Having seen this bike in person and now in this review, I gotta say you’ve got it dialed on for the perfect camp/adventure/classic look, in my opinion. Probably my favorite Bonnie.
Nice job mate. Everyones taste is a bit different which is great 👍 as an older rider of 50 odd years with a ton a different bikes in that time i now own a 2008 bonneville classic with just a few basic mods but kept 90% of the original look. They're a classic as they are. Just personal taste and preference. In saying that your mods look pretty good in the direction youre going👍👍
Hi Bert, great looking bike and nice video as well! Can you tell the brand of the fog light? The amazon link isn’t working anymore unfortunately. Do you have a special switch for the light or did you connect it to the main lights? There should be more T100’s on the road, they are amazing 🙌🏻 Thanks again for the video! Greatings from the Netherlands Gert
Thanks for watching. Well, I believe the brand was Speed Way Motors or something like that. Doesn't seem to be available anymore but any 12v light will work. I wired directly to the battery with a DZG wiring kit that has a relay/fuse/switch. I didn't want to tap into the headlight cause I wasn't sure if I would keep the mod. I mounted it to the crashbars using some ATV light bar mounting clamps. It was mainly aesthetic but it adds quite a bit of light fill at night even just being a single aux light.
Thanks for your reply and advise. Smart about ordering the kit. I will look into that. Enjoy the riding, spring is almost around the (next) corner 😎 @@bertsbike
Hi.. You might be the best person to answer this.. Im debating between the T120 and Z900RS. I love their retro looks. I rode a T120 and loved it.. Very smooth, I thought the power was just enough, felt planted and nice overall.. Only thing.. I do like occasional spirited riding not sure that it's great for that. I'm yet to try the Z. What are your thoughts if you had to pick between the two? I live in Tampa, roads are pretty flat and traffic is growing.
Thanks for tuning in. Well.... Here's my long winded 2c: They will both be great bikes but very different... I own the Z900RS (Cafe' version). The Z is a truer "modern retro". It has the looks and does not really compromise on performance. I would classify it more a Modern Muscle bike or "Roadster" if you will. The T100 Bonneville has been a great machine but is at heart an old soul. A retro bike that has been updated. As cool as it is IMO it doesn't touch the Z. If It were me I would not buy the T120 UNLESS I had plans to modify it... I just finished doing suspension/exhaust/airbox and Tuning (check out those videos) on my t100 and feel like the bike performs good now but It doesn't touch the stock Z900. Admittedly I'm assuming the T120 is just a bigger T100... The Z900 really wins in the engine and suspension department and if you like to really push the bike and lean it over. It's more a sport-type ride. The Z comes stock with the entire package. -performance/suspension -power -looks -sound (If you want even more from the Z... you could do Ivan's ECU flash/Airbox mod and a pipe it would turn into a beast) If I had to have only one bike right now the Z would be it. With all that said, buy the one that tugs on your heart strings. They're really different. Haven't ridden one yet but Z might be more comparable to the Triumph Speed Twin?
@bertsbike Appreciate your detailed response. I rode the Speed twin as well. I couldn't tell a huge difference in performance. I honestly liked the T120 more. I was annoyed I wasn't able to find neutral easy on the Speed twin, power was pretty linear I didn't find it all that exciting. One question..What are the things you'd like to change on the T120? I have a SV650 which I've had for 7 years now. I love the spirit of it. My wife's never comfortable on it. Another reason i want either one of these its got a flat seats. I definitely didn't want to go to a slower bike and the T120 isn't one , cant say its got the pop tho lol. The Z RS definitely seems like a step up and more fun. I've watched the work you've been doing with your Bonnie. Love it man. I hope I get to test ride a Z RS soon. I think it's the only 4 cylinder I will own and I definitely want to check that list once at least. Merry Christmas and New Years to you brother!
IMO the most important upgrade is the suspension. The bike just doesn't feel planted and solid if it's not compliant especially 2 up. I used to not believe this until I experienced the Z900 and upgraded my T100's suspension. On my T100 the essentials were the front and back suspension and the pipe. Now the newer models are more refined and liquid cooled so your milage may vary. I'm not sure what the suspension is on the T120 so you'll have to ride it and see. Since you're coming from the SV650 which is a pretty good bike stock. You'll understand after a few rides what you'll need to do. One thing you touched on is the flat bench seat which gives you lots of flexibility luggage and pillion wise. Merry Christmas!
@bertsbike Got it.. Thanks! Yes I do think the suspension was just fine on the new T120. Ride it sometime when you get a chance. I think you'll like it
Having seen this bike in person and now in this review, I gotta say you’ve got it dialed on for the perfect camp/adventure/classic look, in my opinion. Probably my favorite Bonnie.
