Photos: Triumph
With the beautiful Special Edition of the Bonneville T120, TRIUMPH commemorates Elvis Presley and the legendary Bonneville bikes of his "Memphis Mafia". It combines style, performance and modern equipment with a strong design inspired by the King's great "Comeback Special" from 1968.
The tank is adorned not only with Presley's signature, but also with golden Elvis lettering, which is based on the stage installation of the television appearance, which is made up of spotlights. Another loving detail is the lightning bolt logo with the letters TCB on the front fender. Fans know: TCB stands for "Taking Care of Business" - a motto with which the King described his work ethic. The lightning bolt logo and letters were also found on pendants of necklaces that Elvis gave to each member of his "Memphis Mafia".
The rich Carnival Red comes from a custom Bonneville designed by J Daar in 2023 for the benefit of the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation. With the Bonneville T120 TT from the comedy western "Stay Away Joe" and the Bonnevilles, which Elvis gave away to his "Memphis Mafia" in 1965, the new Special Edition also combines the well-known and popular Bonneville DNA, the classic silhouette and the unmistakable shape of the tank. The tank strips in aluminum silver are the perfect complement to the mudguards with hand-painted gold lines. Additional shine is provided by the high-quality chrome finish of selected parts, including the curved twin-pipe exhaust with tapered "Peashooter"-style silencers.
Thanks to this strong "team-up" between the King of Rock'n'Roll and TRIUMPH, motorcycle and music fans will have the opportunity to call a very special piece their own that celebrates these two legends. Limited to 925 units worldwide, the motorcycles feature a specially numbered handlebar clamp with laser-engraved Elvis Presley signature. Each copy comes with a Sony gold record in an exclusive record sleeve from Elvis Presley and Triumph Motorcycles, as well as a certificate of authenticity signed by TRIUMPH CEO Nick Bloor and Jamie Salter. Salter is the founder, chairman and CEO of ABG, Elvis Presley Enterprises.
"Customer feedback on J Daar's custom Bonneville, which raised so much money for charity earlier this year, has been incredible," said Paul Stroud, Chief Commercial Officer of TRIUMPH. "The same goes for the reactions to our search for the original Bonnevilles of the 'Memphis Mafia', where we took an interesting look into the past. Given this great interest in the shared history of Elvis and Triumph, we are confident that our customers will be very interested in our tribute to the best-selling solo artist in history when the bike arrives at dealerships in August."
The Bonnevilles of the Memphis Mafia
The first time Elvis encountered TRIUMPH motorcycles was in 1965 when he took a break from filming and spent time with his closest friends, the so-called "Memphis Mafia", at his home in Bel Air. His friend Jerry Schilling had bought a new TRIUMPH T120 Bonneville, which kidnapped Elvis for a trip through the neighborhood. Elvis was so impressed that when he returned, he asked his transport manager Alan Fortis to "order one for all the boys by tonight!". Motorcycle dealer Bill Robertson & Sons managed to deliver seven TRIUMPHs that night – two more soon followed – and Elvis rode through Bel Air with his friends until late in the evening. They only stopped when neighbors called the police and complained.
It is precisely these legendary Bonnevilles that TRIUMPH is currently looking for and has already received several clues. For example, a customer who was once the proud owner of Jerry Schilling's Bonneville and still has the vehicle papers to prove this has come forward. Unfortunately, she sold the bike – which was painted pink at the time – years ago. However, since the identification number of the motorcycle is known, the search can continue.
If anyone has information on the whereabouts of the "Memphis Mafia" Bonnevilles, please feel free to contact elvistriumph@triumphmotorcycles.com with the details by e-mail.
It was this story of the "Memphis Mafia" Bonnevilles that inspired J Daar to create his unique "Elvis Presley" custom Bonneville, which sold for $20,000 at Bonhams Cars' Amelia Island auction earlier this year, along with a matching Gibson Les Paul guitar. The proceeds went to the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation, which continues the King's generosity as his legacy by supporting numerous charitable causes.
Authentic "Modern Classic" design
The Bonneville T120 Elvis Presley Limited Edition features dual analogue instruments with an integrated multifunction LCD display that is easy to read in all lighting conditions. Details such as the classic tank badge and machine-milled engine ribs remain true to the 1959 Bonneville.
High-torque performance
Combining modern power and efficiency with timeless character, the 1200cc parallel twin delivers powerful, torquey power with the unmistakable sound of a British twin and the signature 270° ignition interval. The T120 is tuned to deliver high torque from the low to mid-range and features strong performance. The 1200 twin engine delivers its maximum torque of 105 Nm at 3500 rpm. It reaches its peak power of 80 hp at 6,550 rpm. Thanks to the sophisticated liquid cooling system, the engine exceeds EURO 5 requirements and works very economically.
Outstanding handling
The T120 is known for its agile, predictable handling, cleanly tuned chassis and relaxed seating position. It has a low seat height of only 790 mm and has a double seat that offers maximum comfort even on long journeys. The latest generation ABS with floating two-piston Brembo calipers at the front and 310 mm discs ensures excellent responsiveness and braking performance. Maximum safety and control is also ensured by the traction control that can be switched off.
Cutting-edge technology as standard
To make the T120 even more user-friendly, you can choose between "Rain" and "Road" riding modes to adapt the bike's handling to the conditions. Other modern features include LED lights, a USB-A charging socket under the seat and an immobilizer.
The new T120 Elvis Presley Limited Edition is available at prices of 16,145 euros.
The motorcycle will arrive at dealerships in August 2024. As with all current TRIUMPH models, long service intervals of 16,000 km are included, as well as a full 4-year manufacturer's warranty with no mileage limit and a 2-year mobility warranty.
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