Triumph’s Bonneville Speedmaster has flown under the radar compared to many others in the range. But with the addition of a few OEM goodies, Triumph NZ has given the humble Speedy a more brutish look.
The name Speedmaster is a bit of an anomaly when it comes to the Bonneville-based bobber-esque model from Triumph. Yes, it got an update in 2021, which saw the fitting of the punchier and characterful 1200cc parallel-twin engine, with the high-torque version of the modern-classic powerplant producing only 78hp but a decent 106Nm. Yet it’s still more of a lazy lopper than a, well, ‘Speedmaster’, which is made even more obvious by the limited cornering clearance.
So, while there’s not much speeding going on with the Speedmaster, the obvious option is to add a few accessories to really give the Triumph twin the character that matches the performance, something that Mike from Triumph NZ was only too happy to do when he had a spare unit kicking around the warehouse. “We got to talking and thought, wouldn’t it be a great model to dress up, simply to show what you can do with the look of the Speedmaster with a few of Triumph’s genuine accessories? It’s a great bike, but it could be so much more with a bit of vision.”
BRM Review
The Speedmaster sits in the Bonneville range somewhere between the twin rear-shocked T120 and the single-seat, hidden suspension Bobber, a bike that’s extreme with its riding position and its focus. And while the T120 can be a bit sporty and the Bobber a bit (ahem!) Bobbery, the Speedmaster sits nicely in the middle with the performance of the sportier bike and the hardtail rear look of the other. It’s the kind of civilised AND cool version of the range.
At the heart is the 270-degree firing order parallel-twin that everyone has grown to love. This engine just has so much soul and works really well for two wheels. And while it’s not as punchy and sporty as the High-Output version that’s used for the Thruxton, the low-down punch and superb fuelling of the Speedmaster’s twin make it the ideal motor for cruising and simply enjoying life on two wheels.
Yet, it could be accused of being a bit bland, making it the perfect machine with which to try a new look. With a tougher vision in mind, Mike first went for the handlebars, with the mini-apes giving a more aggressive look while not being overly aggressive in their height. That means they weren’t going to ruin the riding experience of the well-balanced machine. The bars themselves retail at $435, with a cable kit ($274) required to add the necessary length. But for that, you get a complete change to the look of the Speedmaster, and it certainly goes from being a bike that blends into one that everybody notices.
Next up was to make the Speedmaster look a little closer to the Bobber, again, while retaining the manners of the traditional machine. The lovely brown leather seat ($569) was added along with a fender removal kit ($293) and a new mudguard finisher in black ($275) to really set off the back of the bike. Finally, he couldn’t help himself and added a set of teardrop mirrors ($359) just to really set the bike off.
“I was a little surprised with how well it came out,” explained Mike. “Typically, it’s not my style of bike, but I really love the new look, and I reckon it’s given a whole new attitude to the Speedmaster,” he continued.
With a bit of cruising done by the Triumph team to get some kilometres on the motor, everyone reported back how much they enjoyed the new attitude. And with the result so good, Mike decided to give BRM a go on his new ride to see if we enjoyed the experience as much as everyone there. Like Mike, high handlebars aren’t usually our cuppa. But then, we do love riding EVERY type of motorcycle. So, with the Speedmaster Custom back in the BRM lock-up for a bit of an extended test, it wasn’t long before the sun came out, and we were enjoying the attention the new-found look gives.
Summer Lovin.
While racing around on the latest rocketships is fun, there’s a lot to be said for taking life at a more leisurely pace. But if you’re going to do that, you’ve got to make sure you’re riding something that’s good to look at. Jumping on the Speedmaster for the first time, I was a little worried about the height of the controls, but once there, I was surprised to discover the bike and the handlebars still felt natural. Obviously, they looked more high-rise to me (and probably everyone else) than they are in reality.
Gunning the Triumph into life, I was pleased to hear the usual rumble from the twin and not have to grimace at the ear-splitting bark that is often accompanied by this sort of ride, where somehow removing all elements of sound deadening is deemed as cool. I must be old, but a soulful beat is much more enjoyable than the coarse din of an unsilenced four-stroke that is invariably ridden with the revs bouncing off the limiter.
Cruising into the traffic, another unexpected benefit of the high handlebars appears as my hands effortlessly glide over mirrors as I split through the traffic, the flickable nature of the bike and my raised mitts making it deft at cutting between the cars. I never expected that, but the Speedmaster was actually quite speedy in congestion. Find an opening, and the High-Torque motor provides the sort of instant drive that you only get from a twin, with my right hand almost at head height as I twist it and the Bonne surges forward.
For traffic-light races and having a bit of fun around town, the custom Speedmaster is the perfect mix of style (if it’s your sort of thing) and performance. And the twin discs up front combined with 47mm Showas keep everything under control as the next red light approaches. With the ignition positioned below your right leg, the Speedmaster has enough of those cool, old-school features which appeal to the same sort of people who go googly-eyed over American twins. And the low 705mm seat height gives the Speedmaster a similar stance to a lot of the bikes produced in Milwaukee. And to be fair, the riding position is relatively comfortable for the style.
Obviously, the lack of any sort of screen combined with having your arms hanging in the breeze makes open road/motorway work a bit of a mission. But, hey, fashion has always come at a cost, and looking cool might mean you’ll need to put up with sore arms until you get the muscles.
There’s no denying that a couple of Triumph accessories added to the Speedmaster has taken what was a bit of a vanilla machine and added a serious amount of Ben & Jerries. And while it might not be your sort of style, there’s no denying that it turns heads as you’re riding around, all without losing too much of the Speedmaster’s cossetting nature. And if you don’t like this look, then I’m sure a quick search through Triumph’s accessory catalogue will give you the inspiration to make a bike that’s personalised for you. With the Triumph NZ website offering you the ability to check the parts out virtually by building the bike on screen, head to www.triumph-motorcycles.co.nz and give it a go.
Photography www.twocreative.co.nz
