It looks like Triumph is not only going to add water cooling to its 2016 Bonneville, but also different models including a bobber as these images show.
Cycle World and Visor Down have published spy images of the bobber version being tested near their development facility outside Barcelona.
It follows spy photos in May of the next-generation Triumph Bonneville being tested near the factory at Hinckley.
2016 Triumph Bonneville spy photoAll photos show a small radiator between the slightly modified front frame supports.
The Bonneville also sports twin discs up front but Bobber only has one disc. It’s difficult to see if it has ABS as the disc is on the other side of the bike from the photographer, but the Bonneville spy shots don’t seem to indicate an ABS wheel.
The big changes in the bobber are, of course, the lack of a rear seat and subframe with the bike having a hardtail look with a hidden mono shock somewhere up under the seat, a bit like a Harley Softail. The Bonneville retains the twin shocks.
From the photos you can see that bobber has mirrors under the wide and flat “beach bars”, short slash-cut pipes and a single instrument pod.
Single instruments and under-bar mirrors (Photo Cycle World)Another persistent rumour is that the engine has a larger capacity, as much as 1100cc, up from the current 865cc. Thankfully, despite the fact that it’s water-cooled, it retains the traditional fins.
That’s typical of Triumph’s handling of this iconic design: when it went to EFI In 2009, it hid the injectors inside a traditional-looking carburettor body.
It will be interesting to see if this engine replaces the air-cooled 865cc or will be an option.
No doubt there will also be cafe racer, scrambler and cruiser versions like the current range.
The new Triumph Bonneville range is expected to debut at the 2016 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan in October.
The new Triumph Bonneville is expected to debut at the 2016 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan in October.