First Ride: Triumph’s Speedmaster brings a slice of old-school cool

Triumph’s Bonneville range is quite broad these days. Including a wide variety of motorcycles, it’s got a little something for everyone. This bike – the Speedmaster – has been designed with that old-school charm that often gets people flocking to this British brand, but with the underpinnings that should bring some serious performance as well.

With a punchy parallel twin, the Speedmaster sure isn’t lacking when it comes to engine size – but what else does it have to offer? We’ve been finding out.

What you’re looking at in the Speedmaster is, essentially, a more practical version of the popular Bobber. Much of that comes through the fitment of a pillion seat, opening up this model to riders who want to bring someone along for the adventure, too. Like the Bobber, however, it retains a low-slung ride and easy-going position for that ideal cruising character.

As with many other Triumph models, the Speedmaster is also jam-packed with technology, with features such as cruise control coming equipped as standard to help out with those long-distance rides.

You’ve got a 1200cc parallel twin powering the Speedmaster, thumping away underneath you. Linked to a six-speed gearbox, it’s an engine designed for smoothness and responsiveness, as well as outright performance. You’ve got 77bhp and a healthy 105Nm of torque to play with, too, ensuring that this rather large motorcycle still gets up to speed in good enough time.

There’s a 47mm Showa fork up front and a single KYB rear shock, while a chunky Brembo twin-piston caliper with two 310mm discs up front helps deliver powerful braking. They’re aided by a 255m rear disc with a single Nissin caliper.

With its low-slung positioning and easy-to-reach handlebars, the Speedmaster is great for riders looking for a relaxed riding experience. The feet-forward design does take some getting used to if you’re more often aboard sportier models, but you soon get used to it. There’s quite a lot of weight to the Speedmaster, mind you, and pushing the bike for even shorter distances takes quite a lot of effort.

One area where the Speedmaster does seem to struggle is outright comfort. While it’s fine around town, spend a little more time in this Triumph’s saddle and things soon get a little tiresome – though it’s worth testing one out for yourself to see if you find the same problem occurs. The good news is that whoever is riding pillion gets a foam seat which is 11mm thicker than the rider’s, so it should be a little comfier back there.

The Speedmaster definitely has that old-school cool factor that has come to epitomise the ‘Modern Classics’ Triumph range. There’s a good variety of colours to choose from, too, while Triumph’s extensive list of extras mean you can make it look just as you’d want it. While it might not be as outright stealthy as the Bobber, for most people, the extra practicality that the pillion seat brings will be a worthy trade-off.

A new ‘Icon Edition’ of the Speedmaster has also been added to the range recently. With its aluminium silver and gloss black paint scheme, gold Triumph logo and hand-painted coachlining, it leans even further into that classic look and feel.

Prices for the Speedmaster start from £13,195. It’s one of the most expensive models within the Bonneville range but, interestingly, is completely matched to the Bobber price-wise, so it really does boil down to whether or not you want that pillion seat. You also get full ABS, two separate rider modes – Road and Rain – and an eye-catching LED headlight which gives the Speedmaster a more distinctive appearance while also improving visibility over a traditional halogen bulb setup. There’s a multi-function clock setup, too, which is topped with a neat-looking plaque.

It’s a decent chunk of cash, of course, but it puts it within the same area as rivals from Indian.

Verdict

The Speedmaster feels like one of the most old-school bikes within Triumph’s Modern Classics range. The good news is that if you’ve been considering the Bobber but want extra seating, then the Speedmaster is spot-on for you. You can even take the pillion seat off for a more streamlined look, should you want to.

While the relaxed riding position is great for cruising, we wouldn’t say that the Speedmaster is best matched to long-distance riding. But if you want a bike with plenty of character and an engine that can surprise, the Speedmaster could well be worth checking out.