Lisbon Bonnie: Thruxton-Powered Triumph T120 Bonneville
Thruxton Power: Bonneville T120 Custom Roadster from Unik Edition…
The Triumph T120 Bonneville sits at the top of the Bonnie range, a retro roadster that combines the style and character of the old air-cooled Bonnies with modern tech like fuel injection, liquid cooling, ABS, traction control, and even standard-fit heated grips. The original T120 was so-named for its ability to hit 120 mph, and today’s version tops 130 mph.
For those of us with a penchant for spinning wrenches, however, the Bonneville is a bit vanilla in stock trim. Fortunately, there are shops like Lisbon’s Unik Edition ready and willing to take the T120 to the next level. Unik’s Tiago Gonçalves recently reached out with this newly completed build based on a 2021 T120 Bonneville, and there’s some very interesting work here.
At first glance, you might not notice many of the modifications…and that’s actually part of the design, as Tiago and team wanted to create a custom that resembles something Triumph themselves might roll onto the showroom floor. However, the changes are quite radical.
Tiago and team swapped out the original wheelset (18″ F / 17″ R) for a pair of 16-inch Kineo wheels in the same size as the Triumph Bobber, giving the bike a subtly wider and lower stance, and matched the new wheels with wider fork triples, big Galfer discs, and shorter aluminum fenders. The original tank was binned in favor of a longer, more slender tank courtesy of a Thruxton — the Bonnie’s sportier sibling — and the overall effect is a more muscular look to the whole bike.
However, the changes are far from just aesthetic. The Unik Edition crew actually swapped out the original engine for the quick-revving HP (High Power) engine from the Thruxton, which has a lighter crank, shorter gearing, and 96 bhp on tap — an increase of 17 ponies over the T120 motor. This was matched with a catless X-pipe and British Customs exhaust, so this “Lisbon Bonnie” is likely topping 100 brake horsepower.
Other highlights include a custom seat, YSS Topline shocks, a directional LED headlight, various Motogadget lights and mirrors, custom engine and radiator guards, and a dark and lovely custom paint scheme.
Tiago is most proud of the fact that this muscular, moody Bonneville could well pass for a limited edition model straight from Triumph, rather than a “Unik” custom build:
It takes a lot of thought and a high level of execution to create a custom so well balanced it could pass for a production special, and in our opinion, Unik Edition nailed it here. It’s also nice to see a roadster whose performance was upgraded to match its aesthetics, and we’re sure this build will give some Bonnie owners ideas for their own machines.
Below is our short interview with Tiago about the build, and more photos courtesy of Tiago Almeida (@_tiago_almeida).
Triumph Bonneville T120 Black Edition 2021.
Although you can like or not the paint scheme, my challenge was to find this balance, this exercise of changing the tank for the Thruxton 1200 and changing the wheels for the bobber size, and work I think never been done, and still maintain the balance and proportions.
I think we will certainly see it done again by other Bonneville owners and builters, with other colors and other finishes, but once again we showed our commitment with the most popular triumph model.
Custom work/changes:
Lisbon Bonnie.
I really like this dark, aggressive, loud and powerful look and feel.
In fact, it makes me very proud that after many changes, a longer and thinner tank, a shorter seat, new lighting, a new engine, new 16″ wheels, wider and lower, and yet this custom work could well look like an original stock motorcycle. For someone who is not familiar with the Bonneville, they may simply think that this is a new Triumph model that they are not familiar with, and not a custom Bonneville.
Another fact that I consider positive is that the proportions of the bike are a very good achievement.
Web: unikmotorcycles.pt
Facebook: @unikmotorcycles
Instagram: @unikmotorcycles
In association with @yamahamotorpt.
