This is the honesty that all reviews should be delivered with. I was scared just flicking through the accessory brochure last month and I'm not even going ahead with a Triumph purchase!! Theres nothing worse than getting had by high end stuff that's really low end stuff.
Just checked on those indicators as they were the only item to come out of this video unscathed and they are now £118 a pair! Which means matching front and back blinkers will set you back £236! Outrageous. I was seriously considering buying these but not now. Thanks for that very informative video. It`s nice to get a good honest opinion.
I have a pair of olive panniers on order and following this review I think I’ll be cancelling! Thanks Stuart, you saved me from a bit of heartache there!
Great to see someone who loves there Triumph but is having exactly the same frustrations I am. Loved the look of the panniers , until it came time to using them . Happy riding my frustrated friend !
Thanks for the useful info. As I'm planning to pick up my own T 120 this year, I'll be looking for accessories as well. You have a pretty thorough view on some useful items and some not too useful. Thanks.
I wish I had seen this video before buying these bags. I agree with everything said here. Additionally, the little twisty lock thingies easily come loose after only a few uses. They are attached to the bag material only with friction and good intentions. These bags, while handsome, are completely useless and worthless.
A friend of mine gave me first refusal on his bobber because he was moving away. As I was filling out the log book, he asked me if I wanted to buy the panniers as well. Similar design to the above, but black, buckles instead of twist clasps - even had Triumph badges on the flaps. I thought yeah, these ain't gonna be cheap! My friend explained he had bought them on Ebay as generic panniers. Ok, so they're probably not leather, but are well stitched together and overall, well constructed. My friend then designed and fabricated a pair of unique 'slide and lockable' mounting brackets for them, along with a pair of black tubular mounting frames which he had already fitted to the bobber; he said he simply studied the actual Triumph design and then made them himself. He then had these galvanized and professionally spray painted. The Triumph badges were also from Ebay, costing about a tenner. He said "I'll let you have the pair for £50". Needless to say I bit his hand off. This pair of panniers costing £50 have probably been the biggest reason for me to get out and enjoy the Bobber as much as possible. Cheers buddy!
I own the panniers. I agree that they are a bit difficult to put back on, but there is a method that makes it quite easy. Firstly, there is absolutely no need to take the seat off. That's unnecessary. Slide the panniers back into the position and have the plastic buckles put loosely in place. Initially, it seemed quite difficult to push the buckle closed due to the limited space, however, the following makes it easy. Firstly, I crouch and rest the pannier on my knee. This takes the weight off the buckles and attachment. Rather than lifting up the leather flap on the attachment and trying to hold onto the buckle, SQUEEZE the female buckle between the top and lower leather flaps. This allows you to hold it in position. Then, it is extremely easy to push the male buckle in - click - and it's in position. Do the same with the second buckle on the pannier. I agree that this isn't well designed as it should be intuitively obvious how to attach the panniers back on. However, it is a bit of an exaggeration in your video to claim that they can only be put back on by taking the seat off, and then for it still to be difficult. It takes me no more than about 10 seconds to put the pannier back on. I agree entirely that the bag is at best water resistent and is definitely not waterproof. Perhaps they are cheaper in Australia, but the waterproof covers were quite inexpensive. I've used the waterproof covers in torrential rain - they work "okay" - but aren't perfect. I've used Scotchgard on the panniers and this significantly improves their performance. Ultimately, the panniers are form over function. However, they do look amazing. They mostly suite my needs as in one pannier, I keep emergency rain gear, and in the other, my laptop, glasses case, gloves, etc. Without a question, my $250 bags on my other motorycycle do a better job for commuting - locking, and actually waterproof. However, they would look stupid on the Bonneville. Triumph has definitely cheaped out on the functional design of the panniers. In my view, it would not have been difficult to keep the current aesthetics, but make it a much more functional bag (e.g., leather-/waxed-cotton covered semi-rigid plastic pannier). This would have made it actually waterproof and rugged.
Hi Michael thanks for your comment ill give that a try. maybe they have changed the designed slightly but the instructions on the harness say you must take the seat off! I can assure you there was no exaggeration in the video, my mounting harness is very tight and with the seat on it is impossible to get the buckles to meet up enough to fasten them, maybe as time goes on it will all slacken up a bit! But thanks for taking the time to leave such a thorough explanation I'm sure it will prove useful to others.
stuart fillingham No worries! The first time I took the panniers off, it seemed fine enough. As per your video, they are easy to take off. Putting them back on was a bit of a shock - I couldn't work out why it would be so difficult to put back on. I'm sure as you must have experienced, I wondered whether I was doing something wrong.
well at first I admit it didn't look at the instructions properly on the harness and getting them on beat me without help from a second person. it was much easier when I read the instructions and took the seat off. though still far more difficult than it should be. there seems to be about a 5mm discrepancy between to male and female buckles so you still have to try and stretch them to get them to meet up properly. I suppose as they are all natural materials there is going to be a difference between batches. It has got slightly easier over time!
Hated the whole mounting with the clip-ons, but discovered the same method as you explained and works well. I love the look of the panniers, but must agree with Stuart, not waterproof, limited space inside and crappy buttons. But still they are functional and for the moment no big better alternatives...
Very excellent and useful run-through of the products. I feel certain to look elsewhere that at OEM Triumph accessories. Please continue with your reporting.
I made a list from Triumph web catalogue Auxiliary power socket Flyscreen mounting kit Engine protector kit Front LED indicator kit- short stem Rear Led indicator kit - short stem Dark tinted flyscreen Triumph disc lock Dresser bar - black Waxed cotton pannier - black Valve caps - laser etched black
Thanks for the heads up : I love the style of these and I find bags necessary for my daily rider. To bad Triumph "stuffed it" on these. The T120 would have fit perfectly in the garage next to my enfield bullet military.
I own a 2010 SE. When I purchased the bike I had a number of accessories installed at the dealer which included, among other things, vinyl saddlebags (which haven't changed much over the years) and a rear carrier or rack. The bags work well enough but since they reduce the suggested top speed to a crawl I haven't used them much. It has something to do with wind turbulence. The rear carrier or rack, however, is a frustrating disappointment. I've often wondered if it was designed by someone who never any experience transporting items on either a motorcycle or bicycle. First of all, it won't hold much due to severe size and weight limitations. My childhood Schwinn bicycle had a far more substantial carrier than this thing and was sturdy enough to actually carry a seated person! I used to do that sort of thing all the time without mishap. Secondly, there is simply no way to easily attach bungee cords. The rack is, in fact, bungee cord resistant! Even if one is lucky enough to actually get something awkwardly held down, the cords tend to slide backward because of the strangely angled rail attachment points. I'm not kidding, they literally invite rearward sliding. When used I tend to look backward al lot to check on things.
