioned earlier, the 17" alloys offer the rider a level of control thats sportier than a bike of this design normally has any right to boast of. Extremely well balanced and a breeze in the heaviest traffic with its light clutch and adequate brake action, its only over 100 kmph on the highways that you frequently wish for a missing 6th gear. Mind you, it will happily cruise over a 120 all day and even take you all the way up to an indicated 180 if you're inclined to be one with the wind, but it's not meant to sustain those velocities within its safety envelope. There is no electronic aid to speak of - traction control or even abs, and unless you've fitted an aftermarket screen, the wind blast itself will threaten to knock your head off. So, easy does it. Also, the stock suspension feels a bit stiff after a while on roads that aren't the best and further discourages spirited riding. What i did was switch the stock springs with progressive both front and rear and finally the bonneville is a force to reckon with on the highways and mountain twisties.The rising position is perfect - just a hint of leaning into the bars and a slight rear set on the footpegs. Not aggressive at all, but not ungracefully splayed feet and open chested either. Long hauls at the bar welcome.One more gripe i had with the stock bike was the whisper silent dual exhausts, and wasted no time in swapping them out with arrow performance exhausts for the addictive twin roar in the ears on the rides.Maintaining the bonneville proved pleasantly easy. Once a year or10000 kms - whichever is earlier. At approximately 8-10 k per service all inclusive, isn't too bad once a year, although, to anyone coming up from indian brands, this can be a bit of a punch in the guts initially. The bonneville is a great everyday motorcycle to have in the basement. Its not flashy and its not massive by any count. But its quietly elegant and very, very friendly with all that the city will throw at you.And it will make you smile all the time you're on it. And on the occasions you are able to escape the city together, it will stretch that smile into a warm, fuzzy feeling as you make memories that look no different from che in the motorcycle diaries or zack mayo in an officer and a gentleman. It's a classic after all.