Lisbon Bonnie: Thruxton-Powered Triumph T120 Bonneville

Thruxton Power: Bonneville T120 Custom Roadster from Unik Edition…  

The Triumph T120 Bonneville sits at the top of the Bonnie range, a retro roadster that combines the style and character of the old air-cooled Bonnies with modern tech like fuel injection, liquid cooling, ABS, traction control, and even standard-fit heated grips. The original T120 was so-named for its ability to hit 120 mph, and today’s version tops 130 mph.

For those of us with a penchant for spinning wrenches, however, the Bonneville is a bit vanilla in stock trim. Fortunately, there are shops like Lisbon’s Unik Edition ready and willing to take the T120 to the next level. Unik’s Tiago Gonçalves recently reached out with this newly completed build based on a 2021 T120 Bonneville, and there’s some very interesting work here.

At first glance, you might not notice many of the modifications…and that’s actually part of the design, as Tiago and team wanted to create a custom that resembles something Triumph themselves might roll onto the showroom floor. However, the changes are quite radical.

Tiago and team swapped out the original wheelset (18″ F / 17″ R) for a pair of 16-inch Kineo wheels in the same size as the Triumph Bobber, giving the bike a subtly wider and lower stance, and matched the new wheels with wider fork triples, big Galfer discs, and shorter aluminum fenders. The original tank was binned in favor of a longer, more slender tank courtesy of a Thruxton — the Bonnie’s sportier sibling — and the overall effect is a more muscular look to the whole bike.

However, the changes are far from just aesthetic. The Unik Edition crew actually swapped out the original engine for the quick-revving HP (High Power) engine from the Thruxton, which has a lighter crank, shorter gearing, and 96 bhp on tap — an increase of 17 ponies over the T120 motor. This was matched with a catless X-pipe and British Customs exhaust, so this “Lisbon Bonnie” is likely topping 100 brake horsepower.

Other highlights include a custom seat, YSS Topline shocks, a directional LED headlight, various Motogadget lights and mirrors, custom engine and radiator guards, and a dark and lovely custom paint scheme.

Tiago is most proud of the fact that this muscular, moody Bonneville could well pass for a limited edition model straight from Triumph, rather than a “Unik” custom build:

“In fact, it makes me very proud that after many changes, a longer and thinner tank, a shorter seat, new lighting, a new engine, new 16″ wheels, wider and lower, and yet this custom work could well look like an original stock motorcycle. For someone who is not familiar with the Bonneville, they may simply think that this is a new Triumph model that they are not familiar with, and not a custom Bonneville.”

It takes a lot of thought and a high level of execution to create a custom so well balanced it could pass for a production special, and in our opinion, Unik Edition nailed it here. It’s also nice to see a roadster whose performance was upgraded to match its aesthetics, and we’re sure this build will give some Bonnie owners ideas for their own machines.

Below is our short interview with Tiago about the build, and more photos courtesy of Tiago Almeida (@_tiago_almeida).

Bonneville T120 Custom: Builder Interview

• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?

Triumph Bonneville T120 Black Edition 2021.

• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

Although you can like or not the paint scheme, my challenge was to find this balance, this exercise of changing the tank for the Thruxton 1200 and changing the wheels for the bobber size, and work I think never been done, and still maintain the balance and proportions.

I think we will certainly see it done again by other Bonneville owners and builters, with other colors and other finishes, but once again we showed our commitment with the most popular triumph model.

• What custom work was done to the bike?

Custom work/changes:

• Custom wider triple trees
• 16” / 16” custom Kineo Wheels
• Metzeller 130-150 tires
• Aluminium shorter fenders
• Triumph Thruxton 1200 engine (HP High Power)
• Triumph Thruxton 1200 fuel tank
• Custom ⁠leather seat
• ⁠YSS Topline shocks (front and rear)
• Custom guard and radiator protector
• Motogadget lights and mirrors
• Custom paint scheme
• Motone engine side covers
• Galfer brake discs
• X-Pipe (Cat removal)
• British Customs exhaust
• Ignition relocation
• LED directional headlight
• Etc.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

Lisbon Bonnie.

• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?

I really like this dark, aggressive, loud and powerful look and feel.

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

In fact, it makes me very proud that after many changes, a longer and thinner tank, a shorter seat, new lighting, a new engine, new 16″ wheels, wider and lower, and yet this custom work could well look like an original stock motorcycle. For someone who is not familiar with the Bonneville, they may simply think that this is a new Triumph model that they are not familiar with, and not a custom Bonneville.

Another fact that I consider positive is that the proportions of the bike are a very good achievement.

Follow the Builder

Web: unikmotorcycles.pt
Facebook: @unikmotorcycles
Instagram: @unikmotorcycles
In association with @yamahamotorpt.
Photography: Tiago Almeida (@_tiago_almeida)

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