Nice review! I should have watched it before I buy the paniers. I also bought the cover!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When you put it on the panier, water comes inside the cover by the back, and stay there. Result, you have your panier soaking in 4 cm of water! This is really ridiculous! I am thinking of putting eyelets on the bottom of the cover.
Excellent job Stuart, thank you indeed, love your reviews, waiting my street cup delivery and very much helped in decisions by your handy videos. I will check on the modern looking nylon ones, but I am afraid many of the issues will be equally present. For now I stay with my seat tail givi one for in town needs. Keep it up mate !
Good honest review, if I worked in Triumph I would be throughly ashamed of the quality of these extras, has Triumph ever publicly commented on these products? Thanks for the video Stuart.
I guess it's due to reasons like these that a big aftermarket has been thriving; which by the way really make some nice stuff and value for money though.
Thanks so much for a great review. I recently checked out T120 luggage options at my local dealer and they pointed me towards the Kriega or Motech as better alternatives. While I like that the Kriega saddlebags are waterproof, they don't look great and swaying towards the Motech Legends with a LOMO Dry Bag for my camping gear on top. Will see how it pans out, but have to say one thing, the LOMO bag (60l) is AMAZING
stuart fillingham Thanks for comments. Have question. Given your knowledge of T120 luggage options, what would you suggest. To make it easier, not after hard luggage as my 'useage' will be 5-6 long weekends (maybe a week) and I have the LOMO pack on top.. Trying to find compromise between quality, price and usability and the Triumph hard options are definitely out having seen them in person. They were beautiful, but woefully impractical. Thanks again. Ps - I mentioned the Motech Legends and while these are my front runners, not signed up yet.
Hey Stuart, wanted you to know after your negative (but true) review on Triumph panniers, I searched far-and-wide for alternatives and found great deal on GIVI MT501s - out of Italy. They provided T120 brackets and fitting couldn't be easier. They were about 30% less than AU options and most cycle resellers were promoting another GIVI throw over option or Legends. While Legends are nice (and expensive), I wanted something a little more rigid. I've had the MT501s for a few weeks and LOVE them. Also, fellow T120 owner sold his triumph panniers (which he hated) and got the GIVIs. Partnered with my LOMO 60ltr travel bag, I couldn't be happier with the set up... With spring around the corner, my camping trips will begin again.
stuart fillingham I'll post a few pictures. Really, couldn't be happier. While not largest panniers available, still love them. My aim was to take them off on short rides, however have left on since installing. At 6'2 was worried they might rub my legs, however after 3-4 rides, haven't noticed any difference. Purchased from Carpi Moto (Italy) www.carpimoto.com AMAZING SERVICE.
Yes feel free though the system might consign it to junk on here! best bet is to send me a friends request on Facebook (just look for my name) and post it on my time line once ive accepted! cheers Carl!
Thanks for the very informative vid. Thank god I‘m not the only one having the exact mechanical issues with these panniers. The T120 being my first bike ever I had no comparison but had he impression from day one these where a nice design but with functional flaws in basically all the technical details. They might have been thrown on the market because they had to be in the accessories catalogue at launch. I deeply regret having bought these for a considerable amount of dough at launch but learned to be more patient with accessories the next time I will purchase a new bike.
I'm trying to work out a list of the highest quality accessories / options for the T120 I would like to get from Triumph or a third party. (British Customs, Moton etc.). Modern products on the whole unfortunately leave a great deal to be desired when it comes to quality in many cases so I'm sure I'll have to use a great deal of care in making my selections. The paniers look brown on Triumph's website. It's a shame the quality isn't there. They should have had a way to lock them and a method of fitting that would prevent easy theft as well. I would very much like to see more videos like this one for Triumph and Third Party accessories / options. One concern I have about the tank emblem after watching one of your other videos is the possibility of deterioration / loosening from the tank over time. I live in an area that can be quite hot in summer. The 4 bar emblem looked very nice after the installation on your bike, I just wonder how well it would hold up since it uses adhesives and isn't a solid chrome piece. Other than Moton and British Customs, are their other third parties that carry options / accessories for the T120 and have a reputation for products made to very high standard of quality you can recommend?
Really nice, thanks for that review. I bought a used trimph bobber black, which has the same bags really looks high quality, but unfortunately they are very dirty with a lot of scratches. Any ideas how to clean and restore them please?
The light rating on the rack is as much a liability issue as anything. They don't want you griping when it won't carry a whole side of beef without bending. But you can put your luggage on it and 20 pounds worth won't hurt it at all.
An excellent review my friend. Thankfully you've wisely deterred me from almost buying the panniers. Do you have any suggestions of panniers for the Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster 2018? Many thanks.
Interesting vid.... I have a TRX and the Triumph alloy adventure luggage (Givi). Each Triumph pannier is rated at 5KG but the Givi Is rated at 10kg.... as I say they are the same pannier.... must be some kind of get out for Triumph by underrating luggage....
Thanks Stuart , I just ordered a Cinder Red T 120 from Triumph Glasgow as the advertised on E bay Cinder Red T120 with leather side Panniers , front screen and engine bars . Great I thought. I saw your review and realised they were the wax cotten ones . I have now asked them to cancel the order unless they can supply the Genuine Leather part number: A9518178 as advertised in their accessories. Shame on them . Thanks For the Vids Very helpful. Cheers Paul
Lol I am wathing your review about QNE BAG CAMPING and you E mail me at same time lol . I know I will love the bike , Its just I want a Cinder Red one , there were three going on Ebay I hesitated and they all sold, this one from Triumph Glasgow came back on line , I managed to get them down £200 on the deal and agreed to buy tonight only to realise the panniers are not the real leather so I have Emailed them to cancel unles sthey can supply the real leathe ones .Otherwise I wil wait and get from elsewhere. Cheers Paul
Hi Stuart , This is the reply I had from Triumph GLasgow " Hello Paul Having had a further look at this machine, the panniers are the waxed cotton type & it is only the lid that is leather, although I have no way of confirming whether or not it is genuine leather. I would be unable to swap the panniers for leather ones. " This is on a £9,000 bike . Guess I am still going to be looking for on a bit longe now .
I had these panniers on my Bonnie sadly. One fell off but hooked in the frame it simply caused damage to the outside of the bag. Unfortunately the other pannier fell off altogether. I did not notice that cast me dearly as my keys iPad waterproof over suit and several other things were lost If you are thinking about them work out a way to secure them
460 British pounds for a non waterproof panier that won't hold more weight than a six pack? Before Brexit, that would have been almost 800 US. Only 600 now. They sure do look nice. They should have twist fasteners all around instead of the lousy snaps. I loaded 30 kg. worth of supplies on my old T140 rack including an old milk crate. Thanks for all of the reviews. Leather is the way to go.
