My Thoughts On Owning 2020 T120 For Two Weeks.

StephenZ · Jun 12, 2025

So, two weeks ago, I picked up a 2020 T120 in mint condition for a great deal. 250 miles, not even broken in. I has twin brother exhausts installed everything else stock.

I took it home and kept riding, love the look and weighty feel of the bike, blast to ride around corners. It almost felt like glued to the road when I lean which I really like than lighter bikes.

But as soon as I got comfortable with the bike after 400 miles, I noticed something a bit strange.

Usually, after I get used to a bike I can be very smooth in clutch control in low gears, I come from sport bike background so I am good at that minimum throttle and fine control to not jerk me off the bike.

But immediately with my t120, I have noticed two things that made this actually harder to ride than my GSXR 750 at low speed.

1. throttle lag < 2000 rpm. I noticed it when I rev it in neutral, it's as if there is a delay when the rpm is below 2K rpm and the needle moved up after a second. But after 2000rpm the throttle response is instant, and the exhaust sound reflects that.

2. Jerky throttle when on /off in 1/2 gear.
I didn't pay attention to this first few rides. But soon in traffic I noticed there is a strong forward pull roughly a few instant after I roll just a very tiny amount of throttle. And a very sudden drag when I roll off a tiny amount of throttle. It's been very distracting to the riding experience as I am being forcefully pulled and pushed with absolutely no way of controlling it even with slipping the clutch, as it's a very strong "on" "off" kind of deal. I initially suspected this to be just abrupt fuel cut off, as the ninja I rode did this too, but it's not exactly that as I can hear that when I roll the tiny amount of throttle the engine is immediately revving up, but the pull comes after like a delay and it's always a set amount even with minimum throttle. This becomes less of an issue in higher gear

3. hard to start from a stop without lugging the engine. Maybe this is just a 550lbs bike thing, but I noticed if I gave a steady throttle to 2000 rpm or so and slowly release the clutch the rpm will keep dropping almost to 1000 rpm without the clutch engaging completely, so I usually have to roll on more throttle just to not stall it. Once the clutch is fully engaged however all is well. But this is quite strange to me as if the Ecu is deciding to give the bike less gas even with the same throttle opening. On my other bike, the rpm will drop a bit but with the same throttle position it will return to that same rpm after slipping the clutch so I can safely fully engage the clutch. With the t120 I almost cant be 100% sure what amount of throttle is enough for each different starting scenario as I have to constantly roll the throttle more just to keep the rpm not dropping too low.

Overall, these are the only things I dont like about the bike, this is my first ride by wire bike however so I am also not sure if this just what it is.

joe mc donald · Jun 12, 2025

StephenZ said: ↑

So, two weeks ago, I picked up a 2020 T120 in mint condition for a great deal. 250 miles, not even broken in. I has twin brother exhausts installed everything else stock.

I took it home and kept riding, love the look and weighty feel of the bike, blast to ride around corners. It almost felt like glued to the road when I lean which I really like than lighter bikes.

But as soon as I got comfortable with the bike after 400 miles, I noticed something a bit strange.

Usually, after I get used to a bike I can be very smooth in clutch control in low gears, I come from sport bike background so I am good at that minimum throttle and fine control to not jerk me off the bike.

But immediately with my t120, I have noticed two things that made this actually harder to ride than my GSXR 750 at low speed.

1. throttle lag < 2000 rpm. I noticed it when I rev it in neutral, it's as if there is a delay when the rpm is below 2K rpm and the needle moved up after a second. But after 2000rpm the throttle response is instant, and the exhaust sound reflects that.

2. Jerky throttle when on /off in 1/2 gear.
I didn't pay attention to this first few rides. But soon in traffic I noticed there is a strong forward pull roughly a few instant after I roll just a very tiny amount of throttle. And a very sudden drag when I roll off a tiny amount of throttle. It's been very distracting to the riding experience as I am being forcefully pulled and pushed with absolutely no way of controlling it even with slipping the clutch, as it's a very strong "on" "off" kind of deal. I initially suspected this to be just abrupt fuel cut off, as the ninja I rode did this too, but it's not exactly that as I can hear that when I roll the tiny amount of throttle the engine is immediately revving up, but the pull comes after like a delay and it's always a set amount even with minimum throttle. This becomes less of an issue in higher gear

3. hard to start from a stop without lugging the engine. Maybe this is just a 550lbs bike thing, but I noticed if I gave a steady throttle to 2000 rpm or so and slowly release the clutch the rpm will keep dropping almost to 1000 rpm without the clutch engaging completely, so I usually have to roll on more throttle just to not stall it. Once the clutch is fully engaged however all is well. But this is quite strange to me as if the Ecu is deciding to give the bike less gas even with the same throttle opening. On my other bike, the rpm will drop a bit but with the same throttle position it will return to that same rpm after slipping the clutch so I can safely fully engage the clutch. With the t120 I almost cant be 100% sure what amount of throttle is enough for each different starting scenario as I have to constantly roll the throttle more just to keep the rpm not dropping too low.

Overall, these are the only things I dont like about the bike, this is my first ride by wire bike however so I am also not sure if this just what it is.
Click to expand...

@StephenZ You need to get some more miles on the bike to free up the engine. And then get it remapped to how you want it.

