Upswept silencers crank out a Thruxton-like tune, but with a claimed, massive 22-pound weight savings in comparison to the Thruxton, the Speed Twin is a standard motorcycle that can be leveraged around turns in upright riding comfort without removing Thruxton-like character. On our in-house dyno, the 1,200cc parallel twin delivered a grunty 79.6 pound-feet of torque at a low 3,500 rpm. Combine this performance with Triumph’s high standards of fit and finish and you have yourself a pretty package of a modern retro standard. At home on the daily ride or flogging down highways the Speed Twin is an expected next step up from a Street Twin, or for a rider looking for a classically styled motorcycle with a measured 91.4 hp of twin oomph.
When test rider Seth Richards put the 2019 machine through its paces in Spain he claimed: “The 2019 Speed Twin does justice to its famous name by exemplifying the same virtues. It’s an ode to greatness, a tribute to an enduring legacy, an homage to a genteel revolution of two vertical cylinders working in perfect harmony. The 2019 Speed Twin is a motorcycle built for today to be enjoyed for years to come. A revolution? Perhaps not. But a revelation? That it very well may be.”
On Cycle World’s in-house rear-wheel dyno, we documented the 2020 Speed Twin’s power figures to be 91.4 hp at 6,700 rpm and 79.6 pound-feet at 3,500 rpm.
If you are interested in classically styled literbikes, the primary competition would be the BMW R nineT Pure and Honda CB1000R, but if you are just looking for any standard with a lot of character, look to the Ducati Monster 1200, KTM 1290 Super Duke, and the Yamaha MT-10 as well.
No major updates for 2020. The Speed Twin is available in Jet Black, Korosi Red and Storm Grey, and Silver Ice and Storm Grey.
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