The Speedmaster name is fairly iconic to Triumph, at least west of the pond. Originally used in the 1960s for the Bonneville T120R that was sold in the United States, it later went on to become a ‘factory custom’ built on the Bonneville America, which itself was based on the last-generation Bonneville. Both, the America and the Speedmaster, were discontinued as they didn’t meet Euro-IV emissions norms. Now, however, Triumph has just teased a brand new Speedmaster – a bike that’s to be based on the new Bonneville – on Twitter as well as in a brief video, all set for a unveil on October 03, 2017.
The Hinckley based company has planned on some major announcements for first week of October, which include the brand new visitors’ centre attached to their factory. It seems though that some new bikes are on the agenda as well. There are absolutely no details released about the upcoming bike, but there is evidence that points to this being the same Bobber-based cruiser that was spotted testing earlier this year.
Firstly, the teaser video seems to show slash-cut exhausts, much like the Bonneville Bobber, and there seems to be a lack of visible dual shocks. The spy shots of the cruiser being tested clearly showed the Bobber-style ‘swing cage’ and monoshock setup at the rear, and the images in the new teaser video seem to point to this. Also visible in the video is a front sprocket inspection cap – a classic design feature that is only present on the Bobber in the new Bonneville line up.
This all seems to indicate that this bike will incorporate a new subframe for a pillion seat (with backrest) as well as a luggage carrier at the back, in addition to a new rear fender. As the earlier spy pictures have pointed out, it will get a deeper scooped rider’s seat, much like what was seen on the earlier Speedmaster. The bike will accommodate a more forward-set foot peg position and should come with smaller 16-inch wheels, shod with fatter rubber to keep to the whole cruiser motif. Much like the Bobber, the new Speedmaster should use the 1,200cc HT (High Torque) motor from the new Bonneville family.
There is no word at this point when the Speedmaster will come to India, but given the company’s aggressiveness in getting most of its latest models here, we expect an India launch to follow close to the international one. When it does come to India, we suspect that it will be priced in the Rs 11-12 lakh bracket and will go up against the likes of the Harley-Davidson Street Bob.