Thanks Andrew! That’s my goal. I just need to get it a little more “off-road able” with some suspension and tires. Or just get a scrambler 😂
I have the same year and color scheme. Glad to watch you video as I am making changes to my bike. The gaiters are original
Nice job mate. Everyones taste is a bit different which is great 👍 as an older rider of 50 odd years with a ton a different bikes in that time i now own a 2008 bonneville classic with just a few basic mods but kept 90% of the original look. They're a classic as they are. Just personal taste and preference. In saying that your mods look pretty good in the direction youre going👍👍
Hey there! Appreciate that! Ride safe!
Hi Bert, great looking bike and nice video as well!
Can you tell the brand of the fog light? The amazon link isn’t working anymore unfortunately.
Do you have a special switch for the light or did you connect it to the main lights?
There should be more T100’s on the road, they are amazing 🙌🏻
Thanks again for the video!
Greatings from the Netherlands
Gert
Thanks for watching. Well, I believe the brand was Speed Way Motors or something like that. Doesn't seem to be available anymore but any 12v light will work. I wired directly to the battery with a DZG wiring kit that has a relay/fuse/switch. I didn't want to tap into the headlight cause I wasn't sure if I would keep the mod. I mounted it to the crashbars using some ATV light bar mounting clamps.
It was mainly aesthetic but it adds quite a bit of light fill at night even just being a single aux light.
Thanks for your reply and advise.
Smart about ordering the kit. I will look into that.
Enjoy the riding, spring is almost around the (next) corner 😎 @@bertsbike
lovely bike : )
Hi.. You might be the best person to answer this.. Im debating between the T120 and Z900RS. I love their retro looks. I rode a T120 and loved it.. Very smooth, I thought the power was just enough, felt planted and nice overall.. Only thing.. I do like occasional spirited riding not sure that it's great for that. I'm yet to try the Z. What are your thoughts if you had to pick between the two? I live in Tampa, roads are pretty flat and traffic is growing.
Thanks for tuning in. Well.... Here's my long winded 2c:
They will both be great bikes but very different...
I own the Z900RS (Cafe' version). The Z is a truer "modern retro". It has the looks and does not really compromise on performance. I would classify it more a Modern Muscle bike or "Roadster" if you will.
The T100 Bonneville has been a great machine but is at heart an old soul. A retro bike that has been updated. As cool as it is IMO it doesn't touch the Z.
If It were me I would not buy the T120 UNLESS I had plans to modify it...
I just finished doing suspension/exhaust/airbox and Tuning (check out those videos) on my t100 and feel like the bike performs good now but It doesn't touch the stock Z900.
Admittedly I'm assuming the T120 is just a bigger T100...
The Z900 really wins in the engine and suspension department and if you like to really push the bike and lean it over. It's more a sport-type ride.
The Z comes stock with the entire package.
-performance/suspension
-power
-looks
-sound
(If you want even more from the Z... you could do Ivan's ECU flash/Airbox mod and a pipe it would turn into a beast)
If I had to have only one bike right now the Z would be it.
With all that said, buy the one that tugs on your heart strings. They're really different.
Haven't ridden one yet but Z might be more comparable to the Triumph Speed Twin?
@bertsbike Appreciate your detailed response. I rode the Speed twin as well. I couldn't tell a huge difference in performance. I honestly liked the T120 more. I was annoyed I wasn't able to find neutral easy on the Speed twin, power was pretty linear I didn't find it all that exciting.
One question..What are the things you'd like to change on the T120?
I have a SV650 which I've had for 7 years now. I love the spirit of it. My wife's never comfortable on it. Another reason i want either one of these its got a flat seats. I definitely didn't want to go to a slower bike and the T120 isn't one , cant say its got the pop tho lol. The Z RS definitely seems like a step up and more fun. I've watched the work you've been doing with your Bonnie. Love it man. I hope I get to test ride a Z RS soon. I think it's the only 4 cylinder I will own and I definitely want to check that list once at least.
Merry Christmas and New Years to you brother!
IMO the most important upgrade is the suspension. The bike just doesn't feel planted and solid if it's not compliant especially 2 up. I used to not believe this until I experienced the Z900 and upgraded my T100's suspension.
On my T100 the essentials were the front and back suspension and the pipe.
Now the newer models are more refined and liquid cooled so your milage may vary. I'm not sure what the suspension is on the T120 so you'll have to ride it and see.
Since you're coming from the SV650 which is a pretty good bike stock. You'll understand after a few rides what you'll need to do.
One thing you touched on is the flat bench seat which gives you lots of flexibility luggage and pillion wise.
Merry Christmas!
@bertsbike Got it.. Thanks! Yes I do think the suspension was just fine on the new T120. Ride it sometime when you get a chance. I think you'll like it
I think you might want a scrambler 900.
You’re absolutely right… However I’ve gone too far to stop now 🤣. Maybe the perfect one will come my way.
👌