The Triumph Bonneville Bobber has made a special place for itself in the motorcycle world. It mixes the simple, stripped-down look of old bobber bikes with the reliable power and up-to-date technology that Triumph is known for. For 2025, the Bobber keeps this winning combination, offering a great choice for riders who like classic style with modern ability.
A Look Back at History
The name “bobber” comes from the practice of taking off extra parts from motorcycles, especially the fenders (the parts over the wheels), to make them lighter and perform better. This became popular in the United States after World War II, as soldiers coming home changed their bikes to have a tougher look and feel. Triumph motorcycles were often a favorite for these changes because they performed well and handled nicely.
Triumph officially recognized this custom style when they brought out the Bonneville Bobber in 2017. This factory-made bobber quickly became one of Triumph’s fastest-selling models. People loved its real style and fun riding experience. The 2025 model builds on this history, keeping the main things that have made the Bobber so appealing.
Cool Old-School Style
The 2025 Triumph Bonneville Bobber keeps its well-known shape, with its low position, clean lines, and simple design. Some key visual features include:
- Single Seat That Looks Like It’s Floating: The special adjustable aluminum seat is comfortable and adds to the Bobber’s simple look. Its low height (690mm) makes it easy for many different riders to get on.
- Looks Like a “Hardtail”: The back suspension, a single shock with a link, is cleverly hidden to look like the old “hardtail” frames, which are a key part of traditional bobbers.
- Wide, Flat Handlebars: These give a comfortable, upright riding position and make the bike look strong.
- Very Few Extra Parts: The shaped gas tank, small fenders, and no unnecessary decorations highlight the Bobber’s basic and purposeful design.
- Wheels with Spokes: These classic wheels, with a bigger 16-inch front and a 16-inch rear, add to the bike’s old-fashioned charm.
- Cut-Off Exhaust Pipes: The brushed stainless steel exhaust system with its short, straight-cut ends not only looks right but also makes a special, powerful sound.
- Blacked-Out Details: Many parts, like the engine covers, handlebar holders, and exhaust, are black, adding to the bike’s tough and cool look.
For riders who want an even more special and high-quality experience, Triumph offers the Bonneville Bobber TFC (Triumph Factory Custom) for 2025. This limited-edition model has even better styling with carbon fiber body parts, a unique two-color paint job with gold details painted by hand, and top-quality parts like Ohlins suspension and Akrapovic exhaust pipes.
Modern Power and Technology
Underneath its old-school appearance, the 2025 Bonneville Bobber has modern power, giving a fun and confident ride:
- 1200cc Strong Engine: The liquid-cooled, 8-valve, single overhead cam, parallel-twin engine with a 270° crank is specially tuned for the Bobber. It delivers strong power even at low engine speeds. It produces 76.9 bhp of peak power at 6,100 rpm and a maximum pull of 106 Nm at 4,000 rpm, making acceleration easy and the bike feel responsive. The engine also now meets Euro 5 standards, showing it’s designed to produce fewer emissions.
- Electronic Throttle: This system makes sure the throttle control is precise and allows for the use of riding modes.
- Two Riding Modes: “Road” and “Rain” modes let riders adjust how the bike performs and responds in different riding conditions.
- Traction Control That Can Be Turned Off: This helps riders feel more secure by preventing the wheels from spinning on slippery surfaces.
- High-Quality Brakes: Two 310mm front brake discs with Brembo two-piston calipers and a single 255mm rear disc with a Nissin caliper provide excellent stopping power, made even better by standard ABS (Anti-lock Braking System).
- Better Suspension: The 2025 Bobber has Ø 47 mm Showa front forks and a single shock in the back with a link, offering a comfortable and controlled ride. The TFC model goes even further with fully adjustable Ohlins suspension for even smoother handling.
- Cruise Control: A simple cruise control system makes longer rides more comfortable.
- LED Lights: The Bobber has full LED lighting, including a headlight with a daytime running light (if allowed where you live), making sure you can see and be seen well and adding a modern touch.
- Partly Digital Display: The traditional-looking speedometer with a built-in LCD screen shows important information in a stylish and easy-to-read way, including what gear you’re in, the riding mode, and how much fuel you have.
How It Feels to Ride
The Triumph Bonneville Bobber is made to be more than just good-looking. Its carefully designed seating, including the adjustable seat and wide handlebars, offers a surprisingly comfortable riding position for going around town or enjoying longer, scenic rides. The powerful engine provides plenty of push for easy acceleration and passing other vehicles, while the modern suspension and brakes ensure good handling and stopping ability.
While the Bobber is mainly designed for riding alone, its low seat and manageable weight (251 kg wet) make it fairly easy to handle. However, buyers should know that there’s no option for a passenger seat on the standard Bobber, highlighting its focus on the rider’s personal experience. The 12-liter fuel tank offers a decent riding range, but riders planning long trips might need to stop for fuel.