SPIED! 2017 Triumph Bonneville Bobber

Hardtail-look parallel-twin Triumph Bonneville classic caught testing in Spain.

Triumph has been working on a big update to its long-running Modern Classic line. For further proof, check out these recent spy photos of a hardtail-look bobber with solo seat. Caught testing in Spain near the company's development facility there, this new Triumph was said to be exceptionally loud. And as you can see from the pictures, it's essentially undisguised.

Power appears to come from the same liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine seen in the recently spied café/tracker version. Therefore, we expect the new Triumph to displace about 1100cc and make in the neighborhood of 100 horsepower, up from the claimed 69 of the current air/oil-cooled 865cc Bonneville. The radiator and associated plumbing look identical to that of the other prototype.

Although no primary-drive-side shots were captured, the new Triumph engine as shown in the café prototype (an expected 2016 model) uses a primary cover and engine covers that evoke the post-1963 unit-construction twins produced as opposed to the the pre-unit stylings of the current Bonneville.

It will be interesting to see if Triumph ditches the entire 865cc air-cooled lineup, or if this new 1100cc liquid-cooled platform joins it to expand the offerings. Cycle Worlders, how do feel about this?

Meantime, we expect the new café version of the Triumph to make its debut this fall, with this bobber and other variants to follow in 2017 and beyond.

Spy photo #1

Spy photo #2

Spy photo #3

Spy photo #4