Triumph Bonneville Bobber (2016-2020, including Black) Maintenance Schedule
This is the maintenance schedule with associated service intervals for the Triumph Bonneville Bobber motorcycles, first released in 2016, and continuing through 2020.
Over the years, the Bonneville Bobber has evolved slightly, but not dramatically in a way that affects the maintenance. The maintenance for the Bonneville Bobber Black is identical — it’s just blacked out (and from 2021 only the Black is available, anyway), although the brakes are different.
The Bonneville Bobber is powered by a 1200cc liquid-cooled 8-valve 270-degree parallel twin that makes 57 kW (76 hp) @ 6,100 rpm, and a stomping 106 Nm (144 ft-lb) @ 4,000 rpm. It drives its wheels through a six-speed gearbox and (unusually for a cruiser, but common for a Triumph cruiser) a final drive chain.
The maintenance for the Triumph Bonneville Bobber is very similar to other motorcycles with the 1200cc “High Torque” engine, even when they’re in a different state of tune, like in the Triumph Speed Twin.
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Triumph Bonneville Bobber Service Intervals
Overall, the Triumph Bonneville Bobber has 10000 mile / 16000 km or annual service intervals. At every service, change the oil and filter, and look through the service schedule to see what else needs to be checked.
You should also change the air filter every service, per Triumph.
Every 20000 miles / 32000 km, change the spark plugs and check the valve clearances, as well as checking the camshaft timing.
Make sure you attend to the chain drive of the Bonneville Bobber, checking its condition and slack, as well as cleanliness and lubrication.
Change the coolant and the brake fluid regularly, and make sure the controls are lubricated and smooth.
What you need to service the Triumph Bonneville Bobber & Bobber Black
If you’re servicing your Triumph Bonneville Bobber or Bobber Black, you need the below parts/consumables.
Most of them are common with the rest of the 1200cc High Torque range, but some are different (like the brake pads).
| Triumph | Part spec (Triumph Bonneville Bobber and Bobber Black) |
|---|---|
| Oil | Triumph recommends 10W/40 or 10W/50 semi or fully synthetic motorcycle engine oil that meets specification API SH (or higher) and JASO MA, such as Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 (fully synthetic) engine oil, sold as Castrol Power RS Racing 4T 10W-40 (fully synthetic) in some countries. |
| Oil filter | Replace the oil filter every time you change the oil. Use Triumph part number T1218001. You can also use HifloFiltro’s HF204RC (better than K&N these days). |
| Brake fluid | Triumph Bonneville Bobber motorcycles need DOT 4 brake fluid (they have a clutch cable, so you don’t need fluid for the clutch). Use Castrol DOT 4. |
| Coolant | Triumph uses Hybrid Organic Acid Technology coolant with a 50% ethylene glycol mix. Peak OET European Vehicles Blue is a good candidate for replacing this HOAT coolant. |
| Front brake pads | A popular upgrade is EBC brake pads for better bite, less fade, and longer life. The part codes are: – Triumph Bonneville Bobber 1200: FA142HH – Triumph Bonneville Bobber Black: FA181HH (Brembo brakes up front) |
| Rear brake pads | Use FA140HH for the rear pads on the Bobber or Bobber Black (same rear brake) |
| Spark plugs | NGK code LMAR8A-9. Note they’re sold individually. Make sure they’re gapped to 0.9mm with an appropriate spark plug gap tool. |
| Air filter | The Bonneville Bobber has two air filters, on the left and right. Part numbers are T2206530 and T2206531. A popular customisation is the K&N universal clamp-on filter (removing the airbox) |
| Cable maintenance | Protect All Cable Life is a good-quality cable maintenance product. You can also use engine oil (but it’s a bit messy) |
| Chain maintenance | A good kit to have on hand is the Motul chain care kit — including lubricant, cleaners, a brush, and so on. |
Maintenance Schedule for the Triumph Bonneville Bobber
The maintenance schedule for the Triumph Bonneville Bobber includes items you should do every day, like inspecting for damage or adjusting chain tension.
These should be done along with the regular maintenance schedule.
Triumph Bonneville Bobber — Everyday / Pre-ride maintenance
Below is the maintenance you should do on your Bonneville Bobber every day (or as often as you ride).
| Triumph Bonneville Bobber — Daily maintenance |
|---|
| Engine – check for leaks |
| Coolant level – check/adjust |
| Clutch cable – check function and adjust as necessary |
| Wheels – inspect for damage |
| Tyre wear/tyre damage – check |
| Tyre pressures – check/adjust |
| Steering – check for free operation |
| Front and rear suspension – check for damage/ leaks/ smooth operation |
| Brake pads – check wear levels |
| Brake fluid levels – check |
| Drive chain slack – check/adjust |
| Drive chain rubbing strips – check for wear, cracks or damage |
| All lights, instruments and electrical systems – check/adjust |
| Bank angle indicators – check for wear |
| Fasteners – inspect visually for security |
You also need to maintain the chain regularly, sometimes even during a ride according to Triumph.
| Chain maintenance | Every |
|---|---|
| Drive chain – wear check | 500 miles (800 km) |
| Drive chain – lubricate | 200 miles (300 km) |
Triumph Bonneville Bobber — Maintenance schedule
This is the full maintenance schedule for the Triumph Bonneville Bobber.
