Triumph Bonneville T120 Black Review

Used Buyer Review

The T120 Black is what happens when Triumph finally figured out how to make nostalgia actually work. The 1200cc parallel twin pulls cleanly from low revs with that torquey, characterful thump you'd want from a modern classic — it genuinely sounds and feels like a proper motorcycle. Build quality on 2017-onwards examples is solid, but do yourself a favour and check the throttle-by-wire software version has been updated, early bikes had a notchy, frustrating response that dealers patched out years ago. Used examples between 2017-2020 are sweet spots right now. Avoid anything that's lived hard without service records — the liquid cooling means neglected coolant changes cause headaches. Check the mirrors for vibration cracks, inspect switchgear for corrosion if it's been stored outside, and budget for a rear tyre because owners routinely ignore them. The suspension is average for the money; a serious rider will want a Hagon rear unit eventually. This isn't a sportsbike and it doesn't pretend to be. It's a genuinely enjoyable, approachable twin that photographs beautifully and rides even better.