This Is The Fastest Cruiser Motorcycle Under 1000cc

Jul 09, 2023

The Triumph T100 Bonneville is the fastest cruiser bike under 1000 cc, topping out at just under 130 mph and offering classic British looks.

Cruiser motorcycles have been around for decades, and are one of the most popular segments of motorcycle. It's easy to see why, with a relaxed riding style and wide handlebars making them perfect for short journeys, such as the commute to work or trips to a local store. Sitting under the magic 1000 cc mark are some truly great bikes, the fastest of all being the Triumph T100 Bonneville, with a top speed just below 130 mph.

Triumph Motorcycles has made the T100 for over two decades now. With the first one appearing in 2002 and the engines have gained in size from 790 cc, to 865 cc and now to the 900 cc of the current model. Triumph has created one of the most satisfying cruiser bikes in the world to ride.

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The current T100 Bonneville has been on the market since 2017, and in the frame is a water-cooled parallel twin motor of 900 cc. While it still thumps like a traditional air-cooled motor, the T100's engine is much smoother than on the previous edition of the Bonneville, while delivering a good amount of poke. The engine produces 64.1 hp, and 59 lb-ft of torque which is in the sweet spot for a cruiser bike. The power maxes out at 7,500 rpm while its torque comes on at 3,750 rpm, with an impressive level of grunt from the 2,000 rpm mark. It revs higher than its larger cousin, the T120, offering up more noise at the lower end of the rev range. The T100 is exceptionally fast, with an impressive top speed of 128 mph making it a class leader.

Traction control was a big addition to the bike in 2017, as was the change from the 360-degree crank to the 270-degree crank. In terms of the reliability, few seem able to match the T100. Websites have reported excellent ratings on this front via owner reviews. Many riders praising how the engine pulls at the lower speeds, while overall the T100 looks to have forged a fantastic reputation for reliability. Its won fans in the build quality stakes as well. With its tubular steel twin-cradle frame strong and sturdy while the bike is exceptionally well put together. That chassis also supports the engine as well, versus the conventional stressed, in which the engine is a structural part of the chassis.

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The British-inspired design might be a little less appealing in the United States. Bigger and brawnier bikes are more favored, in a class of bike similar to those from the United States in the 1930s. However, the T100 is still a superb looking machine with iconic Triumph design touches. Its classic inspired styling is partially down to the fact the bike is sold in the "Modern Classics" range of Triumph. What makes the finish so impressive is the hand-painted lining on the tank, a superb touch to this very impressive bike.

While the styling is impeccable, one or two things let the T100 down. There are no dual front disc brakes, the Triumph only getting a single front disc and two-piston sliding caliper. Although ABS does make life a bit easier. The T100 also only has the bare essentials when it comes to electronics, but you do get a USB slot hidden underneath the seat, so you can charge your phone. Extensive mod-cons though are not necessary though on a bike best suited for shorter journeys. Heated grips and cruise control are nice optional extras to have available. The finishing touches are the analogue style instruments, which also features a multi-functional digital display.

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Thanks to the various changes to the engine, the T100 now revs 500 rpm higher than the previous generation of the bike. Triumph was also able to squeeze more power from the T100, with the last generation producing 55 hp. Triumph was also able to make the engine in the bike lighter. This thanks to a low inertia crankshaft, lighter balance shafts and a thinner-walled clutch cover. A magnesium camshaft cover completed the weight reduction, with the bike itself weighing 503 lbs, compared to 507 lbs over the 2016 T100. The chassis itself was also lightened over the previous model, while Triumph worked hard to upgrade the suspension.

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Even if it is the fastest bike in its segment, the T100 does have some big rivals. One of those is the Kawasaki Vulcan S, a 116 mph bike with a 649 cc engine, 60 hp and 46.3 lb-fot of torque. That is still a great top speed, and its quirky looks certainly set it apart from many rivals. The Vulcan S though is a very affordable bike, costing less than $8,000 whereas the Triumph T100 Bonneville is much more expensive, starting at $10,795. That price difference could sway people towards the Kawasaki.

Naturally, Harley-Davidson will be a big rival to the T100. The 107 mph Nightster is one such bike, with its powerful 975 cc engine with 90 hp and 70 lb-ft of torque. Its wet weight, how heavy the bike is with its fluid sin it, is 481 lbs, which is lighter than the wet weight of the T100. Its lower top speed despite all that extra power does hurt the Harley somewhat, but it's a strong rival to the T100 in the segment. Its higher price tag of $13,499 is a significant jump over the T100.

A little closer to home and the T100 and Harley have another rival. Now Indian owned, Royal Enfield launched the Super Meteor 650 in 2023, a spinoff model in its range of 650 twins. Using the 648 cc parallel twin platform, the bike is inspired by its 60-year-old British roots, with that extending to the styling of the Meteor. The engine ‘only’ produces 46.3 hp and 38.5 lb-ft of torque. Yet that modest power is enough to propel the Meteor to a top speed of 106 mph. The tamer power levels make the Royal Enfield a sensible offering for those looking to buy their first motorcycle. Pricing for the Enfield starts at $8,400, putting it right in the mix with the T100, although Royal Enfield has yet to confirm plans for the bike in North America.

The T100 is an impressive bike, and one that has quite the esteemed history. The Bonneville has been a part of the Triumph range ever since 1959, with the first bike being the T120 built between 1959 and 1974. The T120 joined by the T140 Bonneville in 1974, with a few continuation models of these bikes carrying on until 1988. It wouldn't be until 2001 when Triumph would launch another Bonneville, this being the Bonneville 790 cc, the first new bike in the range for 15 years.

The T100 was initially launched as the uprated version of that bike, taking its name from those very same T100 models produced by Triumph from 1959 onwards. The bike has a lot to offer thanks to its punchy engine and lightweight chassis, while it's styling perfectly recreates those original T100 bikes.

Sources: Triumph, Kawasaki, Royal Enfield, Harley-Davidson

Covering anything from JDM cars to classic jets. Contributed to HotCars since the Autumn of 2018.