Triumph Bonneville T100
The most overtly classic Bonneville in Triumph's range — 900cc parallel-twin, chrome accents, spoke wheels, more weight (and more character) than its Speed Twin 900 sibling. The T100 is what you buy when you want the icon, not the modernised version. Power is the same as the Speed Twin 900 — 65 PS — but tuned for low-end torque and slower-revving character. UK buyers in their 40s/50s dominate the order book. Theft risk lifts because Triumph + retro = target. Residuals are excellent thanks to enduring style appeal.
- Engine
- 900 cc
- Power
- 65 PS
- Weight
- 230 kg
- Seat height
- 790 mm
- A2 licence
- Restrictable
Parallel-twin, liquid-cooled, 270° crank (tuned for low-end)
wet
The short version
Forecourt score
Value 72 · Insurance 50 · Theft 65
The Triumph Bonneville T100 holds its value strongly for a bike (around 22% lost over three years, against the 25-32% bike norm) and costs about average to insure (group 9). Theft risk is moderate. It can be restricted for an A2 licence.
A bike-specific blend of value retention, insurance and theft risk (weighted 40/35/25). Bikes carry no MOT reliability data, so reliability isn't scored. Higher is better.
Variant: Bonneville T100
Engine
Petrol · 900cc
Power
65 ps
Torque
80 Nm
Weight
230 kg
Seat
790 mm
Transmission
5-speed manual
Economy
57 mpg
License
A2 restrictable
Tell us about the one you're looking at
Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical clean bike.
Estimated market value
£7,488
Range £6,739 – £8,237
HIGH CONFIDENCE
Holding value
Bikes hold value far better than cars — typical motorcycle 3-year depreciation is 25–32%, against cars' 40–50%. Some bikes (Hayabusa, Gold Wing, classic Z1000) actually appreciate in the 7–15 year zone as cult demand outstrips supply.
New
£10,200
At 5 years
—
At 10 years
—
Value loss by phase
Each band shows the share of original value lost during that window — not cumulative. Appreciation (green, marked +X% gained) is real for bikes that develop cult status.
UK new price by year
How we estimate this
Phase depreciation derived from observed UK used-bike pricing — classified ads, dealer asking prices, and end-of-auction figures. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count, and crash-damage signatures. The figures here are indicative for clean, fully-stamped examples.
What it costs to own
Indicative running costs at 8,000 miles a year — the UK rider average. Chain-drive bikes carry a chain/sprocket consumable line; tax (typically £25–£100/yr) and depreciation are excluded — see the section above for value retention.
3-year total
£3,831
Per year
£1,277
Per mile
£0.16
Service costs assume independent specialist labour and OE parts. Tyre intervals reflect typical UK road riding — track-day usage burns through rear tyres in <2,000 miles. Fuel uses the variant MPG at £1.45/L. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.
Estimated insurance
Group 9 of 17 (mid — mainstream) · Comprehensive · 5 yr NCB
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this bike. Bike insurance is far more sensitive to licence tier and rider age than cars — pick the combination closest to your circumstances.
Licence
Age
No-claims bonus
5 yearsRisk profile
Estimated annual premium · typical, age 30-39
£620/ year
Roughly £52 per month
Typical
Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.| Age band | Lower risk | Typical | Higher risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 17-21 | £1,023 | £1,364 | £1,910 |
| Age 22-29 | £628 | £837 | £1,172 |
| Age 30-39Selected | £465 | £620 | £868 |
| Age 40-49 | £409 | £546 | £764 |
| Age 50+ | £372 | £496 | £694 |
How we estimate this
Premiums combine licence tier, rider age, no-claims bonus and a risk-profile multiplier on top of a bike-specific baseline. Bike insurance is materially more sensitive to licence tier (CBT / A1 / A2 / A) than car insurance, and young riders pay considerably more than older riders even on the same machine. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Theft risk
Bike-specific · Met Police + insurance reporting
UK bike theft rates are an order of magnitude higher than car theft. Nakeds and supersports lose more to professional gangs; large adventure bikes and tourers are statistically much safer.
Theft risk score · 1 to 4
2/4Medium risk
Medium risk
Some theft pattern, particularly in urban postcodes. Thatcham-approved chain plus disc lock recommended; secure overnight parking helps premiums.Theft hotspot postcodes
Postcode prefixes only; full London hot zone runs across E, N, NW, SE, SW, W boroughs depending on the model.
How we set this band
Bands derived from Met Police bike-theft reporting (most-stolen lists) cross-referenced with insurance industry underwriting data. Model + postcode are the two biggest factors in motorcycle theft risk in the UK, materially more than vehicle value.
What goes wrong
5 known issues · sorted by severity
Documented failure modes from UK owner forums, dealer service bulletins, and aggregated mechanic feedback. Mileages are approximate — different riders see different intervals depending on use and maintenance. Always address "high"-severity items before resale.
High severity
0
Medium
1
Low / cosmetic
4
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| medium | Stator 35k-50k mi | £280 |
| low | Throttle body sync drift 15k-25k mi | £90 |
| low | Cam chain tensioner 30k+ mi | £180 |
| low | Chrome pitting Any (UK winter exposure) | Re-chrome £250-£500+ |
| low | Wheel bearings 25k+ mi | £60 per wheel |
How we score severity
High — strands the bike or causes consequential damage if left. Medium — service item that affects ride quality or risks failure. Low — cosmetic or minor inconvenience. Costs are independent-specialist UK rates for parts and labour together; main dealer prices typically run 30–50% higher.
Safety recalls
Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Triumph Bonneville T100, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.
Check on GOV.UKOpens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.
Variant comparison
The default — sole variant. Buy this over Speed Twin 900 if styling matters more than handling. Buy Speed Twin if seat height under 790mm matters.
Known issues
- Throttle body sync drift (Triumph parallel-twin pattern)
- Cam chain tensioner rattle (30k+ mi)
- Chrome pitting on cheaper finishes after UK winters
Strengths
- +Definitive modern-classic styling — chrome, spoke wheels, retro tank
- +Triumph build quality and reliability
- +Best-in-class residuals among modern classics
- +A2-restrictable for newer riders wanting the look
- +14.5L tank gives genuine touring range
Watch-outs
- −Heavy at 230 kg wet — feels its weight at parking speed
- −Modest 65 PS limits aggressive riding ambition
- −Premium pricing (£10k+) vs Japanese rivals