Bonneville T40 at EICMA 2026: the single-cylinder Bonnie up close

On 3 November I went to the show, and one of the bikes I was most looking forward to was the Bonneville T40. Triumph showed the Bonneville T40 at EICMA in two versions: the T40 in Meriden Blue and Tangerine Orange and the T40 Black. It's the first Bonneville with a single cylinder, the 398cc unit from the 400 family, and it's A2 licence-friendly. Here's what I saw and what I make of it, before riding it.

First impressions

The bike looks very good. The colour schemes are intriguing, and the Black, all matt grey and black with a brown seat, is the one that struck me most. On the standard T40 the two-tone tank with its hand-painted coach line says period Bonneville straight away.

From a few metres away you can't tell it from its bigger sisters. Teardrop tank, round headlight, spoked wheels, twin shocks: it's all there. Get closer and the differences show. The engine has a single cylinder, there's one exhaust rather than two, and a single disc up front.

In the saddle, but on blocks

I sat on it, with the bike on its stand and the wheels blocked, as is usual at shows. Under those conditions you can only judge the riding position, and my impression is that it's very relaxed: upright back, bars that fall easily to hand, legs not cramped. The seat is 790mm high, and there's a lower version at 770mm.

Weight, engine, brakes and suspension, of course, are still to be discovered on the road.

Next to my Bonneville SE

It's natural to compare it with my own 2011 Bonneville SE. There are similarities, and they're the ones that matter for style: the riding position and the shape of the tank are very close.

The rest is another world. My SE has 17-inch wheels front and rear, while the T40 has an 18 at the front. Instruments and lights are completely different: the T40 has a round colour TFT with smartphone connectivity and navigation, and all-LED lighting. And of course, instead of my bike's 865cc twin there's a 32 PS single.

On paper the T40 weighs 191kg ready to ride, around thirty less than mine. In traffic and in slow manoeuvres that could be a real advantage, but I'll say so once I've ridden it.

What I expect from the test ride

From the brakes I expect what this segment usually offers: safe, balanced stopping. I have a small reservation about the suspension, which I'll judge after the test ride. The dash is simple but has everything you need, including five standard riding modes and cruise control.

The real unknown is the engine. The Bonneville has always been a twin, and only a road test will tell me whether the single can give it the character you expect from that name. For the full specs, riding modes and equipment I've put together the Bonneville T40 page.

The price should be around €6,500-7,000, but I have no confirmation: for that we'll have to wait for the official price list, which Triumph will announce in early 2027. It reaches dealers in spring.

The Triumph stand and my slightly dark photos

The Triumph stand relied on low, moody lighting. It looks great in person, but photographing it, at least for a boomer like me, is another story, and the slightly dark photos prove it.

I'd have liked more details on the bikes on show, but the staff were besieged by the press, and perhaps I met someone tired rather than unprepared. Stand staff run non-stop from the morning and still have the chaos of the public opening ahead of them: my thanks to them. A suggestion from an enthusiast: with a little more light on the bikes and a spec sheet to hand, the visit would have been perfect.

The Bonneville T40 at EICMA: waiting for the test ride

Without a road test I can't give a complete verdict. Seen up close, though, the Bonneville T40 at EICMA left me pleasantly impressed: it's a true Bonnie in looks, carefully detailed and with modern equipment. As soon as I manage to ride it I'll tell you how it went, as I did with my Tracker 400 test ride. And if you saw it at the show too, write and tell me what you thought.