Triumph is launching its 2009 Modern Classic line in New Orleans and Motorcycle USA is on the scene. Our test ride takes place tomorrow, but here are the preliminary details of the Modern Classic lineup and its flagship model – the Triumph Bonneville.

The headlining feature for all the Modern Classics Triumph street bikes is the integration of electronic fuel injection. One of the last lineups to make the switch, Triumph’s Parallel Twins take a novel route to EFI by packaging it inside a traditional carburetor housing. Along with better fuel efficiency, the EFI is much greener to comply with stringent emission regs, with Triumph reps claiming the new bikes run five times cleaner than pre-EFI models.

The biggest model change is the Bonneville. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Bonnie actually sports two all-new models for 2009 – the Bonneville and Bonneville SE. These two designs join the traditional T100 (returning with more retro looks and EFI) to make up the three-bike Bonneville lineup.

The new Bonneville sports smaller 17-inch cast wheels, 1.4-inch lowered seat height and new handlebars, along with fenders and exhaust borrowed from its Thruxton and Scrambler siblings. The SE model shares the base model’s changes with cosmetic upgrades like a Triumph tank badge and aluminum engine cases.

We’ll sample the new Bonneville tomorrow. And, if it don’t rain too hard… There is the Thruxton (which drops its old clip-ons for more conventional bars) and the Scrambler, all of our test bikes coming in both stock trim and numerous aftermarket mods – including weight-saving and ear-shredding exhausts from Italian firm Arrow.

Stay tuned for a full first ride report in the days to come.