Top Comfort Mods For The Triumph Street Twin

Riders of original Triumph Bonnevilles are somewhat justified in begrudging the Meriden factory, whose machines—though as charmingly British as foul weather and warmish beer—frequently left the rider marooned roadside due to, say, a failed part caused by an "anomaly from the production line," or electronics as temperamental as Coleridge during a bad bout with laudanum.

Hinckley Triumph’s Bonnie variants, on the other hand, may not quite have the same air of English-ness as their namesakes, but neither do they display the lesser qualities that essentially killed the British bike industry in the first place. The good without the bad, some might say.

Thus, the Triumph Street Twin hits the mark. In typically British fashion, its ergos are perfectly rational (none of the Yank's tomfoolery with ape hangers or the supplicatory posture of sporbiking) and its seating position, at 29.5-inches, is suitable for all but the shortest of riders. With an eye toward comfort, a few basic mods can make it all the better.

Corbin Classic Gunfighter Saddle ($473): Since many riders will be drawn to the Street Twin for aesthetic reasons, it's no surprise that the aftermarket is rife with seats designed to change the looks of the bike: bump-stop café racer seats, tracker benches, and saddles with diamond-quilted stitching for the '70s-look (never mind that's an era the British bike industry would probably like to forget). If improving outright comfort is the main objective, however, there are significantly fewer options.

As you'd expect, motorcycle seating stalwart Corbin is on the case. The Classic Gunfighter Saddle features a dish-shaped design to provide a more supportive position than the standard seat. As with many Corbin seats, its looks are up for debate. The café-inspired silhouette definitely changes the classic lines of the Street Twin, so look elsewhere, if that's an issue.

British Customs Slammer Seat ($370): While many riders will appreciate the Street Twin's low seat height, the distance to the pegs is consequently shorter, which can put riders with longer inseams in a somewhat cramped position. A taller seat, such as the Slammer from British Customs, can solve this problem. As Julia LaPalme noted during her time with her long-term Street Twin, the Slammer adds an additional 2 inches of height, which she found perfect for her 30-inch inseam, though it was less than cushy. Its flat bench style may not be everyone's cup of tea, either stylistically or in terms of providing a feeling of security. Bench seats, taken from the dirt bike world, make a lot of sense off road where the rider needs the ability to move around the bike as much as possible, but on the street, that quality can be a bit discomfiting.

British Customs Race Footpeg Package ($300): On the most basic level, comfort on a motorcycle depends on the rider feeling in complete control. Even though a motorcycle's prime mode of steering is via countersteering, the lower body plays a huge role in hustling a machine through the twisties. Planting your feet firmly on the pegs is critical for confidence in the corners, which if you've ever ridden with slippery footpegs, you'll know firsthand. The Street Twin's standard pegs have rubber inserts, a common feature to help quell vibration. In terms of grip, nothing beats a good pair of knurled metal pegs, like this offering from British Customs. The package includes pegs and adaptors for both rider and passenger.

Givi Aluminum Screen ($185) and mounting hardware ($65): Givi's Aluminum windscreen, also available in black, should be a moderate help at keeping windblast at bay, though it's certainly no touring screen.

Fox Shox Podium RC1 Rear Suspension ($995): Keeping in line with our "confidence equals comfort" motto, Fox's RC1 shocks upgrade the Street Twin's prowess using higher-quality components with a greater degree of adjustability. The RC1 shocks are an up-spec version of the ones available in Triumph's accessory catalog. With preload, rebound, and low-speed compression damping adjustability, getting the springs dialed in won't be an issue.