A hallowed name from the days of the Triumph works
in Meridien returns to the market next year, the 2019 Triumph Speed Twin. A
refinement and improvement on the current range of Triumph’s Modern Classics
range, the Speed Twin now comes with an uprated 1,200 cc ‘HP’ eight-valve
engine with engine mapping taken from the sports-oriented Triumph Thruxton.
The liquid-cooled parallel-twin is good for 95 hp at
6,750 rpm and with a peak of 112 Nm of torque at 4,950 rpm. The Speed Twin has
also gone on a weight loss regime, coming in at 10 kg lighter at 196 kg than
the Thruxton’s 206 kg and a definite improvement over the 224 kg and 80 hp of
the T120 Bonneville.
Not just a copy of the Thruxton with different body
styling, the Speed Twin gets a low inertia crank for 2019 along with a high
compression cylinder head, with an 11.0:1 ratio. Fed by multipoint sequential
fuel injection, power for Hinckley’s latest twin gets to the ground via a
six-speed gearbox and revised clutch for less lever effort.
Emphasising the sporty side of retro-style riding,
the Speed Twin comes with radial-mounted four-piston Brembo calliper fitted to
41 mm diameter telescopic forks, rolling on 7-spoke aluminium alloy wheels
fitted with Pirelli Rosso Corsa 3 tyres. ABS and traction control come as
standard equipment and seat height is set at 807 mm.
Fuel is carried in a 14-litre tank and aluminium is
used extensively throughout the Speed Twin, notably in the clear anodised
swingarm. There are three colour options for the 2019 Triumph Speed Twin –
Silver Ice/Storm Grey and Korosi Red/Storm which come with hand-painted coach
line and basic Jet Black.
