Triumph 1200 Bonneville T 120 Black DGR 2023 — Specifications

Ten years of partnership between Triumph and the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride isn't something you celebrate with a simple sticker on the mudguard. The Hinckley marque chose to mark the occasion by dressing its T120 Black in a livery that borrows more from a London gentleman's wardrobe than from a dealership catalogue. Lacquered black dinner jacket, off-white bib, gold pinstripe on the tank like a silk thread on a jacket lapel. Understated, yet assertive.

250 units worldwide, only around thirty destined for the French market. The number is deliberately narrow, and that is precisely the point of the exercise. The brown leather seat with contrast stitching elegantly offsets the dark bodywork, the DGR logo features on the side panels without excessive ostentation, and every buyer leaves with a certificate of authenticity signed by Nick Bloor and Tim Minto, the founder of the DGR. The first unit in the series will be presented to the top fundraiser of the 2023 edition — a gesture consistent with the DNA of the event, which each year gathers thousands of distinguished-attired riders across the world to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

Beneath the ceremonial bodywork, the mechanics remain those of the T120 Black, and that is good news. The 1200 cc parallel twin produces 80 horsepower at 6,550 rpm, a figure that may seem modest against the 95 hp of the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 or the 77 hp of the BMW R nineT Pure. But the torque tells a different story: 104.9 Nm available from as low as 3,500 rpm. This engine doesn't scream — it pushes. There is a density to its throttle response, a way of unrolling power without haste, that characterises the best English twins. You ride at 4,000 rpm and already feel at home. Top speed is capped at 190 km/h, but chasing the redline was never really the house style.

The technical specification follows suit. Brembo braking with twin 310 mm discs up front and a 255 mm disc at the rear, wire wheels, ABS, traction control, cruise control, two riding modes, slip-and-assist clutch, and a USB socket under the seat. At €14,895, the DGR costs around €1,500 more than a standard T120 Black. The premium is justified by the exclusivity of the series, the donation made to the DGR with each sale, and the full suite of specific styling elements. It isn't cheap, but it is honest.

With a kerb weight of 236 kg and a seat height of 790 mm, this Bonneville is aimed at the average-height rider seeking a versatile machine capable of enlivening daily commutes without fatiguing on longer journeys. The 14.5-litre tank allows for a decent range. It is not a sports bike, nor is it a tourer laden with electronics: it is a neo-retro built on solid foundations, presented in an exceptional garment. For the rider who values the aesthetics of their machine as much as its mechanics, and who prefers elegant gatherings to Sunday morning roundabouts, it is hard to resist.