- Seller: Mike S (Contact)
- Location: Lindstrom, Minnesota
- Mileage: 3,975 Shown
- Chassis #: DU89617
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 650cc OHV Parallel-Twin
- Transmission: 4-Speed Manual
This 1969 Triumph Bonneville comes to us from Lindstrom, Minnesota, and it’s the kind of honest, time-capsule motorcycle that doesn’t show up very often anymore. According to the seller, this Bonneville was last registered in 1981 and has been stored ever since, making it a long-term dormant example that has avoided decades of constant use, modification, or cosmetic reinvention.
Finished in Olympic Torch Orange and Silver, this Bonneville wears one of the most recognizable factory color combinations associated with late-1960s Triumphs. The bike is described as complete and retains its original 650cc engine paired with a 4-speed transmission. With just 3,975 miles showing, it presents as a low-mileage survivor that has spent the majority of its life off the road.
As expected after more than four decades in storage, the bike is currently not running. The listing does not suggest any attempts have been made to start it, which leaves the next owner with a clean slate to recommission the bike properly and methodically. For many collectors and vintage motorcycle enthusiasts, that’s actually a plus—there’s value in knowing the bike hasn’t been hastily revived or altered just to get it running for sale.
The Triumph Bonneville name carries serious weight in the vintage motorcycle world, and 1969 sits right in the heart of the model’s golden era. These bikes helped define British motorcycling, blending everyday usability with genuine performance and timeless styling. Even in non-running condition, a long-stored Bonneville like this checks a lot of boxes for collectors looking for originality and long-term potential.
This example is being offered as a Barn Finds auction with a reserve set at $1,900, which reflects its project status while still recognizing the desirability of a complete, low-mileage Bonneville with a clean title. The seller notes that it has remained in storage since its last registration, suggesting it hasn’t been bounced between owners or repeatedly resurrected over the years.
Whether the next owner chooses a careful recommissioning to preserve its survivor character or a more comprehensive mechanical refresh, this 1969 Triumph Bonneville represents a straightforward and appealing entry into classic British motorcycling. Bikes like this don’t need a lot of hype—they just need the right caretaker to bring them back to life the right way.
Oh, really now, must you? Always wanted a “Limey”, they have typically been out of my price range, but seems lately, prices have come down, why? Nobody wants one, that’s why. The T120(?) Bonneville as mentioned, was Triumphs most popular model. Sold almost 22,000 in 1967 in the US alone. 5 speed was a couple years off, and this bike incorporates everything a Triumph holds dear. I read, these typically cost about $1500 new, $300 less than a Sporty, but couldn’t match the $1400 Honda 750. Some famous people rode Triumphs, most significantly, Evel Knievel rode a T120 Bonneville on his fateful Caesars Palace crash. He transitioned to Harley, but still did jumps on the Triumph. This is a super find, I’m too old to be riding motorcycles anymore, but Triumph was one of the best. It was the only brand H-D riders would allow to ride with them.
I had a 1968 Bonneville which was substantially identical to this one except for the color. This bike has been slightly modified in spite of the low mileage. The handle bars should be much lower and further forward and the gas tank should have rubber knee pads where the “dimples” are. These were typically not reinstalled after a tank was repainted as the originals were glued on and were hard to remove without destroying them.