+ Add a photo

Naked Motorcycles

2002Triumph Bonneville America

Rate this bike

22 fields on record

The 2002 Triumph Bonneville America is a classic air-cooled twin that appeals to riders seeking authentic retro styling with manageable performance. Its 790cc engine delivers smooth, accessible power ideal for cruising and everyday riding. Known for blending traditional British character with modern reliability, it's a favorite among enthusiasts who value heritage and approachable handling.

Capacity: 790.0 ccm
Engine: Parallel Twin
Gearbox: 5-speed
Dry weight: 226.0 kg
Seat height: 720 mm
Power: 61.0 HP (44.9 kW)

⇄ Compare with another bike ＋ Add to garage All model years ⚠ Recalls listed (1)

How it rides

Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested

Off-road & trail5%

Cornering40%

City riding55%

Daily riding55%

Touring40%

Two-up35%

Track10%

Best for: It's built for laid-back cruising and boulevard riding rather than outright speed or performance.
Built for: It has a classic, easygoing cruiser personality with a torquey air-cooled twin that rewards a relaxed throttle hand over aggressive riding.
Not ideal for: It's not for riders seeking sharp cornering agility, high-speed touring capability, or any off-road ambition.

Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.

Will it fit you?

Worked out in your browser - nothing is sent to us

Your height

Inseam (optional)

Units

At 720mm, a rider of 68.9" with a 31" (estimated) inseam will reach the ground with both feet flat on the 2002 Triumph Bonneville America, with a moderate knee angle of around 100 degrees and a forward-leaning riding position.

Assumes about 30mm of suspension sag once seated. This is an approximation from category-typical geometry, not a measurement of this bike or of you - sit on one before you buy.

More bikes at 750 mm or under — Short Kings →

Find bikes that fit your height →

Reliability & safety

Bike Reliability score, safety recalls and owner complaints

Safety recalls

⚠ 1 recall may apply

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLYJun 2004 · 04V262000

ON SOME MOTORCYCLES, UNDER CERTAIN ASSEMBLY CONDITIONS, THE ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY CABLE TO THE STARTER MOTOR MAY COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE OIL COOLER RETURN PIPE. THIS COULD CAUSE THE INSULATION ON THE STARTER CABLE TO DEGRADE.

Risk: SHOULD THE STARTER MOTOR CABLE INSULATION BECOME WORN, A 12-VOLT ELECTRICAL SHORT WOULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE OR NOT ALLOWING THE MOTORCYCLE TO START.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL EXAMINE THE CABLE FOR SIGNS OF CONTACT WITH THE OIL COOLER PIPE. THE CABLE WILL BE RE-POSITIONED. THE RECALL BEGAN NOVEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TRIUMPH AT 1-678-854-2010.

These recalls cover some 2002 bikes of this model. Whether one applies to a specific bike, and whether the repair has already been done, depends on its VIN — check your VIN with NHTSA, use gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall in the UK, or ask a dealer.

Source: NHTSA. View all Triumph recalls →

US owner complaints

2 filed for the 2002 model

What owners of the 2002 Triumph Bonneville America reported to the US safety regulator, most often:

Wheels1Brakes1

WheelsSep 2005 · 7,400 miles

Broken spokes (2) on a 2002 triumph bonneville, rear wheel left side.

BrakesOct 2003 · 2,700 miles

The 2002 bonneville, 2003 triumph america's and speedmasters experienced total failure of the rear braking system if the motorcycle was dropped or fell over. There was no visible damage to any component of the rear brake assembly. Many owners reported…

Source: NHTSA owner complaints (United States). These are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects — a handful is normal for a popular model.

Bike Reliability

How the score works →

out of 100Good

The Triumph Bonneville America passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 87.7% of the time, 4.9 points above expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 70% of models.

Bikes first registered in 2002 have 58 tests, too few for their own score, so this covers every year.

87.7%Passed first time

4.5%Failed outright

7.8%Fixed during test

9,000Typical miles

268Tests

Pass rate by miles ridden

0-10k

90.5%

10-20k

86.3%

All years of this model.

Against its rivals · ranks 3 of 6

#	Model (all years)	Score	Tests
1	BMW R 850 R	84 Excellent	6,171
2	Triumph Bonneville	73 Good	154,669
3	Triumph Bonneville America	70 Good	268
4	Aprilia SL 1000 Falco	66 Good	8,687
5	Cagiva V-Raptor 1000	52 Average	1,699
6	Cagiva Raptor 1000	46 Average	3,268

Rivals are the most-viewed bikes on MotorcycleDB in the same category and engine size, from within three years of this model.

From British annual roadworthiness tests, 2005-2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA MOT test data, Great Britain). How Bike Reliability works.