Bonnie fits better now

The Triumph Bonneville is reminiscent of 1950s bad-boy glamour. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

Born-again bikers seeking a walk on the mild side have a bit of trouble with Triumph. There are no entry-level bikes, and the 600-class machines are plastic fantastics with toupee-shredding acceleration.

Hence the popularity of the Bonneville, with its classic good looks and biddable, any-roads persona.

Trouble is, last year's Bonneville was a tad tall for the vertically challenged rider - and the price couldn't hack it with the mainstream. But no longer. Triumph has introduced a more accessible version that has dropped a grand in price, and 35mm in height.

That's because of a reshaped, 1970s-style seat and new 17-inch cast alloy wheels in place of the 19-inch spoked items.

Those, and a change to the bars, impart a more compact stance that'll fit a wider range of rider size. Ride this machine back-to-back with its predecessor and it may feel a touch more agile, too. But this is not a sports bike. Like the classic that lent its name it's designed to tackle most surfaces - and tasks - in relative comfort.

At this price many brands opt for cheaper suspenders, and you notice the compromise especially if, like me, you are near the end of the average rider weight range. Yet this basic Kayaba twin-shock set-up with adjustable preload front and rear worked well, proving sufficiently compliant for most road surfaces and suiting the bike's old-style riding dynamics and tractable torque delivery.

Sound boring? Perhaps, if your idea of fun is a Saturday night police chase or a rapid trip to A & E. But the Bonnie is aimed at carving through sun-dappled countryside, taking your sweetie out for Sunday lunch, looking cool on the commute - and doing so winter or summer.

Speaking of which, and an amble via global warming to emissions regs - how does Triumph meet them with a carburetted bike? Because that's not a carb - it's clever disguise for the fuel injection fitted to this 865cc parallel twin, which uses a 360-degree firing order to suggest classic character, and balancer shafts to smooth delivery.

The soundtrack's a little too smooth though - hence the popularity of the after-market Arrow pipes fitted to our test bike, which inject a hint of hairy-chested throatiness to the inoffensive engine note.

But only a hint, for despite its almost tangible aura of creaking leather and 1950s bad-boy glamour the Bonneville is now, more than ever, an accessible bike for those happy to sacrifice outright speed for style, comfort, and a relaxing everyday ride.

Triumph Bonneville A1
We like
Classic good looks, good all-rounder with easy-handling dynamics and tractable engine; lots of available accessories

We don't like
All-rounders aren't great at anything

Powertrain
865cc air-cooled dohc parallel twin, five speed transmission, chain drive; 50kW at 7500rpm, 69Nm at 5800rpm

Performance
0-100km/h not available

Price
$12,990 plus on-road costs and optional $2595 Arrow pipes

Vital stats
2115mm long, 740mm seat height, 225kg wet weight, 16-litre fuel tank