1967 Triumph 649cc T120R Bonneville, Frame no. T120RDU61062 Engine no. T120RDU61062

1967 Triumph 649cc T120R Bonneville
Frame no. T120RDU61062
Engine no. T120RDU61062
• We recommend the closest inspection
• One of the finest examples available anywhere
• Superbly detailed throughout
• Masterly attention to detail

Graced by one of the most evocative model designations in the history of motorcycling, the Triumph Bonneville owes its existence to record-breaking successes achieved on the eponymous Utah salt flats in 1958, when a Tiger 110 set a new 650cc production machine record of over 147mph. Launched at the Motor Cycle Show in September 1958, the production Bonneville remained recognizably similar to the first Speed Twin of 1938 for the next few years, as did Triumph's other large-capacity twins. Unitary construction of engine and gearbox was already a feature of the 350 and 500 twins though, and that innovation duly appeared on the 650s in 1963. The café racers' favorite since its introduction, thanks to lusty acceleration and a top speed approaching 120mph, the Bonneville continued in this new form as Triumph's top-of-the-range sportster. This particular T120R Bonneville dates from 1967, by which time the handling problems associated with earlier versions had been sorted and 12-volt electrics standardized.

There's little argument that a late-1960s Triumph Bonneville is one of the best-looking British motorcycles ever made, with just-right proportions and a jaunty, let's-go-riding attitude. More than that, by then the Bonneville had become a cultural icon in America. Writer Peter Egan may have put it best in a tribute to his 1967 Bonnie published in Cycle World magazine in 1980. 'It provoked a bad case of "XKE Syndrome" – impossible to park and walk away from without looking back over your shoulder", he said, referring to Jaguar's sultry E-Type.

The history file with this beautiful Bonneville contains a UK VMCC Certificate of Origin based on the Triumph factory records and the restoration build sheet. It was built on April 11, 1967 and shipped to TriCor in Baltimore, Maryland – Triumph's east coast distributor - on April 15. It lacks nothing. The bike was dismantled and then restored and re-built to as close to factory specification as possible but with a few sensible, modern upgrades so that the bike can be ridden successfully today – such as Tri-Spark electronic ignition. The bike sparkles, enough to win a Junior First Award at the 2017 Antique Motorcycle Club of America Dixon National Motorcycle Show.