Triumph’s Stunning New Bonneville Is Its Most Rider-Friendly Yet
By Steve Mazzucchi Courtesy Gear Patrol
A nameplate dating back to 1959, the Bonneville is the most iconic bike Triumph makes, and one of the best-known from any brand. As someone who started out riding a 2014 Bonneville T100 Black, I can attest they are super fun and inherently pretty rider-friendly bikes, but having had a few more downs than ups in the early days, I’m as excited as anyone by the brand’s breaking news.
Triumph’s just-announced T40 and T40 Black are the most accessible variants of the legendary Bonneville line. Triumph Motorcycles
Because the latest variant of the bike, (the new T40 (and T40 Black), makes this already approachable moto more accessible than ever before. What’s equally cool is, it does so while retaining much of the character and style of larger models and including a level of tech you don’t often see in entry-level rides. Having not yet test-ridden the bike (no one outside the company has), I’ll stop short of waxing too ecstatic, but here are four big highlights.
1. Classic Styling
Heritage details like the round headlight and two-toned teardrop tank with hand-painted coach lining keep the T40 rooted in ’60s Bonneville style.Triumph Motorcycles
The T40 preserves the iconic ’60s cool with signature Bonnie touches, including the teardrop tank, classic round headlight, spoked wheels, twin-shock rear suspension, aluminum engine covers and the brushed peashooter silencer, complemented by heritage-inspired two-tone color schemes (Meriden Blue and Tangerine Orange, New England White and Jet Black) and hand-painted coach lining. On the T40 Black, of course, many components are painted or powder-coated black to complement its darker overall treatment.
2. Punchy Power
With 30 horses and nearly 27 lb-ft of torque on tap, the T40 prioritizes usable, everyday performance over outright power. Triumph Motorcycles
The T40 and T40 Black are powered by the latest version of Triumph’s liquid-cooled 400cc TR Series engine, with a revised cylinder head and dedicated Bonneville tune giving the engine its own unique character.
The raw numbers? Peak power of 30 bhp at 7,000 rpm and peak torque of 26.55 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm, with ample torque lower in the rev range and a focus on accessible performance at everyday engine speeds. The engine also produces a distinctive exhaust note, with clear firing pulses from the single cylinder.
3. Sneaky Tech
A 4-inch circular TFT display brings full smartphone connectivity and map-based navigation to the T40. Triumph Motorcycles
The styling does a great job of disguising it to preserve the throwback aesthetics, but there’s plenty of modern tech under the hood. Highlights include three pre-set ride modes (Road, Rain and Eco) and two customizable ones, as well as cruise control, full LED lighting and lean-sensitive Optimized Cornering ABS and Optimized Cornering Traction Control. Additionally, a new 4-inch circular TFT display provides full smartphone connectivity, including navigation (with a full, feature-rich map view powered by the Triumph Navigation App), phone and music control, plus a USB-C charging socket.
4. Easy Rider
The 31.1-inch saddle can drop to 30.3 inches with an accessory low seat, while the 421-pound curb weight decreases the intimidation factor for newer riders. Triumph Motorcycles
Having now ridden several dozen bikes, I can attest that the Bonnie is naturally one of the most welcoming standard motos around, thanks to a triangle that supports a relaxed upright riding position and a classic bench seat that makes it easy to settle into the most comfortable posture. However, the T40 and T40 Black specifically lean into this dimension, as the seat height of 31.1 inches can drop to 30.3 with an accessory low seat, while the curb weight of 421 pounds keeps handling nimble for newer riders and downright flickable for more experienced ones. There’s even a center stand, which makes the bike easier to store upright while simplifying cleaning and chain maintenance. Suffice it to say, I would have loved a bike like this one back in my day, as there surely would have been a lot more ups than downs.
Availability and pricing
Triumph says it will announce pricing for the Bonneville T40 and T40 Black in early 2027, ahead of the first bikes hitting dealerships in late spring 2027.
About the Author:
Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.
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