Page 28 - RidingOn156 SPRING 2022

Triumph

Bonneville T120

Earlier this year my wife indicated that she’d be interested in I purchased a Free Spirits ‘De Cat X-Pipe’ system direct from
riding pillion again after about a ten year break. She has spent Italy and fitted it. This is an extremely well made system and
many Sundays on the back of quite a few of my motorcycles fits perfectly. The only problem is the removal of the original cat
riding with Ulysses. box which is very difficult.

My current motorcycle isn’t really pillion friendly and so I In my opinion it makes the engine a lot smoother and sounds
decided on two motorcycles which would be more appropriate. really good. You don’t need aftermarket mufflers.
I had to choose between a Kawasaki Z900rs and a Triumph
Bonneville T120. The Triumph was the winner. This motorcycle is extremely well finished and an absolute
dream to ride. The gearbox is so good I’d question the need for
I was keen on the 2022 model which had quite a few upgrades a quickshifter. The engine handles the quite high gearing very
over the previous model. Alloy rims, cruise control and Brembo well. Around town you would never use sixth gear. Mainly third,
brakes were the main ones. fourth and fifth.

The local Triumph dealer had several models on the showroom The suspension is quite good and you don’t need to adjust it for
floor and when he figured out I was serious, he offered me a a pillion. The Brembo brakes are fabulous too.
pretty good deal which I accepted.
I don’t know about the cruise control because I can’t imagine I
In April I took delivery and then my desire to do a few will use it much?
modifications took over.
My wife is quite happy as a pillion, but would like a grab rail to
First up was the exhaust, which just had to be made less hang on to. I ordered that at purchase and have been informed
restrictive. I had done a lot of research on the Internet and it would be here in July.
decided the best way to go was to fit a ‘De Cat X-Pipe’, which
retains the original pipes and mufflers and looks completely My next lot of modifications were :- A radiator guard and
stock. sumpguard , Triumph bar end mirrors, A ‘Motone’ rear disc

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