We’re all familiar with the connection between celebs like Steve McQueen and Keanu Reeves and their beloved Triumphs, but now we’re hearing that Elvis, too, was keen on Bonnevilles. You heard that right; despite the many photos of the King astride Harleys—from the sporty KH early on to his preference for beefier FLHs later in life—apparently Elvis and his Memphis Mafia crew were fans of Triumph 650s back in the day. Now the Brit brand is looking to solidify that link further with the release of the new T120 Elvis Presley edition, a modern T120-based bike that combines current features with a detailed Elvis-forward design scheme. The bike will be an exclusive numbered limited edition, with only 925 available worldwide.
To the uninitiated, the story goes something like this: Sometime back in 1965, Elvis and company were unwinding at his Bel Air home in Los Angeles after a film shoot, when Mafia member Jerry Schilling rode in on a new T120 650 Bonneville he’d just ordered from a local dealer. Intrigued, bike-crazy Elvis asked if he could take it for a spin around the neighborhood and was so impressed, he instructed his transportation manager to “order one for all the guys” so that they could ride together.
The dealership managed to deliver nine machines shortly thereafter, and Elvis and his posse made the most of their downtime from filming riding the Pacific Coast Highway on Sundays. The motorcycles’ purchase was confirmed by the discovery of the original checks for the bikes signed by the King and further corroborated by Schilling himself.
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While a lot of other details are still sketchy—none of the bikes have formal records after the summer of ‘65—it’s believed that they were likely 1964 models of Triumph’s game-changing 650 TR6 and 650 Bonneville T120—essentially the same machine with one or two carburetors and different states of tune. The ‘64 Bonneville came in Gold and Alaskan White colors, and the TR6 was done up in the distinctive “Hifi Scarlet and Silver Sheen” with gold pinstriping with a black frame and fork. The 1964 US-spec Bonnie, with its higher bars, is now considered to be a desirable classic.
As there’s no clue to the whereabouts of the original machines, Triumph is on the hunt to track them down, with several leads already adding to the file of evidence. Customers with any information relating to the lost bikes are asked to contact elvistriumph@triumphmotorcycles.com.
At its core, the new special-edition Elvis Bonneville is a 2025 model-year bike based on the current-generation T120, but piles on a trove of Presley-related touches, with details like Hollywood-style “Elvis” gold lettering (representing movie set lights, according to Triumph) and a re-creation of Presley’s signature on the tank and side panels. Die-hard fans will recognize the subtler cues, including a discreet “Taking Care of Business in a Flash” emblem on the front fender—Elvis’ personal mantra and the design worn on necklaces presented to each of his Memphis Mafia.
The 2025 T120 Elvis bike’s Carnival Red color scheme is said to be inspired by last year’s J Daar custom Bonneville (created to raise money for the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation), while tank stripes in Aluminum Silver complement the striped fenders, which are further accentuated by hand-painted gold line detailing. A deep chrome finish on components like the sweeping headers and classic peashooter mufflers add yet another layer of pop to the limited-edition model.
As with all Bonneville T120s, the Elvis Presley Limited Edition features twin dial instruments, with an analog speedometer, tachometer, and integrated multifunction LCD screen, but this model also sports a special numbered handlebar clamp with laser-etched Elvis Presley signature. Returning classic details such as the three-bar tank badge and machined engine fins stay faithful to the iconic 1959 model.
Limited to 925 units worldwide, the Elvis bikes will be presented along with a Sony gold disc, in an exclusive Elvis Presley and Triumph Motorcycles record sleeve, encasing a bespoke certificate of authenticity, signed by Triumph’s CEO Nick Bloor and Jamie Salter, founder, chairman and CEO of ABG, Elvis Presley Enterprises.
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