Triumph 865 Bonneville T 100 110th Anniversary Special 2012 — Specifications

When a brand blows out 110 candles, you expect fireworks. Triumph preferred to light a tea candle. To celebrate over a century of production, the Hinckley firm reached into its catalogue for the Bonneville T100, the quintessential retro icon, and dressed it in a commemorative livery. The result, christened the 110th Anniversary Special, plays the card of historical restraint rather than excess. A deliberate choice, but a divisive one.

Mechanically, we're on familiar ground. The 865 cc parallel twin delivers 67 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 69.6 Nm of torque at 5,800 rpm. Nothing volcanic, but that's precisely the Bonneville's contract: a smooth engine, flexible in the mid-range, pushing quietly to a top speed of 180 km/h. The five-speed gearbox gets the job done without fanfare, the chain drive remains conventional. At 227 kg wet and with a seat height of just 775 mm, the T100 aims to be approachable and reassuring. Its steel double-cradle frame, 41 mm fork and twin rear shocks aren't designed to attack the tarmac. We're firmly in the realm of cruising, quiet pleasure, Sunday morning rides on back roads. Against a Kawasaki W800 or a Moto Guzzi V7, the Bonnie holds its own through charm and smoothness of operation, even if the chassis shows its age through fast sequences of bends.

What sets this limited edition apart from the standard model comes down mainly to the paintwork. Two austere colour schemes, Brooklands Green and Aluminium Silver, pay tribute to the brand's origins. The green evokes Triumph's first competition victory, at Surrey in 1908. The silver harks back to pre-war machines. Black mudguards reinforce the stripped-back look. On the tank, the logo has been reworked with three dots symbolising the three historic production sites: Coventry, Meriden and Hinckley. It's subtle, almost too discreet for anyone unfamiliar with the history.

In terms of specific equipment, the offering remains slim. A few chrome pieces, a pillion grab rail, a polished rocker cover, a chain guard. Each unit receives a numbered plaque and a certificate of authenticity. For an anniversary edition priced at €9,990, we would have liked more character. Dedicated silencers, a crafted seat, a mechanical detail to justify the premium. As it stands, the difference from a standard T100 boils down to paint and chrome. Collectors will appreciate the rarity; everyone else will be left wanting.

Limited to 1,000 units worldwide, with only 80 allocated to the French market, this Bonneville 110th Anniversary plays the exclusivity card. It's the bike's strongest selling point. For the rider looking for a piece of British history to park in the garage, it does the job. For anyone hoping for a true mechanical celebration worthy of eleven decades of expertise, disappointment lurks beneath the Brooklands green varnish.