Triumph Motorcycles unveil a special model to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bonneville.

The Triumph Motorcycle Company has plenty to celebrate here in 2009: Including booming worldwide sales and the 50th anniversary of the Bonneville. The British-based manufacturer is set to top 50,000 sales in 2008. That makes Triumph the world's fastest growing motorcycle brand with sales increasing by an average of 17% per year over the past four years. A sizeable chunk of that success is due top Triumph’s cruiser and retro ranges, so Triumph intends to mark the 50th anniversary of Britain’s most famous motorcycle by turning back the clock.

Triumph unveiled the limited edition 50th Anniversary Bonneville at their dealer conference at the end of July. It’s based upon the stock T100 model, and only 650 Bonneville T100 50th Anniversary edition bikes will be produced, echoing the engine capacity of the original 1959 machine. Each will be individually numbered and identified with a brass plate on the handlebar clamp and a certificate of authenticity and signed by John Bloor.

The Triumph Anniversary Bonneville will sport a striking orange and blue color scheme (said to be based upon the Tangerine Dream design) as well as a bunch of new detail changes to the specification. This will make this Bonneville considerably more special than your typical T100. The Anniversary model will use the same chassis and fuel-injected 865cc twin engine of the Bonneville range and include a unique seat with white piping and a gold Triumph logo, special Bonneville 50th Anniversary logos on the side panels, and a chromed cam cover.

The Bonneville legend was born in 1958 when Triumph named its new sporty model to commemorate breaking the motorcycle speed record at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats. Since then, the Bonneville has become a modern classic and part of motorcycle pop-culture. The original Bonneville was the fastest bike around at that time and became synonymous with the rebellion and independence of its heyday, typified and made famous by Hollywood legends and in the movies of that time. Although the latest Bonneville shares the name and timeless looks of the original, it features a modern chassis and fuel-injected 865cc twin-cylinder engine. But, the 21st century Triumph Bonneville has lost none of its star appeal, counting screen heroes George Clooney, Nicolas Cage and Ewan McGregor among it’s a-list of celebrity owners.



2009 Triumph Bonneville T100 50th Anniversary

Key features at a glance:

* Limited run of 650 individually numbered motorcycles built to celebrate 50 years of the Triumph Bonneville

* Each bike comes with numbered handlebar clamp mounted plaque and certificate of authenticity signed by John Bloor

* Unique Meriden Blue/Exotic Orange color scheme based on 1959 original, including two-tone fenders front and rear and color-matched side panels

* Special limited edition decals on side panels

* Chromed cam cover

* Smooth 66 bhp 865cc fuel-injected, air-cooled parallel-twin engine

* White piped seat with Triumph logo printed in gold

* US MSRP $9,999.00