Motorcycle specifications Triumph1200 Speed Twin 2023 Prodigal sister

The Speed Twin has become a super Bonneville. An almost angry roadster within the Modern-classics. Triumph realized that the bike was just waiting for a burst of blood to get out of hand, so it was given a good dose of roastiness, almost unobtrusively. Apart from the blackened megaphone exhausts, modified front mudguard and revised headlight support plates, much of the bike appears unchanged.except...

The front end. Here, compared to its predecessor, it's instantly clear that the Speed Twin wants to give the road a firm grip. To threaten it?
To master it! The ex-Kayaba fork, with its classic gusseted design, has been replaced by an inverted Marzocchi model - alas, non-adjustable. This promises improved efficiency and feel.
But it doesn't stop there. Braking, too, has been taken to the next level. Not in the half-measure way of the new brake pads... Rather, with radial mountings where Brembo M50 calipers are fitted, ready for the martyrdom of discs enlarged to 320 mm. The kind of gear you'd find on big, muscular roadsters or sports bikes. New, lightened rims are fitted with Metzeler Racetec RR tires to enhance ground contact

Drivers of this Speed will be able to step up the pace, as they'll have a bit more power, with a gain of 3 horsepower for the engine. Just enough to flatter the pride without calling into question the virtues and specificities of each model in the family. Quite a family, by the way

speed Twin...... Street Twin, Speed Triple, Street Triple, Speed Four. OK, no need to go any further, I'm getting lost in the Triumph names. Let's do it another way.
Like most of the Hinckley-based manufacturer's models, the Speed Twin is named after an illustrious name, one of those that marked its time. The first Speed Twin - and... what was it, when was it made?
.... Page 22 to 27, and I already know a lot more about the original 5T model, born in 1938. It turned the industry upside down and influenced motorcycle production for many years to come. You can find out a lot more in the book " L'art motocycliste anglais " by M. Levivier and Z. Enault.
80 years on, the will is not really the same, the reason is less vital, and inbreeding has taken its toll. The 1200 Speed Twin aims to be the best of two cousins.

first impressions are symptomatic, revealing that Triumph's DNA has clearly been mixed. Is it a sportier Bonneville? Or a more roadster-like Thruxton ? Both. The Speed Twin is a clever blend of classic roadster and café racer. And by extension, a bike for those who want a Street Twin with more muscle. It's the perfect blend for the sporting gentleman. A more complicated exercise than it might seem, since it's going to have to find a place for itself in an already exceptionally well-stocked vintage range (16 models).

The Speed Twin looks like a Bonneville, excited by Thruxton moments. Sportier moments are underscored by tapered exhausts, headlight mounts, handlebar-tip mirrors, stick rims, a sports brake fluid jar, a Monza-style fuel filler cap and novel openwork airbox covers. The saddle is not a single-seater, but the handlebar-passenger bar has disappeared. The brushed-aluminum mudguards are tiny, as on the sleekest Harley-Davidsons. But the highlight is the 1200 HP engine, here transposed at its best.

this twin is found in many Triumphs(Bonneville, Bobber, Speedmaster, Thruxton, Scrambler), each with its own inherent adaptation. So far, it's the Thruxton RS that gets the most powerful version. To turn it into a serious thrill-seeking machine, the engine-makers took the Cafra block and reworked it accordingly. Since its Euro5 adaptation, it delivers a total of 100 hp. They are perched a little higher than before. A challenge? Not necessarily. Triumph claims more consistency in the mid-range. Torque, unchanged at 11.4 mkg, sends its maximum 700 rpm lower (4,250 rpm). We also expect more pep when revving up, as the twin's inertia has been reduced by 17%. How is this achieved? With a new crankshaft, lightened alternator, high-compression pistons, new camshafts and revised ducts. The red zone is shifted upwards by 500 rpm.

This is a much faster Bonnie. With 216 kilos on the scales, the Speed Twin weighs 20 kilos less than the T120 for 20 more horsepower. A power-to-weight ratio almost on a par with that of the Thruxton RS , with a more relaxed riding position. That's what the Thruxton is all about.

But let's not stop there. It's not enough for her to have her own special trim and engine. So, to keep her happy, the manufacturer gave her her own chassis, consisting of a tubular steel frame derived from that of the Thruxton and a lighter, stiffer aluminum swingarm. There are no surprises on the shock absorber side, but the overall picture is more lively: the loss of weight, a slightly shorter wheelbase and lighter unsprung masses (wheels) will make for a more invigorating ride.

this Classic doesn't adhere to all the codes that Triumph has implanted in this family. It dares to refuse to wear the carburetor-imitating covers. Unusual brushed-aluminium plates conceal the injection system. Does she want to show off her modernism more than the others? It's got what it takes. Technological equipment includes three riding modes (Rain - Road - Sport) - to be reviewed in 2021 - ABS, LED lights and indicators, traction control, assisted clutch, transponder key, USB port and meters...... phew, style is saved with two needle dials, rock and miles decor, complemented by two info-packed digital windows.

Those who fell in love with a Street Twin and then tormented by a need for more watts will be delighted. The Speed Twin transcends this spirit with 54% more power. All this for a weight of .... Here's the cherry on top: at 216 kilos fully loaded, the 1200 weighs the same as the 900. Far from being lost between the Bonneville and the Thruxton RS, it's the ideal bridge.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos