Triumph 900 Bonneville T 100 Bud Ekins Special Edition 2020 — Specifications

Do you remember that legendary jump over the barbed wire in "The Great Escape"? Everyone attributes it to Steve McQueen. Everyone is wrong. The man at the controls of the Triumph that day was named Bud Ekins—California stuntman, desert race champion, Triumph dealer in North Hollywood, and loyal friend of McQueen. A figure cut from the stuff of legend, who rubbed shoulders with Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood in his garage, scooped up four gold medals at the ISDT, and helped create the Baja 1000. It is to this man that Triumph pays tribute with the Bonneville T100 Bud Ekins Special Edition, 2020 vintage, offered at 11,200 euros.

On paper, the foundation remains that of a standard T100. A 900 cc parallel twin, rated at 55 horsepower at 5,900 rpm and, more importantly, 80.4 Nm of torque from just 3,230 rpm. Nothing ferocious, and that's precisely the point. This Bonneville doesn't try to impress on a spec sheet; it aims to seduce with its smooth character, its low-rev availability, and its ease of handling. With its 213 kg dry weight, its 790 mm seat height, and its five-speed gearbox, it's aimed at riders who prize the pleasure of riding over the thrill of going fast. Top speed caps out at 160 km/h, which is more than enough to devour back roads without any existential soul-searching. Against a Kawasaki W800 or a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, the T100 plays the card of mechanical refinement and discreet electronics. Fuel injection, ABS, traction control, slip-assist clutch: modernity hides beneath a vintage dress without ever giving itself away.

What sets this special edition apart from the standard T100 is detail work designed with collectors in mind. A Monza fuel cap replaces the standard piece, a Californian badge stamped with Bud Ekins' name adorns the tank, and the Triumph winged globe sits on the front mudguard. The side airbox covers also bear the Ekins signature. Turn signals switch to LED, mirrors migrate to bar-end position with specific grips. The retro Triumph logo, the one used from 1936 to 1990, finishes setting the scene. Each machine is delivered with a certificate of authenticity signed by Nick Bloor, the head of Triumph, and by Susan and Donna Ekins, Bud's daughters. A booklet recounts the stuntman's career. It's these pieces that will give the motorcycle its value in twenty years, far more than its performance figures.

On the chassis side, we find a simple tubular steel cradle frame, a 41 mm telescopic hydraulic fork, and twin rear shock absorbers, the whole setup offering 120 mm of travel at each end. Braking relies on a 310 mm disc up front with a two-piston caliper and a 255 mm disc at the rear. Nothing sporty, but it's consistent with the brief. The T100 Bud Ekins is a cruiser, not a track weapon. It comes into its own on winding roads where the twin's generous torque lets you pick up speed without downshifting, where the upright riding position never tires you out, and where the exhaust note brings a smile with every twist of the throttle. For those wanting more punch, Triumph offers the same Ekins tribute on the T120 and its 1200 cc engine, but you'll need to open the wallet a bit wider.

This Bonneville Bud Ekins pulls it off. It isn't just a marketing exercise slapped onto a production bike. The premium over the standard T100 remains measured, the specific finishes carry genuine historical significance, and the motorcycle underneath remains one of the most accomplished neo-retros on the market. A fine object for anyone who wants to ride with a piece of cinema history and American off-road heritage strapped to the tank.