Good videos. Been watching most of the camping ones so far. I find the non-waterproof Triumph panniers very ironic. : ) Perhaps it's an extra expense that they did not think necessary since it does not rain too often in Britain? Does Triumph have no experience with British weather? Sorry. What's next I wonder; a solar powered headlight? I'm sort of an industrial design fan, so really dumb choices like this bother me, not to mention your very practical point of; they cost enough and should be delivered as a completely functional package that works in it's native environment. I got back from a camping trip June 2017, but won't have any video of that for a few more weeks. I plan on more trips and that's why I've been watching some of your work. Take care. Stay Sharp. Stay Up. Cheers.
Although I wouldn't spend that amount of money on saddlebags (unless they actually worked and looked the DBs) I suppose a couple of cheap dry bags inside would work. Not being waterproof is strange as my waxed cotton Barbour jacket certainly is.
Very entertaining review, especially regarding the panniers! I've owned/used a pair of Willie and Max through over fake leather bags for twenty years, on several bikes. They still work just fine on weekend trips, and definitely are a better design than these Triumph bags. And they're kinda waterproof. Kinda. They look fine on my T100, although I wouldn't leave them on it if I'm not traveling. In general I've found that carefully chosen aftermarket accessories are cheaper and at least as good as "genuine" factory accessories.
I use Axiom cycling waterproof panniers on both my bicycle and my motorcycle. They don't look as sexy, but they're actually waterproof and 35 liters apiece.
Good to see high-quality bags on the Triumph, which are made of sturdy leather and fit the contours of the bike without getting too wide or flopping about. Nice chrome carrier and fly-screen that fit too. The air valve dust-caps are not properly made and should fit properly at that cost. Sharp bike mate.
Hi Alan, im not a big fan of top boxes myself i prefer soft luggage, but, Givi is a well known make that produce quality gear, so go for it if a top box suits your usage!
alas I simply dont use them Bradley, except as a doorstop in my office! take a look at the Burly brand voyager throwover saddle bags o recently reviewed.
Just so you know , I have been sending back products to a company for twenty some odd years with a certain size snap that never comes correct working product . Perfect in every way except if your model choice requires that size snap . Thanks
Hi Stuart, would you b able to advice me on the halo angel eye headlight?it is not just a led bulb replacement isnt it?where to get the headlight kit? many thanks in advance Chris
Hi Stuart - checking in from Seattle, USA (think rainy winter and lovely summers) - I bought these after a lot of thought but before I saw your review. I agree completely these look wonderful but yes - sadly frustratingly designed. Expensive lesson. C'mon Triumph seriously?
Thanks for your video, Stuart! Two questions: Is T120 a canbus eqquiped bike? How to properly clean the outside non leather parts of panniers? Thanks and regards.
Hi Helder yes its a linbus system which is basically the same thing as can bus. all you should used to clean the leather on the panniers is a clean damp cloth!
@@stuartfillingham in practical terms, what should we not do on a linbus system? can we install fog lights? can you replace H4 halogen with H4 led without any concerns? thanks. PS - a clean damp cloth becomes a dirty damp cloth and the panniers never return to clean condition :-(
@@stuartfillingham Seller at the dealer told about a Tiger shuting off while running due to fog lights not approved by Triumph. Maybe has got something to do with linbus...or maybe he's just talking of something else, I dunno...
Well some of my friends just added those barakholka boxes from the Ural Motorcycles on them made out of metal and works yeah looks like an ammo box but when somebody likes it its at least waterproof ^^
Can you let me know if the Brown comfort seat has the same loops that can be used for tie downs as under the stock seat? I use these a lot to strap on my cargo net, it is so convenient.
Hi Stuart, good grief but those panniers are completely rubbish aren't they? £450? I don't think so. Test rode a T120 yesterday, liked it A LOT !! Doing my sums now..................................
LOL Yes the T120 does have that effect I'm afraid. re panniers google Iron and Resin/sons of trade, Terrain 2 pannier. not saying they will be perfect as ive not managed to get my hands on one. but they look great and are half the price of the Triumph panniers.
Hey Stuart! I got the same sattle bags on my Bonneville, and made the same experience. But there is one thing, i still dont know what to make of it. have you ever figured out what this tiny square removable black plastic thing is, that is still attached to the middle of your bags in this video? even my triumph dealer couldnt tell me what it should be for. Greetings from vienna, Flo
Hi Flo, that's easy. The (removable) black plastic thing is supposed to be used for sticking a red reflector on it in countries (like in Europe I guess) where it is now legal. Well, I just removed them from my panniers, I guess no cop will think about it ? Greetings from Nîmes, France, Dominique.
The Triumph panniers, while very attractive, are possibly the worst designed panniers you can buy. First, they can be detached in seconds with no tools, just unsnap from the harness and slide off...insane! I purchased two 12" loop bicycle combo locks and looped each one around the pannier frame and the bike frame to keep them from being stolen. The male latches attached to the sidewalls are glued, not bolted on and on a very hot day one started to peel off. Had to Gorilla glue it back. Lastly there are no latch strap adjustments, one single hole, so if you stuff your pannier it won't latch closed. I will be moving to the Givi hard cases which are not as aesthetic but way more secure and functional.
Hi Stuart. I am in Cape Town, South Africa. I have just bought a 2020 T120 Bonneville from a deceased estate. It had 240 km on the clock and immaculate. It has the "waxed cotton" panniers which were fitted by the previous owner. Our main agent is 1000 miles away and nobody seems to be able to tell me whether there ARE waterproof covers for the "waxed cotton" panniers and, if there are, what the part number would be for them. Would it be at all possible for you to supply me with the part numbers for the waterproof covers? Thanks a lot. PS, yes, it does rain in South Africa now and then, we are experiencing heavy rains and flooding up north at the moment
Hi Stuart , suspect the ratings for racks and panniers are ultra-conservative arse-covering. I have loaded in excess of these loads in both panniers and rack and often bolt a top-box on with no issues. I have to assume the valve caps at ten quid each are bespoke built by master cap makers wearing grey coats and cheesecutter hats. I just hit my panniers with waterproofing spray. So far, so good. But the side pockets are as useable as a chocolate teapot and were designed by Satan just to annoy me. I still like them - but?! I like the comfort seat and think it's an improvement but have taken to putting a towel over it after washing the bike otherwise it ejects water onto the seat of nice dry pants through the stitches. But it does look fantastic. All your observations are pretty much spot-on and the Triumph accessory pricing is a thing of mystery and wonder and seems disconnected from logic. It still did not stop me from buying just about the whole catalog though and was worth it just to look at this lovely bike dressed up a bit. People spend more money on totally useless stuff compared to this.