Jamesian21 · Jun 12, 2025

Pulling away from a hard stop is just bike familiarity. The snatchy throttle and dead spot in 1st and 2nd gear in that low RPM range is an unfortunate quirk in these bikes, rain mode helps but who only wants some of the power all of the time?! There are options:

Free
1) you will have to ride your clutch a tad through that spot, it's not difficult and it's very minimal, but will take some time to get used to.

$
2) Booster Plug solves both issues. smooth rev range and no dead spot

$$$
3) Remap. Too expensive (IMO) to solve this issue, considering the above alternatives are either free or relatively cheap. However, if you start adding some performance modifications that would ultimately help justify a remap, it is very very worth it, speaking from experience.

Plezier · Jun 13, 2025

What I am failing to understand about modern bikes is why are they so damned heavy?

Have always fancied a Harley and really like the Sportsters and the original Sturgis 1340 BUT ................. even the Sporster is damned heavy and watching a video on which is the best of the sportsters according to this one chap was the pre 94 evo as they changed things in late 93 and added a shit load of weight to them why????????????????

Truimphs were alway know as lean bikes it was in their build and in their styling just go and look at the pre 1985 bikes from Meriden and the 1960's and 70's bikes. The 1979 T140E weighed according to the factory figures 395lbs dry and 424lbs wet that's only 193kg and if you junked the silly extra long emmission control mufflers that weighed half a ton and fitted some 50's/60's patter resonator mufflers you reduced the weight by over 20lbs (10kg) and yes I did just that to mine lifted the carb needle one notch and went up +15 or was it 20 on the main jets did wonders for the fuel consumption on a tour of the west country (Devon & Cornwall) she returned over 70mpg that's on Imperial Gallons of course.

My T300 Trophy according to the handbook weighs 220kg dry that's 485lbs .............. ok it has an extra cylinder and of course the added weight of coolant and the associated gubbings and of course an electric starter and those are not exactly light. Mind you the Locheed hard chromed iron discs and steel calipers were not exactly light on th T140!

Plezier

Plezier · Jun 13, 2025

StephenZ said: ↑

So, two weeks ago, I picked up a 2020 T120 in mint condition for a great deal. 250 miles, not even broken in. I has twin brother exhausts installed everything else stock.

I took it home and kept riding, love the look and weighty feel of the bike, blast to ride around corners. It almost felt like glued to the road when I lean which I really like than lighter bikes.

But as soon as I got comfortable with the bike after 400 miles, I noticed something a bit strange.

Usually, after I get used to a bike I can be very smooth in clutch control in low gears, I come from sport bike background so I am good at that minimum throttle and fine control to not jerk me off the bike.

But immediately with my t120, I have noticed two things that made this actually harder to ride than my GSXR 750 at low speed.

1. throttle lag < 2000 rpm. I noticed it when I rev it in neutral, it's as if there is a delay when the rpm is below 2K rpm and the needle moved up after a second. But after 2000rpm the throttle response is instant, and the exhaust sound reflects that.

2. Jerky throttle when on /off in 1/2 gear.
I didn't pay attention to this first few rides. But soon in traffic I noticed there is a strong forward pull roughly a few instant after I roll just a very tiny amount of throttle. And a very sudden drag when I roll off a tiny amount of throttle. It's been very distracting to the riding experience as I am being forcefully pulled and pushed with absolutely no way of controlling it even with slipping the clutch, as it's a very strong "on" "off" kind of deal. I initially suspected this to be just abrupt fuel cut off, as the ninja I rode did this too, but it's not exactly that as I can hear that when I roll the tiny amount of throttle the engine is immediately revving up, but the pull comes after like a delay and it's always a set amount even with minimum throttle. This becomes less of an issue in higher gear

3. hard to start from a stop without lugging the engine. Maybe this is just a 550lbs bike thing, but I noticed if I gave a steady throttle to 2000 rpm or so and slowly release the clutch the rpm will keep dropping almost to 1000 rpm without the clutch engaging completely, so I usually have to roll on more throttle just to not stall it. Once the clutch is fully engaged however all is well. But this is quite strange to me as if the Ecu is deciding to give the bike less gas even with the same throttle opening. On my other bike, the rpm will drop a bit but with the same throttle position it will return to that same rpm after slipping the clutch so I can safely fully engage the clutch. With the t120 I almost cant be 100% sure what amount of throttle is enough for each different starting scenario as I have to constantly roll the throttle more just to keep the rpm not dropping too low.

Overall, these are the only things I dont like about the bike, this is my first ride by wire bike however so I am also not sure if this just what it is.
Click to expand...

Sorry but have to disagree about lighter bikes being poor in the curves some maybe require a different technique I think the Ducati Monster comes into this catergory the way it like to drop into turns I found unsettling. First thought it was just mee needing to get used to riding again but getting the T300 Trophy has shown it's not exactly the case as I find it far more natural perhaps it's just me and Triumphs?

Now the 79 T140E Bonnie that I bougt new in Sept 79 handled like a dream despite being outclassed in power by the Jap machines of the era it was only on the straights that we lost out but we soon caught them up and often passed them once there were a few curves in the 3 1/2 years I owned and rode her, before some asshoples stole her, onle once could we not catch another bike up when we hit traffic and some lights I realised why it was Guzzi Le Mans Mk11 were were chasing.

In fact more than once were put the "Shits" up Jap bike riders by undertaking them on curves due to the T140's superior handling and the T140 was not a heavy bike.

Plezier