Thornton Hundred builds a 200+bhp, 10-second Bobber…
The Triumph Bonneville Bobber debuted in 2017, featuring an adjustable solo seat, softail-style monoshock suspension, and a 1200cc liquid-cooled “high-torque” (HT) parallel twin good for 77 hp and 78 lb-ft of torque.
“The Bobber delivers a surprisingly spirited ride and great handling despite the hardtail looks and that’s a big reason why we named it Cruiser of the Year in 2017.” —Cycle World
While it’s tough to track down quarter-mile times for the Bobber — alas, the print magazines don’t seem to test as many production machines at the drag strip as they used to — we’ve heard the Bobber does 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and runs the quarter in 12.5 seconds with trap speeds of around 105 mph. Not a bad time for a production bobber, perhaps, but Jody Millhouse of the UK’s Thornton Hundred Motorcycles wanted his Bobber faster, much faster…
Jody says this bike was always meant to be his own personal ride, the one he’d turn up on at shows and rides.
“However, the bike became an obsession, and from there I’ve just been working on it day and night to make it faster, look better and more than anything, attract a crowd!”
The Bobber got the signature Thornton Hundred build treatment, and a lot more: Rotrex C15 supercharger, dry NOS injection, TTS machine cases, forged pistons, custom cam, upgraded clutch, and even got a brand-new engine after the old one blew up a week before Goodwood:
“You can imagine the blood, sweat and tears it took in that week to put a new engine in and running within 4 days! Thankfully we did and had several successful run throughs at Goodwood!”
Speaking of successful runs, the “WFB” (World’s Fastest Bobber) has run a 10.49 second E/T at 130mph without NOS (video below) — two seconds quicker than the stock machine! And Jody isn’t done yet, hoping to hit 170 mph on the bike with NOS!
What’s more, the bike shows as well as it goes. The UK’s leading custom paint and design house, Image Design Custom knocked out the incredible paintwork — a nod to the bike’s roots.
Want to see this gorgeous machine in person? Thornton Hundred is in the process of building out a new HQ, and with restrictions being eased, they’re looking forward to meeting more of their fans in person:
“Our bespoke built premises are well under way to move into at the end of the year – something much needed due to our rapid expansion. You can bet a big opening night will be happening to celebrate!”
Below, we get the full story on the “World’s Fastest Triumph Bobber,” as well as photos from Matt Kinley (@unparalleledtwin) at Caffeine & Machine, where the newly repainted WFB broke cover alongside Thornton Hundred’s first-ever demo bike!
World’s Fastest Triumph Bobber: Builder Interview
What inspired Thornton Hundred to build the World’s Fastest Triumph Bobber?
This bike was always going to be my own bike, so from the start it had to be top of the range – this was going to be the bike I turn up on to shows and ride outs. It had to grab people’s attention. However, the bike became an obsession, and from there I’ve just been working on it day and night to make it faster, look better and more than anything, attract a crowd! It’s definitely done that as the coverage of it is insane!
What are the major modifications?
The bike has the signature Thornton Hundred build, from there it has the Rotrex C15 Supercharger, dry NOS injected, TTS machined cases, forged pistons, a custom cam, updated clutch and now new engine.
The engine just so happened to blow up a week before Goodwood — you can imagine the blood, sweat and tears it took in that week to put a new engine in and running within 4 days! Thankfully we did and had several successful run throughs at Goodwood!
Who did the incredible paintwork?
Image Design Custom – they honestly smashed it.
Down to the brass tacks — how fast does it run the quarter?
10.49 seconds reaching 130mph without NOS:
Can you tell us a bit about the demo bikes concept?
The concept was for our ambassadors, we wanted to give them something very few have experienced – what it’s like to ride a Thornton Hundred Build? Our demo bike will become the forefront for our PR in terms of social media. Like the WFB, the demo bike has an outstanding paintjob that can be clearly recognisable as a TH build. This bike will be sure to turn some heads and we’re looking forward for our ambassadors to feel that adrenaline and presence the bike has when it’s rolling down the street!!
What’s next for Thornton Hundred Motorcycles?
We have so much going on really! For sure we’re going to race the WFB with NOS that will hit 170mph. We are also debuting at Supercar Driver Event at Donnington alongside Salon Prive at the start of September.
As previously mentioned, our bespoke built premises are well under way to move into at the end of the year – something much needed due to our rapid expansion. You can bet a big opening night will be happening to celebrate! Now restrictions are being eased, and we’re wanting to go to more events and meet our fans — it’s honestly such a surreal feeling people coming up to us saying they watch our Instagram/Youtube religiously. It’s a feeling I and the team are still getting used to, but again, it’s great to meet them!
Follow the Builder
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thorntonhundredmotorcycles
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thorntonhundredmotorcycles/
Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC4dBxTdEm6JVByP4aq-kq9A
LinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/company/thornton-hundred-motorcycles
Photo Credits
Matt Kinley: @unparalleledtwin | YouTube
Could they have made it any uglier? This is possibly the worst of a great many hideously ugly bikes that you gave paraded before us.
This is absolutely spectacular! I think of my former Ninja 500, a bike that supposedly ran mid 12’s at around 100mph in the 1/4 mile; imagine turning that into a 10 second machine, lol. Granted, there are lots of larger bikes that are pretty detuned, getting much more power out of them isn’t unusual. And this thing is truly a street bike, he’d easily lower his times with a drag slick, weighting the front, and so forth. In the video at 1:34 you can see how fast this thing is, he’s leaving some sportbike wheelying in 2 separate gears.
I love the looks. Love the fat front end, love the spoked wheels, and while I’ve rarely liked white tire lettering on bikes, on this thing it looks good.
Nice job. The transformation really makes this thing. Upgrading some bike that is a top-tier street machine from the beginning is meh, taking this thing and making it mean is the ticket.