We all do it, think about the what if I had the dosh? What would the hanger look like?

So having been thinking about it for ages I thought I’d come up with my biker’s dozen, the top twelve bikes I’d be out looking for once when those six numbers came up.

People love their Triumphs. It’s one of those bikes. I remember visiting a two up two down terraced place in Reading to find a Bonnie had pride of place in the front room – and from the evidence of donuts on the floor boards they’d decided against carpets. Probably for the best given the oil leaks.  

Well here we are at bike number 7 on my list and at last we reach a current production bike.

Just it’s one that’s styled to look like the modern incarnation of a design that first hit the road back in 1959.

At the launch presentation for the T120 Black Triumph apparently told the assembled journalists that ‘icon’ was a much overused word – before going on to make clear that that’s exactly what the new T120 Black was.

The classic Triumph looks we all salivated over back in the day, meets modern manufacturing standards and tech (and not an oil leak in sight) – if that’s not a winning combination I don’t know what is.

And not that I ever want one, but here’s the terrific how they build the Rocket III video, an insight into the making of a modern classic.

We all do it, think about the what if I had the dosh? What would the hanger look like?

So having been thinking about it for ages I thought I’d come up with my biker’s dozen, the top twelve bikes I’d be out looking for once when those six numbers came up.

Back in the 80s there was only one muscle bike to aspire to own. The fastest accelerating production machine available to buy anywhere in the world, ladies and gents I give you Yamaha’s V-Max, shit yourself acceleration in a straight line - combined with a reputation for shit yourself-for-a-very-different-reason handling around the corners.

Not owning a rear tyre factory or living on a wide open American prairie with a no more than ninety mile straight line road to the nearest petrol station and back, despite always being a bit awe inspired I never actually got to ride or think seriously about owning one.

Mind you, having been concerned about the practicalities of handling all that power on English country lanes, all respect is due to the bloke I knew slightly when I lived in Tanzania during the early 90’s who imported a full power version. Good luck with that on a murram road is all I can say…

Two videos for this one I think. You've had the sanitised corporate story, so here's the warts and all owners’ version.