Totally agree with you Dave and get where your coming from. Just thought people should know what they are getting into with some of this stuff. Oh and I know what you mean about the seat! Thanks for your comment!
stuart fillingham I went cheap on the valve caps and got some pretty weird looking eyeballs - four for about seven bucks - so T120 and T140 both sport a set now. But I'm always very careful to park with them at the top so the air doesn't fall out. 🤓😆 The guys that buy these bikes will buy them anyway because we love them but forewarned is forearmed and these videos will help inform buyers and there's a welter of good aftermarket stuff coming out now. My next purchase will be the Coneeng Dominator mufflers. Keep up the good work.👍
Hi, thanks for the video! I have those bags too, but I am looking for other solutions, such as Kappa KAPPA (KVE37BPACK2 K-VENTURE) black aluminum bags. Have you seen them? Do you think they could fit this Bonneville T120? I mean style and size?
Hi thanks for your comment. i suppose you would have to contact Kappa for details of what fitting kits they produce for these panniers. They look very nice but im not sure about the styling with the T120. At the end of the day its down to your personal requirements and the kind of trips you intend taking. if you feel they would suit your requirements why the hell not! go for it!
Thanks for your quick reply! I am looking for bags with higher capacity and style, and those are the only one I found in the aftermarket, so far.... :-)
I was considering upgrading from my BMW f800r to a thruxtron 120, but small, stupid and expensive stuff like this really makes me want to stay away from triumph as much as possible. Not only, as you said, the accessories are insanely expensive for what they are, but they are also made like crap. Honestly, screw 'em. Their bikes sure do look nice, but i can't spend 14000€ just to look at it and only ride it when the sun is shining. Guess i'll go with the rnine t, even though it's not as pretty as the thruxtron (not even close actually), I'm sure there would be no bullshit around the corner.
There's no doubt about it you will get far better customer care from BMW they are second to none, but, I do find their bikes uninspiring! and I have owned a few! At the time I got the T120 there were no aftermarket parts available as it was too new! Six months later it is a very different story, especially in the States! might be worth looking around at non Triumph stuff for the Bonnie range before you decide.
Yes if you look around there will be stuff available if you scan the comments here I did leave a link for the terrain 2 pannier from Iron and Resin, for a couple of people.
Excellent review. Watched it from start to finish & it answered a lot of my doubts. BTW, I am saving up for a bike at the moment, and I'm wondering whether I should get a T120 or a T100. I'm going to use it mostly for commuting in a city but also want to escape at weekends. I am 175cms (5''9'') and weigh 75kgs. With all the add ons I want, I reckon the T120 is a better buy, but I'm wondering whether it's too powerful for city driving. Any advice?
That back rack is laughable...3kg???. The o-ring falling out on the $10 caps is ridiculous. The seat is PU (read fake) leather, $450 for those bags is akin to robbery especially when considering you need to fork up another $50 for a rain cover!! Thanks Stuart.
Dreadful bags. I lost one on the motorway a few months back due to a clip failure. They look good but really are not practical and the plastic clips just don't do what they need to.
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This is the honesty that all reviews should be delivered with. I was scared just flicking through the accessory brochure last month and I'm not even going ahead with a Triumph purchase!! Theres nothing worse than getting had by high end stuff that's really low end stuff.
Extremely informative and you've saved me £££ as I was considering these panniers! Thank you.
You are the most honest moto vlogger on the planet. keep it up and you got a subscriber right here.
Thank you sir! most appreciated!
That was one of the most enjoyable honest reviews I've ever seen. Thank you
Informative and interesting review. Just what a potential buyer wants to know before making a decision.
Just checked on those indicators as they were the only item to come out of this video unscathed and they are now £118 a pair! Which means matching front and back blinkers will set you back £236! Outrageous. I was seriously considering buying these but not now. Thanks for that very informative video. It`s nice to get a good honest opinion.
I have a pair of olive panniers on order and following this review I think I’ll be cancelling! Thanks Stuart, you saved me from a bit of heartache there!
Great to see someone who loves there Triumph but is having exactly the same frustrations I am. Loved the look of the panniers , until it came time to using them .
Happy riding my frustrated friend !
It certainly is a love, hate relationship! I just don't understand how they get some things right and other things so wrong! Thanks for your comment.
Great reviews just found your channel currently have a tiger 800 pondering a Bonny T120
Thanks for the useful info. As I'm planning to pick up my own T 120 this year, I'll be looking for accessories as well. You have a pretty thorough view on some useful items and some not too useful. Thanks.
Thank you sir! and thanks very much for watching!
any other ones to get instead? got a t100 second hand came with the racks but no bags
I wish I had seen this video before buying these bags. I agree with everything said here. Additionally, the little twisty lock thingies easily come loose after only a few uses. They are attached to the bag material only with friction and good intentions. These bags, while handsome, are completely useless and worthless.
A friend of mine gave me first refusal on his bobber because he was moving away. As I was filling out the log book, he asked me if I wanted to buy the panniers as well.
Similar design to the above, but black, buckles instead of twist clasps - even had Triumph badges on the flaps. I thought yeah, these ain't gonna be cheap!
My friend explained he had bought them on Ebay as generic panniers. Ok, so they're probably not leather, but are well stitched together and overall, well constructed.
My friend then designed and fabricated a pair of unique 'slide and lockable' mounting brackets for them, along with a pair of black tubular mounting frames which he had already fitted to the bobber; he said he simply studied the actual Triumph design and then made them himself. He then had these galvanized and professionally spray painted.
The Triumph badges were also from Ebay, costing about a tenner.
He said "I'll let you have the pair for £50". Needless to say I bit his hand off.
This pair of panniers costing £50 have probably been the biggest reason for me to get out and enjoy the Bobber as much as possible. Cheers buddy!
Watching this makes me feel glad I brought my Harley!! Happy riding folks.
I own the panniers. I agree that they are a bit difficult to put back on, but there is a method that makes it quite easy. Firstly, there is absolutely no need to take the seat off. That's unnecessary. Slide the panniers back into the position and have the plastic buckles put loosely in place. Initially, it seemed quite difficult to push the buckle closed due to the limited space, however, the following makes it easy.
Firstly, I crouch and rest the pannier on my knee. This takes the weight off the buckles and attachment. Rather than lifting up the leather flap on the attachment and trying to hold onto the buckle, SQUEEZE the female buckle between the top and lower leather flaps. This allows you to hold it in position. Then, it is extremely easy to push the male buckle in - click - and it's in position. Do the same with the second buckle on the pannier.
