GRiSO 8V compared to Bonneville T120 1200 - anyone ridden both?

i’m hoping to test ride both as the temps warm in VT US.
do you have any wisdom to share? pros & cons welcome.

I am somewhat surprised at the question as I view that as an apple & orange compo of such dramatically different motorcycles as to be impossible in any meaningful way.

Now, with that disclaimer out of the way, I have not ridden the T120, but did shop for one for my brother.  Have sat on several in Virginia, Georgia and Seattle ... there's a big (and friendly) Triumph dealer just down block from M-I where I visited last year.

I had also read Peter Egan's essay in Cycle World. Can't remember issue, but vintage Egan.  Very positive piece.

But, again, whatever the dyno numbers are, it's tough for me to imagine the visceral "bruto" nature of the GRiSO having any counterpart in the elegant T120.  

IMO, too, having sat on a bunch of 'em over several months, the ergos are wildly different.  I just cannot get my head around thinking of them as "equals" in scratching the same itch.

All of that said, I'd like to have a T120 for certain days, but when the sultan in me gets certain animal urges, the T120 in the harem would not get the nod.  

Yeah, I know; not especially helpful.  It's what I do.  

Bill

P.S. And good luck with that "when temps warm" piece.

thanks Bill. i'm not thinking they're the same or equal (other than more cc's (by 30% +/-) than my current T100 moto). i will review the Egan writeup for his thoughts, thanks. just looking for any insights from a rider of both. cheers!

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I would suggest you try and ride each bike and see which one "fit" you best then go with that. Hell if you don't like it, sell it and get the other. I went through 4 bikes last year before getting the 2013 GRiSO in December. I have not ridden a T120 but that thing sure sounds great with the right exhaust.

The T120 specs out at 80 HP and 77 torque, probably won't give you the rush the GRiSO would, I love the torque on mine. On the road no need to down shift to get around a slower car.

Funny you should ask...
I test rode the T120 and the 1200 Thruxton R two weeks ago.
Don't bother with the T120 as it cannot compare with the GRiSO on any level except for the lighter weight but I can think of plenty of light bikes that handle way better that the T120 and are way more fun.
The Thruxton R though, is a blast to ride and has a better suspension and brakes (Brembo). Also has a more aggressive map over the T120 as well as shorter gearing via sprockets and such.
The one I test rode had no fairing with the "civilized" handle bar, not clip ons and I liked that.
All in all, I prefer the GRiSO over the Thruxton R still, it has more grunt at any rpm and the looks will always be unique, plus the Guzzi mill is such a peach of an engine. Love its power delivery.
The T120 bored me to death, just like the boxer engine from BMW...yawn.

I went for a ride with a couple other fellas on 3 different hot rodded bonnievilles. Not the new 1200's, but the last year of the previous mill, with various engine, exhaust, ergo upgrades. They look nice, and are certainly competent motorcycles, but I also don't think anyone makes "bad" motorcycles any more, just ones that focus on different areas (except the Harley 500's. Those are bad motorcycles)

Anyways, rode them all, didn't scratch the itch of my g11 at all. I see them both occupying similar spheres of emotional, feedback driven riding, with the Bonnie leaning more towards something familiar and the GRiSO doing it's own thing. As a motorcycle I think the GRiSO is superior. As a new motorcycle that looks like an old triumph, the triumph triumphs.

In closing, my comparison of two motorcycles you didn't ask about is that mine wins.

Get the GRiSO

As Grisonut said, the Bonny is rather dull compared to a GRiSO. The Thruxton is nicer. The nearest thing to a GRiSO is the BMW RnineT. The GRiSO is better.

I owned a 2002 Bonneville for years and enjoyed it. But the parallel twin is a little boring. Chain drive and twin shocks are the obvious deal-breakers for me now that I have a GRiSO. You should only pick the Triumph if comfy ergonomics are your top priority and you don’t mind the unending bother of chain maintenance.

I didn't try the Bonnie, did take a quick spin on a Street Scrambler when I test rode the GRiSO in November. Nice bike, but just didnt deliver the level of power I am used to.
There was no question for me, rode the Triumph 2 blocks, turned around and took it back and made an offer on the GRiSO and rode it home. (180 miles at 37 degrees).

Well done. You made the right choice. And welcome to the forum.

I have not ridden any of the modern Triumphs. Though I think they look nice, I am stuck on Guzzi .
I am very happy with my '13 GRiSO ( I purchased it pre-owned). The real reason for my post however is that I wanted to offer up my endorsement for our mutual local shop; AJ Cycle in Gill MA. I am sure they will take good care of you. I have never had a bad experience dealing with Alan & David.

Good choice, i took out the previous Bonnie for a day with Mrs Sidrat, she liked it, but it had no go, skinny tyres and rough handling, or maybe i was riding it out of its comfort zone!

Good stuff here, thanks to all. Still planning to ride both; already leaning to the GRiSO.

tim2 wrote:

Good stuff here, thanks to all. Still planning to ride both; already leaning to the GRiSO.

Keep in mind that most of us will be bias and will praise the mighty GRiSO. lol
When you ride the bikes, get into a neutral state of mind and forget outside input from both brands.
Get your butt on the first one, get familiar with the control first.
Then as soon as you roll on, just don't follow blindly the sales rep in front of you. You will get a vanilla type of momentum and you don't want that.
Live a good space between you and him (tell him before taking off so he knows you're not a slow poker) and that way, you can get in the power band without running his ass over and throw the bike in the corners a bit. Also do some heavy breaking test as well, you'll get a good feel of the weight in relation with the handling of the bike.
If there are several riders with you, just be the guy at the end of the pack so you can do all the things mentioned above.
Do this with any bike you test ride if you can and you'll get a truer feel of them...