Photography: Tiago Almeida (@_tiago_almeida)
Lisbon Bonnie: Thruxton-Powered Triumph T120 Bonneville - Thruxton Power: Bonneville T120 Custom Roadster from Unik Edition… The Triumph T120 Bonneville sits at the top of the Bonnie range, a retro roadster that combines the style and character of the old air-cooled Bonnies […]
Big Suzy: Suzuki DR800 Big Scrambler - Unik Edition scrambles DR Big… In 1990, Suzuki released the DR800 Big, the largest mass-production single-cylinder dual-sport ever available to the buying public. The “dashing desert styling” came straight from the mighty DR-Zeta Paris-Dakar bike, […]
Main Force Patrol: Mad Max KZ1000 “Kwaka” - Goose’s “MFP1000” from Unik Edition… Mad Max (1979) remains one of the most influential films of the 20th century, as powerful today as it’s ever been — perhaps because a post-apocalyptic future seems a more […]
Italian Six: Benelli 900 Sei Café Racer - “Sinfonia” by Unik Edition Custom Motorcycles… Introduced in 1972, the Benelli 750 Sei (“Six”) was the world’s first six-cylinder production motorcycle, featuring a 747cc air-cooled inline six producing 71 bhp. The driving force behind the […]
Go-Zilla: Yamaha XSR900 “Gojira” by Unik Edition - A triple-cylinder hooligan inspired by the Skyline GT-R… In 1989, Nissan released the R32 Skyline GT-R, an all-wheel-drive street car with a 2.6-liter twin turbo straight-six engine that made 320 horsepower in factory trim…but could […]
Tailor-Made: Suzuki GS850 by Unik Edition - A bespoke GS, built for a vintage tailor… Launched in 1976, the Suzuki GS series was the company’s first full-fledged line of four-stroke street bikes, which developed a reputation for solid handling and bulletproof, over-engineered […]
A Lighter Goose: Moto Guzzi California 1100 Cafe Racer - In 1971, Moto Guzzi introduced the very first California — an Italian V-twin cruiser originally developed for the Los Angeles Police Department’s Traffic Division, featuring a bulletproof Lexan windshield, sirens, radio, lights, and a left-foot […]
Queen of Heaven: Honda CB550 “Inanna” by Unik Edition - The Honda CB550 is one of our favorite Honda Fours. While it was largely overshadowed by its larger sibling, the CB750, it was much more than a run-of-the-mill middleweight. In fact, it struck an elusive […]
Retro Thumper: Yamaha XT600 “113” by Unik Edition - A 70s-style scrambler built for the mom of a motocross racer… In 1984, Yamaha released the XT600, the latest in the company’s XT series of four-stroke dual-purpose machines that began with the famed XT500, winner […]
Japanese Muscle: Yamaha XJR1300 “Geisha” by Unik Edition - The Yamaha XJR1300 was a fire-breathing brute of a machine, a two-wheeled muscle car whose air-cooled engine could be traced back to the 1980s. By the time the 1251cc powerplant found its way into the […]
Black & Yellow: Barbour International’s Triumph Scrambler - Unik Edition builds a scrambler for a historic moto brand… Few brands can claim the motorcycling heritage of Barbour International. In 1908, Barbour’s inaugural catalogue included an oilskin suit designed for motorcycling, “impregnable by wind […]
Honda CB500T “Sakura” by Unik Edition - Only available from 1975-76, the Honda CB500T was an evolution of the CB450, featuring a longer stroke parallel twin engine, 50cc more displacement, and a few assorted upgrades, such as ball-type main bearings. While it […]
’80s Glory: Honda CBX750 “Flávia” by Unik Edition - An ’80s sport bike, well upgraded… Introduced in 1984, the Honda CBX750 — aka the RC17 — was developed from the CB750 and sold mainly in Europe and Australia. The bike’s DOHC 16-valve engine produced […]
BMW R100RS “D’Artagnan” by Unik Edition - The BMW R100 was the last of the legendary airheads, a 980cc air-cooled boxer twin that’s been known to do 200,000 miles and more. The RS was the sport touring version, sporting aerodynamic bodywork by […]
Modern Classic: BMW R100R by Unik Edition - A 1970s-inspired BMW straight out of Lisbon… The BMW airhead has become a favorite platform among many custom builders. The boxer engine is one of the most iconic powerplants in motorcycling history, and riding one […]
Continue reading...
Thruxton Power: Bonneville T120 Custom Roadster from Unik Edition… The Triumph T120 Bonneville sits at the top of the Bonnie range, a retro roadster that combines the style and character of the old air-cooled Bonnies with modern tech like fuel injection, liquid cooling, ABS, traction control, and even standard-fit heated grips. The original T120 was so-named for its ability to hit 120 mph, and today’s version tops 130 mph.
For those of us with a penchant for spinning wrenches, however, the Bonneville is a bit vanilla in stock trim. Fortunately, there are shops like Lisbon’s Unik Edition ready and willing to take the T120 to the next level. Unik’s Tiago Gonçalves recently reached out with this newly completed build based on a 2021 T120 Bonneville, and there’s some very interesting work here.
At first glance, you might not notice many of the modifications…and that’s actually part of the design, as Tiago and team wanted to create a custom that resembles something Triumph themselves might roll onto the showroom floor. However, the changes are quite radical.
Tiago and team swapped out the original wheelset (18″ F / 17″ R) for a pair of 16-inch Kineo wheels in the same size as the Triumph Bobber, giving the bike a subtly wider and lower stance, and matched the new wheels with wider fork triples, big Galfer discs, and shorter aluminum fenders. The original tank was binned in favor of a longer, more slender tank courtesy of a Thruxton — the Bonnie’s sportier sibling — and the overall effect is a more muscular look to the whole bike.