I agree that this isn't well designed as it should be intuitively obvious how to attach the panniers back on. However, it is a bit of an exaggeration in your video to claim that they can only be put back on by taking the seat off, and then for it still to be difficult. It takes me no more than about 10 seconds to put the pannier back on.
I agree entirely that the bag is at best water resistent and is definitely not waterproof. Perhaps they are cheaper in Australia, but the waterproof covers were quite inexpensive. I've used the waterproof covers in torrential rain - they work "okay" - but aren't perfect. I've used Scotchgard on the panniers and this significantly improves their performance.
Ultimately, the panniers are form over function. However, they do look amazing. They mostly suite my needs as in one pannier, I keep emergency rain gear, and in the other, my laptop, glasses case, gloves, etc. Without a question, my $250 bags on my other motorycycle do a better job for commuting - locking, and actually waterproof. However, they would look stupid on the Bonneville.
Triumph has definitely cheaped out on the functional design of the panniers. In my view, it would not have been difficult to keep the current aesthetics, but make it a much more functional bag (e.g., leather-/waxed-cotton covered semi-rigid plastic pannier). This would have made it actually waterproof and rugged.
Hi Michael thanks for your comment ill give that a try. maybe they have changed the designed slightly but the instructions on the harness say you must take the seat off!
I can assure you there was no exaggeration in the video, my mounting harness is very tight and with the seat on it is impossible to get the buckles to meet up enough to fasten them, maybe as time goes on it will all slacken up a bit!
But thanks for taking the time to leave such a thorough explanation I'm sure it will prove useful to others.
stuart fillingham No worries! The first time I took the panniers off, it seemed fine enough. As per your video, they are easy to take off. Putting them back on was a bit of a shock - I couldn't work out why it would be so difficult to put back on. I'm sure as you must have experienced, I wondered whether I was doing something wrong.
well at first I admit it didn't look at the instructions properly on the harness and getting them on beat me without help from a second person. it was much easier when I read the instructions and took the seat off. though still far more difficult than it should be. there seems to be about a 5mm discrepancy between to male and female buckles so you still have to try and stretch them to get them to meet up properly. I suppose as they are all natural materials there is going to be a difference between batches. It has got slightly easier over time!
Hated the whole mounting with the clip-ons, but discovered the same method as you explained and works well. I love the look of the panniers, but must agree with Stuart, not waterproof, limited space inside and crappy buttons. But still they are functional and for the moment no big better alternatives...
Thanks for watching and for your input matey!
Very excellent and useful run-through of the products. I feel certain to look elsewhere that at OEM Triumph accessories. Please continue with your reporting.
My Victory Vegas rack is limited to 3kg too, and yes I did snap it loaded up on a weekend to Bridlington !
Thanks for sharing that Neil, it confirms my suspicion's!
Great review. Bought a Street Twin two months ago and your review helped me in deciding which items to purchase soon.
chong-keng limdr Thats great, glad to help and thanks for letting me know, what parts did you decide on?
I made a list from Triumph web catalogue
Auxiliary power socket
Flyscreen mounting kit
Engine protector kit
Front LED indicator kit- short stem
Rear Led indicator kit - short stem
Dark tinted flyscreen
Triumph disc lock
Dresser bar - black
Waxed cotton pannier - black
Valve caps - laser etched black
By the way, the pannier brackets are separately purchased? it's not on the website list.
good choices, I see the review didn't put you off the panniers then!
It does. I won't be getting them bags, but I may need the brackets for other soft bags. I am looking at some custom made ones by an Italian.
Very in-depth discussion. Perfect! Thank you for the good video! Radial Chris
Thank you sir your comment is appreciated!
Thanks for the heads up : I love the style of these and I find bags necessary for my daily rider. To bad Triumph "stuffed it" on these. The T120 would have fit perfectly in the garage next to my enfield bullet military.
No problem sir, there are other luggage options for the T120 though!
I own a 2010 SE. When I purchased the bike I had a number of accessories installed at the dealer which included, among other things, vinyl saddlebags (which haven't changed much over the years) and a rear carrier or rack. The bags work well enough but since they reduce the suggested top speed to a crawl I haven't used them much. It has something to do with wind turbulence. The rear carrier or rack, however, is a frustrating disappointment. I've often wondered if it was designed by someone who never any experience transporting items on either a motorcycle or bicycle. First of all, it won't hold much due to severe size and weight limitations. My childhood Schwinn bicycle had a far more substantial carrier than this thing and was sturdy enough to actually carry a seated person! I used to do that sort of thing all the time without mishap. Secondly, there is simply no way to easily attach bungee cords. The rack is, in fact, bungee cord resistant! Even if one is lucky enough to actually get something awkwardly held down, the cords tend to slide backward because of the strangely angled rail attachment points. I'm not kidding, they literally invite rearward sliding. When used I tend to look backward al lot to check on things.
Interresting and objectively informative, thank you Sir Stuart !
Thanks for the review of the bags, it is very helpful. Although I am not likely to spend that kind of money for saddlebags!
Nice review! I should have watched it before I buy the paniers. I also bought the cover!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When you put it on the panier, water comes inside the cover by the back, and stay there. Result, you have your panier soaking in 4 cm of water! This is really ridiculous! I am thinking of putting eyelets on the bottom of the cover.
Excellent job Stuart, thank you indeed, love your reviews, waiting my street cup delivery and very much helped in decisions by your handy videos. I will check on the modern looking nylon ones, but I am afraid many of the issues will be equally present. For now I stay with my seat tail givi one for in town needs. Keep it up mate !
Thank you Heli!
Appreciated this. I was going to get the Triumph pannier bags. I'm not now! I'll go with something different
Good honest review, if I worked in Triumph I would be throughly ashamed of the quality of these extras, has Triumph ever publicly commented on these products? Thanks for the video Stuart.
I guess it's due to reasons like these that a big aftermarket has been thriving; which by the way really make some nice stuff and value for money though.
Talking about the seat...."On the whole, I'm pleased with it.".......on the hole.
Thanks so much. I’m so glad you’ve saved me money on not buying the triumph bags. You’re a saint 😊
Thanks so much for a great review. I recently checked out T120 luggage options at my local dealer and they pointed me towards the Kriega or Motech as better alternatives. While I like that the Kriega saddlebags are waterproof, they don't look great and swaying towards the Motech Legends with a LOMO Dry Bag for my camping gear on top. Will see how it pans out, but have to say one thing, the LOMO bag (60l) is AMAZING
thanks for your comment carl. have to say I used the lomo bag for a weekend camping without any problems! check out the 2 part trip video!
stuart fillingham Thanks for comments. Have question. Given your knowledge of T120 luggage options, what would you suggest. To make it easier, not after hard luggage as my 'useage' will be 5-6 long weekends (maybe a week) and I have the LOMO pack on top.. Trying to find compromise between quality, price and usability and the Triumph hard options are definitely out having seen them in person. They were beautiful, but woefully impractical. Thanks again. Ps - I mentioned the Motech Legends and while these are my front runners, not signed up yet.
