While the so-called ‘metric cruisers’, mainly from Japanese factories, were labelled pretenders by cruiser purists in the USA, Triumph’s cruisers were considered the real McCoy. During the halcyon customising days of the 1950s and 60s, Triumph 650cc twins were being chopped and bobbed alongside the homegrown Harleys and Indians.
It’s no surprise then that the launch of Triumph’s retro-twin Bonneville model in 2001 was soon followed by a factory cruiser, the America, to exploit this traditional connection with American motorcycling. Its long raked-out chassis, low seat,
