Triumph's Bonnevilles can't claim the Sportster's production run of 50-plus years, but you could argue they're damn close-the original T120 twin-carb 650 debuted in 1956 and ceased its run in 1983 with the original company's demise. The current generation Bonneville didn't come on line in its reconstituted form until 2001, but the Hickley factory has unrolled various tweaks on the platform since. There are five flavors of Bonneville in 2008:
Bonneville
The standard Bonneville bumped displacement up to 865cc last year, but the heart of it all is still the air-cooled parallel twin mill, with dual carbs, spoked wheels and a 4.4-gallon fuel tank. Other old-school bits include a 5-speed gearbox manipulating the chain drive, a 19-inch front wheel and twin shocks in the rear. The neutral riding position is the result of a tallish 30.5-inch seat height coupled with mid-mount controls and wide, slightly pulled-back handlebars. A one-piece bench saddle handles your bum.
Bonneville T100
The T100 used to be distinguished by a bigger engine, but now all Bonnies carry the same 865cc mill, so this higher-end version is a bit more posh, with bits like a tachometer, tank knee pads and other cosmetic additions. All other specs mirror those of the standard Bonneville, with the same tires, fuel tank and running gear.
Speedmaster
The Speedmaster continues the cruiserization of the Bonneville with a satin black finish on the 270-degree 865cc parallel twin, as well as a harder-edged riding position thanks to a gunslinger seat and forward-set footpegs. Upper fork shrouds pump up the style, while high risers mount the flat, drag handlebars on the slab-style top yoke. The Speedmaster gets a pair of cast wheels, with the 18-inch front supporting a 110/80 tire and the 15-inch rear wearing a 170/80. It's the sole Bonnie-based bike with twin front disc brakes.
America
The America was designed specifically for the cruiser market, with tweaks like a lower seat (2 inches less than the standard), straight-slash-cut pipes, tank-mounted instruments and forward controls. It stretches the standard Bonneville wheelbase out to 65.2 inches, increases rake to 33 degrees and adds a beefier rear brake (285mm). It also gets stubbier wheels and tires: an 18-incher up front and a 15-inch rear (as opposed to the standard's 19-inch and 17-inch hoops).
In its 50 years of existence, the longest-selling (and most affordable) Harley has donned literally dozens of guises for the Motor Company. The original 53-cubic-inch overhead valve XL Sportster begat the more muscular XLCH and the racing XLR and later spawned even more variations on the theme. For 2008, the 883 comes in three flavors, so you're pretty much assured of getting what you want.
Scrambler
Despite the retro off-road livery and semi-knobby tires, the Scrambler's more comfortable in urbane settings. This bike uses the 270-degree version of the 865cc, parallel twin-cylinder engine (the one in the Speedmaster) and riffs on the Steve McQueen-era '60s with cues like a 32.5-inch-tall seat, small headlight and single, round-faced speedometer. A single disc front brake, 4.4-gallon fuel tank and a narrow, flat bar round out the basic setup. The pair of high-level exhaust pipes is the dead giveaway.-AC