Hi Carl have a look at the sons of trade/Iron and resin, terrain 2 panniers half the price of the triumph ones twice as big and look the part!
Hey Stuart, wanted you to know after your negative (but true) review on Triumph panniers, I searched far-and-wide for alternatives and found great deal on GIVI MT501s - out of Italy. They provided T120 brackets and fitting couldn't be easier. They were about 30% less than AU options and most cycle resellers were promoting another GIVI throw over option or Legends. While Legends are nice (and expensive), I wanted something a little more rigid. I've had the MT501s for a few weeks and LOVE them. Also, fellow T120 owner sold his triumph panniers (which he hated) and got the GIVIs. Partnered with my LOMO 60ltr travel bag, I couldn't be happier with the set up... With spring around the corner, my camping trips will begin again.
That is spooky Carl I was just looking at those this morning! they look pretty good! Ive pinned your comment to the top for all to see!
stuart fillingham I'll post a few pictures. Really, couldn't be happier. While not largest panniers available, still love them. My aim was to take them off on short rides, however have left on since installing. At 6'2 was worried they might rub my legs, however after 3-4 rides, haven't noticed any difference. Purchased from Carpi Moto (Italy) www.carpimoto.com AMAZING SERVICE.
Yes feel free though the system might consign it to junk on here!
best bet is to send me a friends request on Facebook (just look for my name) and post it on my time line once ive accepted! cheers Carl!
Thanks for the very informative vid. Thank god I‘m not the only one having the exact mechanical issues with these panniers. The T120 being my first bike ever I had no comparison but had he impression from day one these where a nice design but with functional flaws in basically all the technical details. They might have been thrown on the market because they had to be in the accessories catalogue at launch.
I deeply regret having bought these for a considerable amount of dough at launch but learned to be more patient with accessories the next time I will purchase a new bike.
I'm trying to work out a list of the highest quality accessories / options for the T120 I would like to get from Triumph or a third party. (British Customs, Moton etc.).
Modern products on the whole unfortunately leave a great deal to be desired when it comes to quality in many cases so I'm sure I'll have to use a great deal of care in making my selections.
The paniers look brown on Triumph's website. It's a shame the quality isn't there. They should have had a way to lock them and a method of fitting that would prevent easy theft as well.
I would very much like to see more videos like this one for Triumph and Third Party accessories / options.
One concern I have about the tank emblem after watching one of your other videos is the possibility of deterioration / loosening from the tank over time. I live in an area that can be quite hot in summer. The 4 bar emblem looked very nice after the installation on your bike, I just wonder how well it would hold up since it uses adhesives and isn't a solid chrome piece.
Other than Moton and British Customs, are their other third parties that carry options / accessories for the T120 and have a reputation for products made to very high standard of quality you can recommend?
Excellent review. Brutally honest. No bullshit.
Appreciate the detailed honesty.
Really nice, thanks for that review.
I bought a used trimph bobber black, which has the same bags really looks high quality, but unfortunately they are very dirty with a lot of scratches. Any ideas how to clean and restore them please?
Those saddlebags really look cool on the website, and the price also suggests it is something decent - thanks for warning.
Thanks I was planning to buy those with a street twin.
The light rating on the rack is as much a liability issue as anything. They don't want you griping when it won't carry a whole side of beef without bending. But you can put your luggage on it and 20 pounds worth won't hurt it at all.
extremely helpful .. Wish Indian counter part of Triumph have kept same prices instead too high here
An excellent review my friend. Thankfully you've wisely deterred me from almost buying the panniers. Do you have any suggestions of panniers for the Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster 2018?
Many thanks.
excellent reviews, thank you. looking at purchasing a T120 black in exchange of my vfr1200. have you toured on your bike or has anyone else?
Interesting vid.... I have a TRX and the Triumph alloy adventure luggage (Givi). Each Triumph pannier is rated at 5KG but the Givi Is rated at 10kg.... as I say they are the same pannier.... must be some kind of get out for Triumph by underrating luggage....
Dave Youde thanks dave. Yeah i think they are putting too much emphasis in to litigation rather than customer satisfaction!
Thanks Stuart , I just ordered a Cinder Red T 120 from Triumph Glasgow as the advertised on E bay Cinder Red T120 with leather side Panniers , front screen and engine bars . Great I thought. I saw your review and realised they were the wax cotten ones . I have now asked them to cancel the order unless they can supply the Genuine Leather part number: A9518178 as advertised in their accessories. Shame on them . Thanks For the Vids Very helpful. Cheers Paul
Thanks Paul, yeah you have to watch the buggers! hope you get it sorted you will love the bike!
Lol I am wathing your review about QNE BAG CAMPING and you E mail me at same time lol . I know I will love the bike , Its just I want a Cinder Red one , there were three going on Ebay I hesitated and they all sold, this one from Triumph Glasgow came back on line , I managed to get them down £200 on the deal and agreed to buy tonight only to realise the panniers are not the real leather so I have Emailed them to cancel unles sthey can supply the real leathe ones .Otherwise I wil wait and get from elsewhere. Cheers Paul
LOL let me know if you get it sorted!
Hi Stuart , This is the reply I had from Triumph GLasgow " Hello Paul Having had a further look at this machine, the panniers are the waxed cotton type & it is only the lid that is leather, although I have no way of confirming whether or not it is genuine leather. I would be unable to swap the panniers for leather ones. "
This is on a £9,000 bike . Guess I am still going to be looking for on a bit longe now .
lol typical Triumph dealer. "their way or no way!" keep looking Paul you will find what your looking for!
I had these panniers on my Bonnie sadly. One fell off but hooked in the frame it simply caused damage to the outside of the bag. Unfortunately the other pannier fell off altogether. I did not notice that cast me dearly as my keys iPad waterproof over suit and several other things were lost If you are thinking about them work out a way to secure them
Thank you for this very informative video. What about the wind shield? Good deal?
460 British pounds for a non waterproof panier that won't hold more weight than a six pack? Before Brexit, that would have been almost 800 US. Only 600 now. They sure do look nice. They should have twist fasteners all around instead of the lousy snaps. I loaded 30 kg. worth of supplies on my old T140 rack including an old milk crate. Thanks for all of the reviews. Leather is the way to go.
If ever there was a way not to make a pannier, that was it!
Good videos. Been watching most of the camping ones so far.
