TRIUMPH: Bobber TFC

Alan Dowds brings us up to speed…

We’ll be honest: some of the limited-edition Triumphs in recent years have been a bit underwhelming. A chrome tank, some pin-stripe paint lines, and an Elvis paint job are all pleasant enough, but we generally like a bit more in a special model. Like this – the new Bobber TFC (Triumph Factory Custom). It’s based on the top-selling Bonneville Bobber modern classic with its 1200 parallel twin engine and slick roadster chassis, but with some proper tasty upgrades. Perhaps surprisingly, the mods primarily focus on the chassis, with quality suspension and braking parts. For your £17,195 (£4k over the base bike) you get some Öhlins premium road suspension front and rear, with fully adjustable 43mm Öhlins NIX 30 upside-down forks and a preload/rebound adjustable rear monoshock. High-end Brembo M50 four-piston radial mount monobloc calipers clamp on to dual 310mm discs up front, operated by a tasty MCS master cylinder.

The SOHC 8-valve liquid-cooled motor is unchanged, and makes the same 77bhp, which is a little disappointing. But you do get an Akrapovic twin-silencer exhaust system to save some mass and add a sweeter tone. There’s carbon fibre bodywork, embroidered leather seat, gold details and unique two-tone paint – and the TFC Bobber is also a hefty 14kg lighter than the stock bike, which is a neat trick.