2020 Triumph Speed Twin Review

At some point in the two-wheeled game, it’s good to step back and evaluate what we really want from a motorcycle. Do we ride for absolute speed and agility? Maybe it’s escape? Or are we seeking an experience that’s rooted in something more elemental, a feeling that taps into a simpler, more evocative era? Triumph’s 2020 Speed Triple presents a plausible case for the latter.

Related: 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS MC Commute Review

Sure, the UK’s Hinckley brand also builds competitive adventure machines that cater to the necessities of modern long-distance moto travelers. But Triumph has long played the classic angle hard, anchored in an era when James Dean and Steve McQueen epitomizing two-wheeled cool by riding bikes you could see through.

Related: Best Modern Retro Motorcycles 2020

We can wax poetic about points and condensers all we want, but nostalgia only goes so far in the 21st century, Keeping with the times requires Triumph to make discreetly modern tweaks while holding the line on stylish steeds that still manage to look cool parked next to your ’70 Chevelle. The manufacturer’s so-called modern classics span from the just-released Trident 660 ($8K) to the Thruxton RS ($16.2K): Midway between those extremes lies the subject of today’s ride, the $12,200 Speed Twin.

Powered by a 1,200cc parallel twin producing 96 hp at 6,750 rpm and 82.6 pound-feet at 4,950 rpm, this rather conventionally styled roadster hides a slew of modernities beneath its oh-so-old-school trim. Sure, there’s a familiar curved tank whose origins date to the first Speed Twin, which dropped way back in 1938. But tucked ahead is a rectangular radiator that keeps each of the 600cc cylinders discreetly cooled. What appears to be a carburetor behind the cylinder heads is actually a multipoint sequential fuel injection system that enables ride-by-wire throttle, with Sport, Road, and Rain modes for variable power delivery and responsiveness. Unlike the latest Thruxton 1200′s mill, which meets strict Euro 5 standards and produces 7 more horsepower, the Speed Twin’s engine at least claims a slightly lower total weight. Updates to the Speed Twin for the 2019 model year delivered palpable gains over the 900cc Street Twin it joined, bringing 49 percent more power than 2018′s Street Twin.

While it still won’t be confused with a contemporary superbike, the 2020 Speed Triple is bolder than your average Bonneville. Fire up the big twin, and a hearty rumble emanates from the twin pipes, augmented by the characterful engine pulse of its 270-degree crank angle. An analog tach and speedo are augmented by small LCDs offering trip computer and ride mode setting displays. And while some touches like the seven-spoke cast aluminum wheels and chamfered headlamp mounting bracket betray its modernity, there are also niceties like real brushed aluminum fenders and a Monza-style fuel filler cap that ground the whole affair with a strong feeling of substance.

The heavy metal, anti-plastic sensations continue when you flip the kickstand up and click into first gear. There’s no quick shifter or wheelie control, though ABS is present and traction control can be easily disabled. Controls offer a nicely weighted responsiveness, with positive clicks from the shifter and intuitive lever feedback from clutch and brakes. And then there’s a nice fat torque response from the engine, which pulls strongly as the tach approaches its indicated 7,000 rpm redline. The powerband is broad, aided by a six-speed transmission which yields a comfortable 3,500 rpm when cruising at 65 mph in top gear. While the 31.8-inch saddle height should be easily accessible by most riders, its flat design isn’t the most comfortable for long hauls, which might at least be partially remedied by the optional quilted seat, which offers so-called 3D net comfort technology for more even weight distribution.

The thing about Triumph’s Speed Twin is that it offers just enough grunt to satisfy, without being so ballsy that its velocity distracts from its essential function. Sure, it handles well enough with easy turn-in and stability—but it’s not a sharp-edged corner carver, especially with those dual shocks in the back. And the four-piston Brembos are responsive and strong, but won’t exactly throw you over the handlebars if you panic brake.

If it’s brawnier, less relenting performance you’re looking for, it’s best to ditch the Speed Twin and opt for maybe a Thruxton RS, or step up to the pricier but significantly swifter Street and Speed Triples, with their raucous inline three-cylinder engines and razor-sharp suspensions. You’ll also be trading the familiar retro bits for dashes of alien bodywork, which shift the visual conversation into an entirely different dimension.

It’s hard to argue with an unabashedly modern bike when it comes to outright performance; after all, it’s no surprise the riding experience is heightened when form follows function. But for the rest of us who crave a simpler-but-still-satisfying experience, motorcycles like the 2020 Triumph Speed Twin serve as reminders that low-key modern upgrades coupled a little bit of soul can make for a surprisingly satisfying ride.

Helmet: Shoei RF-1200

Jacket: Dainese Patina72

Pant: UglyBros Motorpool Olive

Boots: Alpinestars Oscar Monty