Triumph Bonneville America Review

Used Buyer Review

The Bonneville America is Triumph's answer to the budget cruiser market, and honestly it nails the brief better than most give it credit for. That 865cc parallel twin pulls cleanly from low revs, sounds genuinely excellent through the stock pipes, and the riding position suits taller riders far better than most Japanese cruisers in this class. It's not trying to be a Harley and that's exactly why it works — lighter, more flickable, and considerably more reliable than an air-cooled Milwaukee twin of similar vintage. Used examples are plentiful and generally honest bikes. Watch for cam chain tensioner noise on pre-2008 models — it's a known issue and parts are cheap but it'll tell you how the bike's been maintained. Check the fork seals, which have a habit of weeping, and inspect the exhaust header bluing, which indicates hard running. Budget £300-400 for a proper service if the history looks sketchy. Electrical gremlins are rare but check all lights work.