All-new Triumph Speed Twin Unveiled

The Speed Twin brings in more performance, while retaining the essence of the Bonneville family

• Borrows its 1200cc parallel-twin engine from the Thruxton series with a few tweaks. 
• Also features ride-by-wire throttle, power modes, LED lighting, a charging socket and more! 
• Rider aids come in the form of ride-by-wire, rider modes, ABS and switchable traction control. 
• Will be launched in the international markets in January. 
• India launch expected in mid-2019

Triumph has unveiled the all-new Speed Twin which pays homage to the original Speed Twin from the 1930s. This bike had one of the best chassis of its time, which, paired with a power packed motor set a benchmark for all bikes to follow. As per Triumph, the 2019 Speed Twin retains the DNA of the original bike, albeit in a neo-retro avatar and with a much, much more powerful engine.  

Powering the new bike is the ‘High Power’ 1200cc, SOHC, 8-valve, parallel-twin engine borrowed from the Thruxton R, however, with a few updated components exclusively designed for the Speed Twin. It gets a new magnesium cam cover, a revised clutch assembly and new mass optimised engine covers which make the engine around 2.5kg lighter than the one on the Thruxton. That said, the Speed Twin puts out the same power output of 97PS and 112Nm as the Thruxton series. Furthermore, the bike features twin upswept exhausts which should add more base and character to the parallel-twin motor. 

Harnessing this power is a slew of electronic rider aids such as ride-by-wire, three riding modes (Sport, Road and Rain), torque-assist clutch, ABS and switchable traction control. Electronics and powertrain aside, the Triumph Speed’s ergonomics have also been revised to hit the sweet spot between the Bonneville T120 and the Thruxton. The Speed Twin has an upright posture with just the right amount of lean towards the handlebars, thanks to slightly taller risers and a tapered handlebar that's affixed to a new triple clamp.

As for the Speed Twin’s styling, it’s essentially a blend of the timeless appeal of the T120 and the modernistic approach of the Thruxton series. And, although the fuel tank seems strikingly similar to the former, it’s finished in a sporty dual-tone paint scheme which adds a touch of sportiness to the roadster. The Speed Twin also features LED lighting at both ends, bar-end mirrors and brushed aluminium parts like throttle body covers, heel guards, branding on the side panels, and aluminium fenders. In contrast to the aluminium parts, its 7-spoke alloy wheels have been blacked out. The Monza style fuel-filler cap is reminiscent of the one seen on the Triumph Scrambler 1200.

Its double-cradle frame is derived from the Thruxton, however, it's been reworked with minor changes to the steering geometry. Suspension duties are handled by 41mm cartridge forks and twin rear shocks with preload adjustment. Both ends get 120mm of travel. Its braking setup is a notch above the Thruxton. It gets twin 305mm discs paired with Brembo 4-piston calipers up front and a single 220mm disc coupled with a Nissin 2-piston floating caliper at the rear. Its 17-inch alloys come wrapped in sticky Pirelli Rosso Corsa 3 tyres measuring 120-section front and 160-section rear.

We already know that Triumph India has plans of rolling out six new bikes in 2019, and the Speed Twin is part of this lineup. Since the bike is slated to be launched overseas in January 2019, we expect it to make it to India by mid next year. As for its pricing, while there’s no official word from Triumph, we suspect the Speed Twin to be priced towards the higher end of the spectrum, considering its premium components. It’ll sit somewhere in between the Bonneville T120 and the Triumph Bonneville Bobber, priced around Rs 10 lakh.