Notes:
- There are two kinds of service interval for the Triumph Bonneville Bobber: every a) distance or b) time period. In each case, it’s the earlier of the two that’s most important.
- Since the Bobber is no longer sold new in this generation (the 2021 Triumph Bonneville Bobber has some upgraded bits), the break-in schedule is omitted here.
- Items marked [T] need specialist Triumph tools (e.g. to connect to the motorcycle’s computer)
| mi x 1000 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km x 1000 | 16 | 32 | 48 | 64 | Every |
| Engine oil – replace (Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T 10W-40) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Engine oil filter – replace (HF204RC) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Air cleaner – replace (T2206530 and T2206531) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| Fuel filter – replace | ✓ | ✓ | – | ||
| Spark plugs – check | ✓ | ✓ | – | ||
| Spark plugs – replace (LMAR8A-9) | ✓ | ✓ | – | ||
| Fuel system – check for leaks | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| Fuel system – check fuel hoses for chafing, cracks or damage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| Throttle body plate (butterfly) – check/clean | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| Throttle bodies – balance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| Fuel hoses – replace | 4 years | ||||
| Evaporative hoses – replace (if equipped) | 4 years | ||||
| Cooling system – check for leaks | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Cooling system – check coolant hoses for chafing, cracks, or damage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| Coolant – replace (Peak OET European Vehicles Blue) | 3 years | ||||
| Valve clearances – check/adjust | ✓ | ✓ | – | ||
| Camshaft timing | ✓ | ✓ | – | ||
| Wheel bearings – check for wear/smooth operation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Fork oil – replace | ✓ | – | |||
| Steering head bearings – check/adjust | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Steering head bearings – lubricate | ✓ | ✓ | – | ||
| Rear suspension unit linkage – lubricate | ✓ | ✓ | – | ||
| Brake master cylinders – check for fluid leaks | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Brake calipers – check for fluid leaks and seized pistons | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Brake fluid – replace (Castrol DOT 4) | 2 years | ||||
| Center and/or side stand – check for wear/ smooth operation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Center stand flanged sleeves (if equipped) – clean/grease | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Side stand pivot pin – clean/grease | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| [T] Autoscan – Carry out a full Autoscan using the Triumph Diagnostic Tool | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| [T] Instruments, chassis ECM (if equipped) and engine ECM – check for latest calibration download using the Triumph diagnostic tool | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| [T] ABS and immobiliser ECMs – check for stored DTCs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| [T] Carry out all outstanding Service Bulletin and warranty work | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Carry out road test | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| [T] Complete the service record book and reset the service indicator (if equipped) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
About the Triumph Bonneville Bobber
The Triumph Bonneville Bobber and Bobber Black is a “factory custom” (if that makes sense to you) from Triumph. They rebuilt their 1200cc “High Torque” platform in a motorcycle that’s part cruiser, part standard… the single-seated bobber.
At its core, the Triumph Bonneville Bobber has the same engine block as other motorcycles in the 1200 line, like the Triumph Bonneville T120.
But the Bonneville Bobber is a more relaxed motorcycle. The riding position is even more relaxed, and the engine is suitably tuned — with an even more torque forward engine.
The original Bonneville Bobber makes a peak of 57.4 kW or 77 hp at 6550 rpm, with peak torque of 105 Nm or 77.4 lb-ft at 3100 rpm. It’s tuned like a cruiser — plenty of grunt off the line, but not designed to rev up high.
The Bobber also oozes style, with beautiful brushed stainless steel exhaust with twin skin slash-cut peashooter silencers. The Bonneville Bobber has many premium touches including a special bronze Bonneville 1200HT engine badge, premium-looking tank badges, and the signature Triumph makers mark triangle.
The Bonneville Bobber is fitted with Avon Cobra tyres that have been developed specifically for the bike – 19 x 2.5in on the front and a wider 16 x 3.5in on the rear. for improved high-speed manoeuvrability with class leading stability.
The Triumph Bonneville Bobber Black has a few tweaks from the original Bobber. It’s not just painted black! The differences are:
| Part | Bobber | Bobber Black |
|---|---|---|
| Front wheel size | 100/90-19 | 130/90-16 |
| Front brake | Single 310mm disc, two-piston Nissin caliper | Twin 310mm discs, two-piston Brembo calipers |
| Front suspension | 41mm Kayaba | 47mm Showa |
| Ride electronics | ABS, TC | ABC, TC, Cruise |
| Features | Standard lights | LED headlight and running lights |
| Style | Chrome finish | Blacked out engine |
The Bobber Black outsold the standard Bobber by such a large margin that Triumph only sells one Bobber now, and it’s the Black one.
Manual for the Triumph Bonneville Bobber
The above maintenance schedule comes directly from the user’s manual for the Triumph Bonneville Bobber, which is available on the Triumph website.
