2019 Triumph Speed Twin First Look

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riumph has announced it will bring back the venerable Speed Twin in 2019, reviving a name that made the British brand legendary in the late ’30s. It will line up alongside Triumph’s other modern classics, like the Bonneville, Thruxton, and Scrambler, and will be available to customers in the US starting February 2019. Pricing is set to be announced in January, so stay tuned for that information as it becomes available.

The new and improved Speed Twin is what you’d get if the modern Bonneville and Thruxton had a baby. It’s packing the Thruxton-tune 1,200cc, liquid-cooled parallel twin, so it’s got some performance chops. That’s 96 hp at 6,750 rpm and 83 pound-feet of torque at 4,950 rpm, to be exact. Triumph did some tweaking to make it a Speed Triple engine, however, and not just a repackaged Thruxton. Those changes include a new clutch assembly, magnesium cam cover, and lighter engine covers. These net a 5.5-pound weight savings over the Thruxton engine.

The Thruxton DNA continues in the Speed Twin’s frame, which was created using the Thruxton R frame as a base. It rolls on 17-inch cast aluminum wheels shod in Pirelli Rosso Corsa 3 tires and has Brembo four-piston calipers gripping 305mm discs at the front and a Nissin two-piston caliper and 220mm disc at the rear. The package is suspended by a 41mm cartridge fork and dual shocks, both offering 4.7 inches of travel. All told, the Speed Twin will be 22 pounds lighter than the Thruxton and 60 pounds lighter than the Bonneville T120. Triumph gives us dry weight at the time of writing, which lists at 432 pounds total.

Related: The Triumph Bonneville—Cool Is Only The Beginning

So it’s got the engine and a chassis that’s light and nimble. But the profile of this thing is pure Bonneville. From the 3.8-gallon fuel tank, custom bench seat, classy brushed aluminum covers and panels, and the upright, more relaxed ride position on the 31.8-inch-tall seat.

The Speed Twin will be thoroughly modern in the electronics department. There are the standards, at least these days, like ABS and LED lighting throughout. Then there’s also Sport, Rain, and Road ride modes linked to the ride-by-wire system, switchable traction control, and a USB charging socket. The dual instrument cluster provides a nostalgic look but feature digital displays that offer gobs of information, from gear position to fuel level to ride mode selected, traction control settings, and more.

Triumph will offer a Jet Black version, a Korosi Red and Storm Grey option, and a Silver Ice and Storm Grey colorway once the Speed Twin comes to market. There will also be an extensive accessory catalog to peruse with updated exhaust systems, aesthetic upgrades, locks, seats, and luggage in case you want to style things up a bit.