Chronicling Adventures On Two Stroke

Triumph Bonneville Vs Yamaha Bolt: The Ultimate Retro Ride-off

Key points

  • The Bolt’s design is more minimalist than the Bonneville’s, and it features a number of modern elements, such as a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, a single-seat design, and a blacked-out engine.
  • The Bonneville is a more expensive motorcycle than the Bolt, but it also offers a number of premium features, such as a more powerful engine and a higher-quality suspension.
  • The Bolt is a more affordable motorcycle than the Bonneville, but it still offers a number of desirable features, such as a smooth and responsive engine and a low-maintenance belt drive.

The motorcycle world is a vast and diverse one, with countless makes and models to choose from. But if you’re looking for a classic, timeless motorcycle, two bikes that immediately come to mind are the Triumph Bonneville and the Yamaha Bolt. Both bikes offer a unique blend of style, performance, and affordability, but which one is right for you? In this blog post, we’ll compare the Triumph Bonneville vs Yamaha Bolt in detail to help you make an informed decision.

Design and Styling

The Triumph Bonneville is a classic British motorcycle that has been in production for over 60 years. It’s known for its timeless design, which combines retro styling with modern features. The Yamaha Bolt, on the other hand, is a more recent entry to the market, but it has quickly gained a reputation for its sleek, minimalist design.

Bonneville: The Bonneville’s design is inspired by the original 1959 Triumph Bonneville, and it features a number of classic styling cues, such as a round headlight, twin exhaust pipes, and a bench seat. However, the Bonneville also incorporates a number of modern touches, such as fuel injection and a digital instrument cluster.

Bolt: The Bolt’s design is more minimalist than the Bonneville’s, and it features a number of modern elements, such as a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, a single-seat design, and a blacked-out engine. However, the Bolt also incorporates a few retro touches, such as a round headlight and spoke wheels.

Performance

The Triumph Bonneville is powered by a 900cc parallel-twin engine that produces 54 horsepower and 59 pound-feet of torque. The Yamaha Bolt is powered by a 942cc V-twin engine that produces 54 horsepower and 64 pound-feet of torque.

Bonneville: The Bonneville’s engine is smooth and responsive, and it provides plenty of power for both city riding and highway cruising. The Bonneville also has a relatively low seat height, which makes it a good choice for shorter riders.

Bolt: The Bolt’s engine is also smooth and responsive, but it provides a bit more torque than the Bonneville’s engine. The Bolt also has a more upright riding position, which makes it a good choice for longer rides.

Handling

The Triumph Bonneville is a relatively agile motorcycle, and it handles well in both urban and rural environments. The Yamaha Bolt is also a good-handling motorcycle, but it feels a bit heavier and less nimble than the Bonneville.

Bonneville: The Bonneville’s suspension is well-tuned, and it provides a comfortable ride even on rough roads. The Bonneville also has a relatively short wheelbase, which makes it easy to maneuver in tight spaces.

Bolt: The Bolt’s suspension is also well-tuned, but it provides a slightly firmer ride than the Bonneville’s suspension. The Bolt also has a longer wheelbase than the Bonneville, which makes it a bit less nimble in tight spaces.

Features

The Triumph Bonneville comes standard with a number of features, including fuel injection, a digital instrument cluster, and a USB charging port. The Yamaha Bolt also comes standard with a number of features, including fuel injection, a digital instrument cluster, and a low-maintenance belt drive.

Bonneville: The Bonneville’s standard features are a good value for the price. The fuel injection system provides smooth and consistent power delivery, the digital instrument cluster is easy to read, and the USB charging port is a convenient feature.

Bolt: The Bolt’s standard features are also a good value for the price. The fuel injection system provides smooth and consistent power delivery, the digital instrument cluster is easy to read, and the low-maintenance belt drive is a nice feature.

Price

The Triumph Bonneville has a starting price of $11,450. The Yamaha Bolt has a starting price of $8,999.

Bonneville: The Bonneville is a more expensive motorcycle than the Bolt, but it also offers a number of premium features, such as a more powerful engine and a higher-quality suspension.

Bolt: The Bolt is a more affordable motorcycle than the Bonneville, but it still offers a number of desirable features, such as a smooth and responsive engine and a low-maintenance belt drive.

Which One is Right for You?

The Triumph Bonneville and the Yamaha Bolt are both excellent motorcycles, but they offer different things to different riders. If you’re looking for a classic, timeless motorcycle with a powerful engine and a comfortable ride, the Triumph Bonneville is a good choice. If you’re looking for a more affordable motorcycle with a sleek, minimalist design and a low-maintenance belt drive, the Yamaha Bolt is a good choice.

What You Need to Know

Q: Which motorcycle is more powerful, the Triumph Bonneville or the Yamaha Bolt?
A: The Triumph Bonneville is more powerful than the Yamaha Bolt. The Bonneville’s engine produces 54 horsepower and 59 pound-feet of torque, while the Bolt’s engine produces 54 horsepower and 64 pound-feet of torque.

Q: Which motorcycle is more fuel-efficient, the Triumph Bonneville or the Yamaha Bolt?
A: The Yamaha Bolt is more fuel-efficient than the Triumph Bonneville. The Bolt gets an estimated 47 mpg in the city and 58 mpg on the highway, while the Bonneville gets an estimated 42 mpg in the city and 52 mpg on the highway.

Q: Which motorcycle is more comfortable to ride, the Triumph Bonneville or the Yamaha Bolt?
A: The Triumph Bonneville is more comfortable to ride than the Yamaha Bolt. The Bonneville has a lower seat height and a more plush suspension than the Bolt.

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About the Author
Matthew is an avid motorbike enthusiast from South London. He started riding bikes as a teenager and has owned over 10 bikes throughout his life. Matthew loves exploring the picturesque British countryside on two wheels and uses his matthewbikelog to document his riding adventures. When he's not out on his...