OVERVIEW
1959 Triumph Bonneville T120
VIN: 022806
1959 was the first year for the now legendary Bonneville. This bike has been fully restored and has the correct factory bodywork, which is difficult to find in original condition. The engine and transmission for this machine have been rebuilt and tuned by marque expert, AJ Lewis.
About the Triumph Bonneville T120:
The Triumph Bonneville T120 is a British motorcycle that was designed by Triumph Engineering and built between 1959 and 1975.
The Bonneville T120 was Edward Turner's last production design at Triumph. With a 649 cc (39.6 in3) parallel-twin engine the T120 was based on the Triumph Tiger T110 and was fitted with the Tiger's optional twin Amal monobloc carburettors as standard, along with that model's high-performance inlet camshaft.
Launched in 1959 by Triumph as "The Best Motorcycle in the World", the Bonneville T120 was aimed mainly at the lucrative US market where enthusiasts were demanding extra performance. Initially produced with a pre-unit construction engine, which enabled the bike to achieve 115 mph (185 km/h) without further modification. The Bonneville name came from the achievements of Texas racer Johnny Allen on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah with highly modified motorcycles that achieved speeds over 200mph.
A brief history of AJ Lewis:
Following World War II AJ Lewis went to work for the famed British motorcycle importer and shop, Johnson Motors in Pasadena CA. JoMo, as they were called, was the largest Triumph and Ariel dealer and distributor on the West Coast. While in their employ AJ became an expert at building race motors that included both motorcycles and Indy cars. His passion was for the Ariel and Triumph brands, and he owned and tuned 2 Grand Prix racers with one placing 3rd at Daytona in 1951. He later had two shops of his own with one specializing in speed parts and performance engine builds. Later in life he would restore the bikes of his youth as only a lifetime of experience and expertise could, winning multiple awards in the process. AJ amassed the largest supply of Ariel Motorcycles and parts in the world, which allowed him to restore bikes using original factory parts.
