Last December, Triumph resurrected a legendary model name from its history, with the announcement of the new Speed Twin. Now, the motorcycle will soon be available in India with its launch set to happen on April 24, 2019.
The original 1938 Speed Twin 5T was the motorcycle that helped Triumph make a strong revival in the aftermath of World War II. The lightweight and well-engineered parallel-twin by Edward Turner saw great success and paved the way for most modern parallel-twin engines. The new Speed Twin, on the other hand, uses an updated version of the 1,200cc parallel-twin we’ve seen in the Thruxton. The updates include a magnesium cam cover to reduce weight, and a revised clutch assembly assisting the 6-speed transmission. The 1,200cc engine makes 97hp at 6,750rpm and 112Nm of torque at 4,950rpm.
There are changes, apart from those to the engine, which differentiate the Speed Twin from the Thruxton it is based on. Among these is a 10kg weight reduction, as well as a revised chassis-and-suspension setup. Front and rear suspension is taken care of by KYB units – 41mm cartridge forks in the front and twin-shocks with adjustable preload at the rear. The bike also gets potent stopping power, with a front brake setup consisting of twin 305mm discs, and Brembo four-piston fixed calipers (similar to the setup on the Speed Triple), and twin Nissin calipers and 220mm discs at the rear. Aiding to its sporting intentions are 17-inch wheels at both ends, with Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tyres. Triumph has equipped the bike with three riding modes – Road, Rain and Sport – and it gets switchable traction control.
The Speed Twin sits at the top of Triumph’s modern classic line. Good news for India is that the Speed Twin will be manufactured in Thailand, so the bike that comes to India will be priced within reason – around the Rs 10.5 lakh mark (ex-showroom). The Speed Twin has no direct rivals in India, but the closest bikes to it are the BMW R nineT and the Ducati Scrambler 1100.
Azaman Chothia
