Bud Ekins was motorcycle legend. He is best known for his famous jump over the barbed wire aboard a Triumph as Steve McQueen's double in The Great Escape, but among motorcyclists, his motocross and desert racing skills are even more iconic. Now Triumph is commemorating this motorcycling hero with a special edition of its T120 Bonneville and T100 Bonneville. While the running gear on each bike remains unchanged, there are plenty of vintage and race-inspired details unique to these models.
The defining characteristic of the Bud Ekins Editions are the two-tone paint schemes and hand-done pinstriping—"coachlines," if you're speaking British English. The fuel tanks bear the quintessential Bud Ekins “flying globe” logo, as does the front fender, and you’ll spot more Bud Ekins branding on the side covers. Fans of vintage Triumphs will also be quick to notice the vintage Triumph logo, brought back to a modern production machine for the first time in Hinckley history. Other details unique to these bikes include a Monza gas cap, LED turn signals, unique engine badges, knurled grips, and bar-end mirrors.
Each bike includes a collector’s certificate with narrative on Ekins' life and history, signed by Triumph’s CEO Nick Bloor and both of Ekins' daughters, Susan and Donna.
These bikes are available now, with the T100 starting at $10,950 and the T120 starting at $12,350. Ekins was a hero to many and had a long relationship with the Triumph brand. He probably would have spec'd a few performance upgrades if he were around to weigh in on the matter, but resourceful owners could do the legend justice with choice mods of their own. Can an ISDT version be far behind?
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