I find the non-waterproof Triumph panniers very ironic. : ) Perhaps it's an extra expense that they did not think necessary since it does not rain too often in Britain? Does Triumph have no experience with British weather? Sorry. What's next I wonder; a solar powered headlight? I'm sort of an industrial design fan, so really dumb choices like this bother me, not to mention your very practical point of; they cost enough and should be delivered as a completely functional package that works in it's native environment.
I got back from a camping trip June 2017, but won't have any video of that for a few more weeks. I plan on more trips and that's why I've been watching some of your work.
Take care. Stay Sharp. Stay Up.
Cheers.
Although I wouldn't spend that amount of money on saddlebags (unless they actually worked and looked the DBs) I suppose a couple of cheap dry bags inside would work. Not being waterproof is strange as my waxed cotton Barbour jacket certainly is.
Hi David, Thanks for your comment, a case of styling over practicality I think!
Very entertaining review, especially regarding the panniers! I've owned/used a pair of Willie and Max through over fake leather bags for twenty years, on several bikes. They still work just fine on weekend trips, and definitely are a better design than these Triumph bags. And they're kinda waterproof. Kinda. They look fine on my T100, although I wouldn't leave them on it if I'm not traveling. In general I've found that carefully chosen aftermarket accessories are cheaper and at least as good as "genuine" factory accessories.
Thank you for sharing Gary and thanks very much for watching.
I use Axiom cycling waterproof panniers on both my bicycle and my motorcycle. They don't look as sexy, but they're actually waterproof and 35 liters apiece.
"As much use as a chocolate fireguard" - brilliant haha
Good to see high-quality bags on the Triumph, which are made of sturdy leather and fit the contours of the bike without getting too wide or flopping about. Nice chrome carrier and fly-screen that fit too. The air valve dust-caps are not properly made and should fit properly at that cost. Sharp bike mate.
thank you sir.
Hi Stuart how do you find the windscreen is it mainly for looks or does block some of the wind off your body and helmet
Stuart, what are your views on fitting a Givi base plate to the rack on the Bonneville to fit a Givi top box?
Hi Alan, im not a big fan of top boxes myself i prefer soft luggage, but, Givi is a well known make that produce quality gear, so go for it if a top box suits your usage!
cheers
Agree completely with you on the bags.....look great, but waaaay too many neg's with them.....and Triumph!!!!
Can you post a how to video for installing the Triumph saddlebags on the T120 or do you know of one anywhere?
alas I simply dont use them Bradley, except as a doorstop in my office! take a look at the Burly brand voyager throwover saddle bags o recently reviewed.
Just so you know , I have been sending back products to a company for twenty some odd years with a certain size snap that never comes correct working product . Perfect in every way except if your model choice requires that size snap . Thanks
Yea drives me Bonkers too .
ok thanks for that! and thanks for watching!
Hi Stuart,
would you b able to advice me on the halo angel eye headlight?it is not just a led bulb replacement isnt it?where to get the headlight kit?
many thanks in advance
Chris
Mate great review. what's your jacket and gloves btw? the brown jacket and tannish gloves?
its the triumph barbour leather jacket and triumph restore gloves.
stuart fillingham nice combo. thanks!
Excellent vlog. Thanks so much
Thank you for the in-dept review, I watched it especially for the pannier bags. Have you replaced the pannier bags yet?
thanks for the review on these luggage bags, seem like these bags leave a lot to be desired..
Stuart are the leather panniers any better? Thank you ....Sal : )
no, pretty much the same.
Very good and informative video
Emanuel Rotter thank you!
I looked around at the pricing. They make Harley's stuff look cheap. Never thought I'd say that.
Yeah I think they have got a little carried away with the pricing!
Nice review, if you want to be sure about the seat material, just turn it over and look at the edge of the material under the seat.
Hi yeah thanks, I did that but its all been cunningly rolled over and edged so its impossible to tell
Hi Stuart - checking in from Seattle, USA (think rainy winter and lovely summers) - I bought these after a lot of thought but before I saw your review. I agree completely these look wonderful but yes - sadly frustratingly designed. Expensive lesson. C'mon Triumph seriously?
You sort of get used to them in the end, but they are far from ideal!
Thanks for your video, Stuart! Two questions: Is T120 a canbus eqquiped bike? How to properly clean the outside non leather parts of panniers? Thanks and regards.
Hi Helder yes its a linbus system which is basically the same thing as can bus. all you should used to clean the leather on the panniers is a clean damp cloth!
@@stuartfillingham in practical terms, what should we not do on a linbus system? can we install fog lights? can you replace H4 halogen with H4 led without any concerns? thanks. PS - a clean damp cloth becomes a dirty damp cloth and the panniers never return to clean condition :-(
@@helderjdias77lol keep rinsing it in a bucket of clean water! lin bus doesnt stop you from fitting accessories!
@@stuartfillingham :-) What does the linbus on T120? I'm old school...sorry my question... :-)
@@stuartfillingham Seller at the dealer told about a Tiger shuting off while running due to fog lights not approved by Triumph. Maybe has got something to do with linbus...or maybe he's just talking of something else, I dunno...
Well some of my friends just added those barakholka boxes from the Ural Motorcycles on them made out of metal and works yeah looks like an ammo box but when somebody likes it its at least waterproof ^^
Maybe I should give it a try!
With the bags is it possible to beeswax them to make them semi waterproof?
Can you let me know if the Brown comfort seat has the same loops that can be used for tie downs as under the stock seat? I use these a lot to strap on my cargo net, it is so convenient.
Hi Eric they both share the same seat pan!
Hi Stuart, good grief but those panniers are completely rubbish aren't they? £450? I don't think so.
Test rode a T120 yesterday, liked it A LOT !! Doing my sums now..................................
LOL Yes the T120 does have that effect I'm afraid. re panniers google Iron and Resin/sons of trade, Terrain 2 pannier. not saying they will be perfect as ive not managed to get my hands on one. but they look great and are half the price of the Triumph panniers.
Hey Stuart! I got the same sattle bags on my Bonneville, and made the same experience. But there is one thing, i still dont know what to make of it. have you ever figured out what this tiny square removable black plastic thing is, that is still attached to the middle of your bags in this video? even my triumph dealer couldnt tell me what it should be for.
Greetings from vienna, Flo
Hi Flo, that's easy. The (removable) black plastic thing is supposed to be used for sticking a red reflector on it in countries (like in Europe I guess) where it is now legal. Well, I just removed them from my panniers, I guess no cop will think about it ?
Greetings from Nîmes, France, Dominique.
Haha! that's great, thank you. I feel a little wiser now!