However, the changes are far from just aesthetic. The Unik Edition crew actually swapped out the original engine for the quick-revving HP (High Power) engine from the Thruxton, which has a lighter crank, shorter gearing, and 96 bhp on tap — an increase of 17 ponies over the T120 motor. This was matched with a catless X-pipe and British Customs exhaust, so this “Lisbon Bonnie” is likely topping 100 brake horsepower.
Other highlights include a custom seat, YSS Topline shocks, a directional LED headlight, various Motogadget lights and mirrors, custom engine and radiator guards, and a dark and lovely custom paint scheme.
Tiago is most proud of the fact that this muscular, moody Bonneville could well pass for a limited edition model straight from Triumph, rather than a “Unik” custom build:
It takes a lot of thought and a high level of execution to create a custom so well balanced it could pass for a production special, and in our opinion, Unik Edition nailed it here. It’s also nice to see a roadster whose performance was upgraded to match its aesthetics, and we’re sure this build will give some Bonnie owners ideas for their own machines.
Below is our short interview with Tiago about the build, and more photos courtesy of Tiago Almeida (@_tiago_almeida).Bonneville T120 Custom: Builder Interview
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
Triumph Bonneville T120 Black Edition 2021.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
Although you can like or not the paint scheme, my challenge was to find this balance, this exercise of changing the tank for the Thruxton 1200 and changing the wheels for the bobber size, and work I think never been done, and still maintain the balance and proportions.
I think we will certainly see it done again by other Bonneville owners and builters, with other colors and other finishes, but once again we showed our commitment with the most popular triumph model.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
Custom work/changes:
- Custom wider triple trees
- 16” / 16” custom Kineo Wheels
- Metzeller 130-150 tires
- Aluminium shorter fenders
- Triumph Thruxton 1200 engine (HP High Power)
- Triumph Thruxton 1200 fuel tank
- Custom leather seat
- YSS Topline shocks (front and rear)
- Custom guard and radiator protector
- Motogadget lights and mirrors
- Custom paint scheme
- Motone engine side covers
- Galfer brake discs
- X-Pipe (Cat removal)
- British Customs exhaust
- Ignition relocation
- LED directional headlight
- Etc.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
Lisbon Bonnie.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
I really like this dark, aggressive, loud and powerful look and feel.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
In fact, it makes me very proud that after many changes, a longer and thinner tank, a shorter seat, new lighting, a new engine, new 16″ wheels, wider and lower, and yet this custom work could well look like an original stock motorcycle. For someone who is not familiar with the Bonneville, they may simply think that this is a new Triumph model that they are not familiar with, and not a custom Bonneville.
Another fact that I consider positive is that the proportions of the bike are a very good achievement.
Follow the Builder
Web: unikmotorcycles.pt
Facebook: @unikmotorcycles
Instagram: @unikmotorcycles
In association with @yamahamotorpt.
Photography: Tiago Almeida (@_tiago_almeida)
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A Lighter Goose: Moto Guzzi California 1100 Cafe Racer - In 1971, Moto Guzzi introduced the very first California — an Italian V-twin cruiser originally developed for the Los Angeles Police Department’s Traffic Division, featuring a bulletproof Lexan windshield, sirens, radio, lights, and a left-foot […]
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Retro Thumper: Yamaha XT600 “113” by Unik Edition - A 70s-style scrambler built for the mom of a motocross racer… In 1984, Yamaha released the XT600, the latest in the company’s XT series of four-stroke dual-purpose machines that began with the famed XT500, winner […]
Japanese Muscle: Yamaha XJR1300 “Geisha” by Unik Edition - The Yamaha XJR1300 was a fire-breathing brute of a machine, a two-wheeled muscle car whose air-cooled engine could be traced back to the 1980s. By the time the 1251cc powerplant found its way into the […]
Black & Yellow: Barbour International’s Triumph Scrambler - Unik Edition builds a scrambler for a historic moto brand… Few brands can claim the motorcycling heritage of Barbour International. In 1908, Barbour’s inaugural catalogue included an oilskin suit designed for motorcycling, “impregnable by wind […]
Honda CB500T “Sakura” by Unik Edition - Only available from 1975-76, the Honda CB500T was an evolution of the CB450, featuring a longer stroke parallel twin engine, 50cc more displacement, and a few assorted upgrades, such as ball-type main bearings. While it […]
’80s Glory: Honda CBX750 “Flávia” by Unik Edition - An ’80s sport bike, well upgraded… Introduced in 1984, the Honda CBX750 — aka the RC17 — was developed from the CB750 and sold mainly in Europe and Australia. The bike’s DOHC 16-valve engine produced […]
BMW R100RS “D’Artagnan” by Unik Edition - The BMW R100 was the last of the legendary airheads, a 980cc air-cooled boxer twin that’s been known to do 200,000 miles and more. The RS was the sport touring version, sporting aerodynamic bodywork by […]
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