Riding Retro in Delhi

Two of Triumph's most iconic motorcycles, the Thruxton and the Bonneville T100, represent a blend of style and practicality. Arup Das takes them for a spin in the national capital

Triumph Truxton and the Bonneville T100

There are some super cool motorcycles and then there are legends, and among them are two from the stables of Triumph Motorcycles: the Thruxton and the Bonneville T100.

They have evolved over time, but have retained their timeless design, and the Bonneville range still remains the most popular and successful of the Triumphs ever sold. It was a pleasure to be able to ride the retro T100 and the radical cafe racer, the Thruxton.

For a long time now, British two-wheelers have been synonymous with oil leaks and reliability issues, with which most of us are familiar, thanks to the Royal Enfield. But Triumph has ironed out these niggling irritants and now its bikes are the best built machines in the luxury retro-street-cruiser segment, at least in India.

The Bonneville and the Thruxton are raring to go and I have the checklist ready. Leather jacket, got it. Zippo lighter: I'm a non-smoker, but what the heck, check. Steve McQueen, no chance, but I'm as eager as the actor.

Formalities over, it is time to ride under the clear grey winter sky of Delhi. The cafe racer, no doubt, is more pleasing to the eye and is a show-stopper on the roads.

Though people acknowledged that the Thruxton was not your common bike, yet no one mistook it for any other bike, so distinctive are its looks. The Thruxton entices and charms you with its Brooklands green colour and golden racing stripes. Cafe racers were the object of affection for most bad boys in the 1960s and the Thruxton continues to bring out that streak of misfit in you.

It warmly tempts you to embrace the dark side.

The T100, on the other hand, is more about keeping it simple, maybe a bit too simple. As expected, not many even batted an eyelid when this old-school bike passed them. But those who had heard the legendary fables of the Bonneville -- meaning those mostly over 50 years old -- were delighted to see the Bonneville on the streets of Delhi. Its classic design may be a blast from the past, but the 865-cc parallel twin cylinder engine is completely state of the art.

As it's a street bike, the T100 has a straight comfortable riding stance. This makes it very practical for city riding and ensures that the entire ride experience is stress-free.

You can easily spend a couple of hours on the Bonneville, even if the seat is a bit flat and lacks the contours to provide support to the lower back.

Triumph's forte in paying meticulous attention to details can be seen in the T100's gorgeous spoke wheels, dual-tone fuel tank and chromed engine covers and the classic styling cues.

The rockers, as the cafe racer riders were popularly known, had only two objectives in mind, apart from looking cool: race along the streets and chill out at a cafe. Therefore, the riding position is stretched to provide a sportier stance that has the rider leaning forward. This is definitely not the ideal posture for a daily ride as a lot of pressure is put on your shoulder and arms. However, for short bursts, this is perfect.

The beautiful bar-end, side view mirrors may look gimmicky, but they give you a clear view of the traffic behind you. The Thruxton comes with a seat cowling that covers the rear seat. However, you can pay extra to install a pillion seat.

Both these bikes have the same powerplant, an 865-cc engine with a maximum output of 60 bhp. This might not be earth shattering, but you need to ride these bikes to realise that the power is more than adequate. With a torque delivery as low as at 1,500 rpm, both the bikes are responsive from the word go and cruise comfortably in the 4,000-7,000 rpm range. That is enough power to overtake others with ease.

But when it comes to handling, the T100 and Thruxton are like chalk and cheese. While the cafe racer loves taking sweeping corners, keep in mind that it is not a knee-scraper of a bike. Riding it in traffic can be a nightmare as its 230 kg mass starts to weigh on you.

Start-stop traffic also goes against its aggressive riding position and with limited turning radius, it is not possible to sweep in and out of slow traffic.

In this context, the T100 is a blessing.

It can cut across corners like no one's business as I found out when riding in chaotic traffic of Old Delhi. Slow road conditions do not affect its handling capabilities; in fact, it strives to show off its practical nature. It breezes fluidly past curves like its cafe racer sibling without showing nerves or jitters.

If you want to be Clark Kent on weekdays and Superman over the weekend, then the Thruxton is made for you. Short but quick rides, flirting with curves and making a style statement -- this is what the cafe racer is all about. For those who love and respect old-school styling complemented by a powerful engine, there couldn't be a better contender than the T100.

It is practical and comfortable, a great bike for the cities with still enough left for the highways. Both the bikes are extremely refined, bereft of annoying vibrations, and the build and paint qualities are class leading.

Though the rides are more on the firm side and the gear shift could have been smoother, the two bikes represent style versus practicality. Let's know what suits you. But before that, you should first go get yourself a Zippo.

Triumph Bonneville T100/Thruxton