The Triumph Bonneville->ke1865 is one of those rare bikes that are easy to spot even from a distance. The bike’s streamlined, no frills look is an immediate eye-catcher and well, let’s be honest, anybody who rides the Bonneville will immediately look more attractive to the human eye. That’s the kind of cache this bike generates, often doing so without even trying.

That said, Triumph->ke1864 still wanted to give fans of the Bonneville more reason to enjoy the model, thanks to the launch of three special edition models that celebrate a specific part of the company’s status in motorcycle lore. One such special edition model, called the Spirit Special Edition, was created to pay homage to the Bonneville’s stature as an aftermarket favorite.

Triumph created the Spirit Special Edition to “celebrate the spirit of customization,” and in keeping up with that spirit, the bike maker dressed up the special edition Bonneville with a bevy of custom upgrades that will make you think that it just came out of a custom shop.

Click “continue reading” to read more about the Triumph Bonneville Spirit Special Edition.

2015 Triumph Bonneville Spirit Special Edition

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Triumph Bonneville Spirit Special Edition
  • Engine/Motor: Air-cooled, DOHC, parallel-twin, 360º firing interval
  • Horsepower: 68
  • Torque: 50
  • Transmission: 5-speed
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Design

Don’t expect anything out of place as far as the design of the Triumph Bonneville Spirit Special is concerned. Everything is where they should be and that’s good news because the Bonneville epitomizes what a true roadster should look like.

But this is still a special edition bike, which is why it does have a lot of unique features that truly imbibe Triumph’s “spirit of customization.” The most prominent feature of the Spirit Special is the Spirit Blue/New England White color finish on the bike’s fuel tank and mud guards. The splashy two-tone color scheme and the white stitching on the leather seat are welcome breaks from all the blacked-out components that, not surprisingly, are also part of the Spirit Special treatment. Take a closer look at the bike and you’ll see that a multitude of components were given this finish, including the handlebars, the mirror housings, the engine covers, wheels, and hubs.

Up front is another unique addition to the Bonneville Spirit Special: a small black headlight sourced from the Triumph Scrambler.

Nice touch there, Triumph. Nice touch indeed.

Design Specifications

Length

2230mm

Width handlebars

740

Height without mirror

1100mm

Seat height

775mm

Wheelbase

1500mm

Rake

28º

Trail

110mm

Tank capacity

16l

Wet weight

230 kg

Dry weight

214 kg

Color Options

Intense Orange / Jet Black, aspian Blue / Jet Black, Fusion White / Aurum Gold, Jet Black / Cranberry Red


Frame

There’s a special place in my heart for the Triumph Bonneville, not only because it’s arguably one of the most polished-looking bikes in the business, but also because beneath that shine lies a chassis that can handle the modern-day rigors of our roads.

At the heart of the chassis is the Bonneville T100’s tubular steel frame, which not only provides easy steering across all drive ranges, but also creates a good amount of balance for the rider, even when he or she is driving at low speeds. Back-stopping the bike’s frame is a Kayaba-sourced suspension made up of a 1960s style twin shocks at the back with a chrome finish and modern damping internals and traditional forks up front that helps create a smooth and controlled ride on any kind of road surface.

Meanwhile, the blacked-out wheels and hubcaps are nice “special edition” touches, but their flashy looks is also aided greatly by a brake system made up of a single disc brake at the front for a strong, progressive feel and a second disc for the rear that generates enough stopping force to maintain the overall balance of the chassis.

Even with its upright and retro-inspired looks, the Bonneville Spirit Special still permeates a feeling of youthful exuberance when you’re riding it on the road. That’s a nod to the exemplary work Triumph put into giving the bike a chassis that has kept up to the times with world.

Frame Specifications

Frame

Tubular steel cradle

Swingarm

Twin-sided, tubular steel

Front Wheels

36-spoke 19 x 2.5in

Rear Wheels

40-spoke 17 x 3.5in

Front Tyres

100/90-19

Rear Tyres

130/80 R17

Front Suspension

Kayaba 41mm forks, 120mm travel

Rear Suspension

Kayaba chromed spring twin shocks with adjustable preload, 106mm rear wheel travel

Brakes front

Single 310mm disc, Nissin 2-piston floating caliper

Brakes rear

Single 255mm disc, Nissin 2-piston floating caliper

Instrument display and functions

Analogue speedometer and tachometer with odometer and trip information


Drivetrain

The perfect embodiment of the Triumph Bonneville Spirit Special’s classic-modern interplay can be found on the bike’s overall engine setup. The iconic 865 cc air-cooled parallel twin engine is the visual and mechanical centepiece of the bike. It’s good enough to produce 67 horsepower and 50 pound-feet of torque output. Those numbers won’t blow you away, but the bike has a lot of juice at low revs so you get every bit of that power and performance that won’t leave you asking for more. Well, you could always get more in the aftermarket scene, but doing so comes at the risk of losing the Bonneville’s unique character.

Besides, the bike is set up to be with a ceiling on its performance capabilities, thanks in large part to a sophisticated management computer programmed to give the bike clean emissions and a smooth throttle response.

Drivetrain Specifications

Engine type

Air-cooled, DOHC, parallel-twin, 360º firing interval

Capacity

865cc

Bore

90mm

Stroke

68mm

Fuel system

Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection with SAI

Exhaust

Stainless steel headers, twin chromed silencers.

Final drive

X ring chain

Clutch

Wet, multi-plate

Gearbox

5-speed

Oil capacity

4.5L

Max power ec

67 horsepower at 7,500 rpm

Max torque ec

50 pound-feet at 5,800 rpm

Fuel Consumption urban

51mpg

Fuel Consumption 56mph/90kph

68mpg

Fuel Consumption 75mph/120kph

56mpg


Key Accessories:

The Triumph Bonneville comes with a multitude of useful accessories that are also available in the Spirit Special Edition:

Quick Release Longhaul Screen

Quantum Coated Polycarbonate Screen offers superb durability and scratch resistance. Features lockable quick release mechanism, chrome mounting brackets, and subtle Triumph branding.

Oval Style Mirror

Stylish, high gloss Chrome Mirror Kit, featuring laser etched Triumph logo. Available with oval or teardrop shaped mirror heads with solid or drilled stems. The finishing touch for your T100.

Classic Saddle Bag

Genuine Leather Panniers featuring subtle Triumph branding, twin strap detailing with chrome buckles. Offers large capacity volume and hidden nylon snap-fit buckles for ease of use. Come complete with all required mounting hardware.

Chrome Cam Cover

High gloss chrome plated Cam Cover with the same classic design as the standard fitted version.

King and Queen Seat

Traditional King and Queen Seat unit, offers superb comfort and button detailing.

Throttle Body Caps

Complete the look of your Bonneville with these stylish CNC Machined Throttle Body Caps, featuring laser etched Triumph branding.

Pricing

If you're interested in the Triumph Bonneville Spirit Special Edition, you're going to have to pay €9,494. That equates to around $10,050 based on current exchange rates. Should you make the splash, the company is also offering a two-year unlimited mileage warranty on your new Triumph and Genuine Accessories and a 12 month unlimited mileage warranty on replacement parts.