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Unlike yourself, I have no experience riding the T120 so I can't claim to have an informed opinion, but the image of ths model in my head is that of a slightly bloated Bonnie nowhere near as nimble as the previous model.
I had also seen a couple of youtube tests where the riders claim the bike doesn't really like being ridden too fast or being shunted around. It also seems to vibrate a bit over 5000 rpms.
All in all, that and its departure from what was British tradition with a 360 degree firing sequence (now 270) and air-cooled (now liquid) it became less appealing in my mind.
Last week I was speculating on here about the reintroduction of the iconic Speed Twin since they had already introduced the Street Twin monicker. It seemed a logical development.
It now seems the Speed Twin is becoming a reality.
See my Speed Twin thread in this section for article and spy shots.
This would explain the 'tameness' (as I perceived it) of the Bonnie T120.




With a displacement almost half again as large as the previous generation Bonnies, I can see how at first blush and from that picture of Phil's '69 T120 sitting next to his new 2016 T120, you might think the newest model as "bloated", Thanassis.

However, I can reassure you that once astride the newest model, I didn't feel any such sensation. It's seems the perfect size, weight and balance of a machine meant to transit the modern motorways we have today in all parts of the world.

I also never encountered any undue vibration of which you spoke, as pulling through the rev-range seems fairly smooth from idle all the way to near redline on the tach.

And yes, the 270 crank is a departure from Britbike tradition, but then again so are the bikes we here at BA.com have come to love over these many years.

And speaking of the new T100 Speed Twin...a young lady rode into the Hansen Dam gathering on one, and yes, it's a fine looking bike too and seemed a slightly more svelte machine. However, once again its displacement and the power it produces would be noticeably less than the new big Bonnie, or at least I would think so.

(...btw, if you ever make it stateside, I'd love to be able to take you to that Hansen Dam gathering the first Sunday in November each year and to see my buddy Phil's beautiful collection of classic motorcycles...I think you'd really enjoy it...and it's the least I could do to repay you for your kind generosity you showed to me and Judie some years back)


Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)