You expect the arrival of The Fonz at any moment: heeeeyyy! The Speedmaster is all Fifties Americana. Okay, it’s British, but Fonzie rode a Triumph too, after all Triumph were Stateside and kings of the street scene back in the Fifties (and even had their moment in the AMA Flat Track sun in the late Sixties).
Like the Indian guys (we tested this bike back-to-back with the Indian Scout Bobber), you get the idea the design and engineering team put a lot into their cruiser. The Scout Bobber is thoroughly modern take, but the Speedmaster is a proper historical reenactment, only with modern design and technology mixed in. The 1200cc motor makes only 76hp – down on the Scout Bobber – but it punches so hard off the bottom you’d never know it was the less powerful. It really rocks this power unit, it’s a joyful lusty beast – that 270º crank angle helps – so that you just can’t stop playing with it, cracking that throttle repeatedly, traffic light to traffic light is a three-braaap (first-second-third) stanza.
The candy red tank is a keynote in kitsch, yet this is a design that is so faithful to its Fifties origins that to call it a pastiche would be wrong, it’s too well executed for that. While not being an immediate European taste, after you’ve ridden it for a while – especially if that ride is a cruise down to San Diego – then you start understanding and liking its style. And like the Scout Bobber, it rewards you with every visual investigation. It’s a superb design job.
It does then have the look, the rumble and the presence. Leave me with this bike for too long and I swear I’ll be wearing turn-up jeans, check shirt and unzipped leather jacket before too long (and of course the open-face helmet). I’m Bonneville British all the way, but given the right environment – west coast US or south coast France – I’d be giving the Speedmaster serious consideration. Yes, this Brit thoroughly exudes Cali laid back cool.
SPECIFICATIONS
TRIUMPH SPEEDMASTER
| ENGINE & TRANSMISSION | |
|---|---|
| Type | Liquid cooled, 8 valve, SOHC, 270° crank angle parallel twin |
| Capacity | 1200 cc |
| Bore | 97.6 mm |
| Stroke | 80 mm |
| Compression | 10.0:1 |
| Max Power EC | 77 PS/ 76 Bhp (57 kW) @ 6,100 rpm |
| Max Torque EC | 106 Nm @ 4,000 rpm |
| System | Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection |
| Exhaust | Chromed stainless steel 2 into 2 twin-skin exhaust system with chromed stainless silencers |
| Final Drive | Chain |
| Clutch | Wet, multi-plate assist clutch |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| CHASSIS | |
| Frame | Tubular steel cradle |
| Swingarm | Twin-sided, tubular steel |
| Front Wheel | 32-spoke, 16 x 2.5in |
| Rear Wheel | 32-spoke, 16 x 3.5in |
| Front Tyre | MT90B16 |
| Rear Tyre | 150/80 R16 |
| Front Suspension | KYB 41 mm forks with cartridge damping. 90mm travel. |
| Rear Suspension | KYB monoshock with linkage and stepped preload adjuster, 72 mm rear wheel travel. |
| Front Brakes | Twin 310 mm disc, Brembo 2-piston floating calipers, ABS |
| Rear Brakes | Single 255 mm disc, Nissin single piston floating caliper, ABS |
| Instrument Display and Functions | LCD multi-functional instrument pack with analogue speedometer, odometer, gear position indicator, fuel gauge, range to empty indication, service indicator, clock, 2x trip, average & current fuel consumption display, traction control status display, heated grip ready – controlled by a handlebar mounted scroll button. |
| DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS | |
| Width Handlebars | 770 mm |
| Height Without Mirror | 1040 mm |
| Seat Height | 705 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1510 mm |
| Rake | 25.3 º |
| Trail | 91.4 mm |
| Dry Weight | 245.5 kg |
| Tank Capacity | 12 L |
| FUEL CONSUMPTION | |
| Fuel Consumption | 4.3 l/100 km (66 MPG) |
| CO2 Figures | EURO 4 Standard: 98 g/km **CO2 and fuel consumption are measured according to regulation 168/2013/EC. Figures on fuel consumption are derived from specific test conditions and are for comparative purposes only. They may not reflect real driving results. |