Solid Review! Any recommendations for a similar looking bag, that can actually hold some weight as well as being water proof?
new lomo panniers
The Triumph panniers, while very attractive, are possibly the worst designed panniers you can buy. First, they can be detached in seconds with no tools, just unsnap from the harness and slide off...insane! I purchased two 12" loop bicycle combo locks and looped each one around the pannier frame and the bike frame to keep them from being stolen. The male latches attached to the sidewalls are glued, not bolted on and on a very hot day one started to peel off. Had to Gorilla glue it back. Lastly there are no latch strap adjustments, one single hole, so if you stuff your pannier it won't latch closed. I will be moving to the Givi hard cases which are not as aesthetic but way more secure and functional.
Hi Stuart. I am in Cape Town, South Africa. I have just bought a 2020 T120 Bonneville from a deceased estate. It had 240 km on the clock and immaculate. It has the "waxed cotton" panniers which were fitted by the previous owner. Our main agent is 1000 miles away and nobody seems to be able to tell me whether there ARE waterproof covers for the "waxed cotton" panniers and, if there are, what the part number would be for them. Would it be at all possible for you to supply me with the part numbers for the waterproof covers? Thanks a lot. PS, yes, it does rain in South Africa now and then, we are experiencing heavy rains and flooding up north at the moment
Hi Stuart, would you be able to help? thanks!
SO, can anyone help me with the above question??
Its a little sad that nobody here helped me, but I went onto the Triumph Talk forum and had a answer, with photos, within minutes
Well done a great honest review ,dont you mean firing on all 2 cylinders( joke) .still a nice bike though.
Hi Stuart , suspect the ratings for racks and panniers are ultra-conservative arse-covering.
I have loaded in excess of these loads in both panniers and rack and often bolt a top-box on with no issues.
I have to assume the valve caps at ten quid each are bespoke built by master cap makers wearing grey coats and cheesecutter hats.
I just hit my panniers with waterproofing spray. So far, so good. But the side pockets are as useable as a chocolate teapot and were designed by Satan just to annoy me.
I still like them - but?!
I like the comfort seat and think it's an improvement but have taken to putting a towel over it after washing the bike otherwise it ejects water onto the seat of nice dry pants through the stitches.
But it does look fantastic.
All your observations are pretty much spot-on and the Triumph accessory pricing is a thing of mystery and wonder and seems disconnected from logic. It still did not stop me from buying just about the whole catalog though and was worth it just to look at this lovely bike dressed up a bit.
People spend more money on totally useless stuff compared to this.
Totally agree with you Dave and get where your coming from. Just thought people should know what they are getting into with some of this stuff. Oh and I know what you mean about the seat! Thanks for your comment!
stuart fillingham
I went cheap on the valve caps and got some pretty weird looking eyeballs - four for about seven bucks - so T120 and T140 both sport a set now.
But I'm always very careful to park with them at the top so the air doesn't fall out. 🤓😆
The guys that buy these bikes will buy them anyway because we love them but forewarned is forearmed and these videos will help inform buyers and there's a welter of good aftermarket stuff coming out now.
My next purchase will be the Coneeng Dominator mufflers.
Keep up the good work.👍
Excellent no bs review. Thanks.
Your welcome, and thanks for watching.
Hi, thanks for the video! I have those bags too, but I am looking for other solutions, such as Kappa KAPPA (KVE37BPACK2 K-VENTURE) black aluminum bags. Have you seen them? Do you think they could fit this Bonneville T120? I mean style and size?
Hi thanks for your comment. i suppose you would have to contact Kappa for details of what fitting kits they produce for these panniers. They look very nice but im not sure about the styling with the T120. At the end of the day its down to your personal requirements and the kind of trips you intend taking. if you feel they would suit your requirements why the hell not! go for it!
Thanks for your quick reply! I am looking for bags with higher capacity and style, and those are the only one I found in the aftermarket, so far.... :-)
I understand. like is said its your bike, and you need to make it all work for you! they look like good kit to me.! let me know how you get on!
Thank you for saving me a ton of money by NOT buying these panniers!
“Welcome as a fart in a space suit”😂
I was considering upgrading from my BMW f800r to a thruxtron 120, but small, stupid and expensive stuff like this really makes me want to stay away from triumph as much as possible. Not only, as you said, the accessories are insanely expensive for what they are, but they are also made like crap. Honestly, screw 'em. Their bikes sure do look nice, but i can't spend 14000€ just to look at it and only ride it when the sun is shining. Guess i'll go with the rnine t, even though it's not as pretty as the thruxtron (not even close actually), I'm sure there would be no bullshit around the corner.
There's no doubt about it you will get far better customer care from BMW they are second to none, but, I do find their bikes uninspiring! and I have owned a few!
At the time I got the T120 there were no aftermarket parts available as it was too new!
Six months later it is a very different story, especially in the States! might be worth looking around at non Triumph stuff for the Bonnie range before you decide.
1200 RT. 'nuff said.
Thank you very, keep it up.
Your welcome! ill do my best!
Can you fit other brand panniers, by the way?
Yes if you look around there will be stuff available if you scan the comments here I did leave a link for the terrain 2 pannier from Iron and Resin, for a couple of people.
Excellent review. Watched it from start to finish & it answered a lot of my doubts. BTW, I am saving up for a bike at the moment, and I'm wondering whether I should get a T120 or a T100. I'm going to use it mostly for commuting in a city but also want to escape at weekends. I am 175cms (5''9'') and weigh 75kgs. With all the add ons I want, I reckon the T120 is a better buy, but I'm wondering whether it's too powerful for city driving. Any advice?
I think you would be fine with the T120! It will easily fit your requirements good in the city and on the open road!
Hi I got a number plate coming up for sale T120 TWC you interested?
first hehe. watching this now.
LOL Missed by 27 minutes. Me too. Is there a trophy for second place?
Great review, those panniers are total shite. Dont buy them.
Thank you Dave!
That back rack is laughable...3kg???. The o-ring falling out on the $10 caps is ridiculous. The seat is PU (read fake) leather, $450 for those bags is akin to robbery especially when considering you need to fork up another $50 for a rain cover!! Thanks Stuart.
The side panniers what a waste of money my wife said it be more important to buy a Radley handbag it might be more waterproof
Dreadful bags. I lost one on the motorway a few months back due to a clip failure. They look good but really are not practical and the plastic clips just don't do what they need to.
I entirely agree ....over priced and too small
Not waterproofed? What a ripoff. They should be waterproofed.
Some good insights here. Those panniers are a total rip-off. Cheap and nasty. Or rather, expensive and nasty. A German company do a much nicer set.
The panniers are truly the worst triumph made accessory
The panniers are beautifully useless.
Just buy a Japanese bike instead of being bothered with this rubbish. Trading on name wont cut it any more