When Triumph first released the Bonneville Bobber it sold more units in the first 30-days than any previous model in the company’s entire history. For the 2018 model-year – and the 115th-year anniversary of the British motorcycle giant – Triumph will be offering a blacked-out Bonneville Bobber that sports a host of features that further the popular scoot’s custom-aesthetic. Triumph clearly saw that customers loved the the direction the 1200cc twin had been taken in, so an obvious response was to continue moving in that direction.
The Bobber Black, as this new Bonnie is called, is far more than your average “stealth” spec model. It boasts black anodized foot-rest, pedals, levers, a black painted exhaust, – including black headers and upper finned casting – black plated gear linkage, black handlebars, with black anodized risers and clamps, and a trick black chrome plated headlight rim. In addition to the tank, the seat-pan and wheel-hubs have also been painted black, while the engine-covers, cam-cover, and sprocket-cover have been black powder-coated. The all-around fit and finish on the previous Bonneville Bobber was outstanding, so I assume the Black edition will share that trait.
The Bonneville Bobber Black also gets a few performance upgrades, a more aggressive stance, and a couple beefed-up parts. A “fat” 16-inch front wheel has replaced the 19-inch rim up front – giving it a more “muscular” stance – and new 47mm forks replace the 41mm suspenders on the standard Bobbed Bonnie. The motorcycle has been fitted with some trick components as well, further cementing its one-off appearance. The headlight unit is now a higher specification full LED unit with daytime running light, full LED indicators and taillight, twin-disc front-brakes with high-end Brembo calipers, beefier high-spec Showa cartridge forks, and a single button cruise control that comes standard.
The new Black version of the top-selling Triumph retains the gizmos and gadgetry from the last model year, including the torque assist clutch, switchable traction-control, ABS, riding modes, and Ride-By-Wire are all still found on the well-farkled 78hp twin. Triumph also continues to offer more than 150 accessories for the Bobber, allowing customers to modify their already beautiful custom-looking British machine. Accessories include add-ons like aluminum Vance and Hines Silencers and a Fox adjustable rear-suspension unit. With service intervals of 10,000 miles and one of the hippest and sexiest designs on the moto-market today, there was already a long list of reasons to go pick up a Bonneville Bobber, and it looks like that list just got markedly longer.
Image Gallery
Here are a few detail shots to whet your whistle.