Motorcycle specifications Triumph1200 Speedmaster 2018 Lord Hinckley is out and about

With the Speedmaster, Triumph offered a custom bike worthy of British phlegm, with just the right amount of relaxation, posture and musardise. The 865 cm3 twin pushed with kindness, a certain carafon, and we didn't ask for more. All that is swept aside by the new 1200 Speedmaster. With a far more pronounced cachet, a far more expressive engine and a dose of high-caliber technology, the bike joins the Balliol clan and takes on the affront; with a distinctly Bobber aftertaste.

Because Triumph 1200 Bobber and Speedmaster are closely linked. They share chassis and engine without any hint of inbreeding. Perfect for lovers of looks and emotions, who are sure to appreciate the deceptively hardtail frame. The wishbone swingarm appears fixed at the rear, while Triumph has hidden the shock absorber under the seat. Introduced on the Bobber, this suspension is just as eye-catching on the new Speedmaster. Does this mean that the Speedmaster is just a 2-seat Bobber ? Not so much, of course. The low-rider we're interested in is more a cruiser than a showbike.

Lady, the Speedmaster has its own identity, which sets it apart from the Bonneville and Bobber. The former is a classic roaster, the latter a perfect hot-rod. Our protagonist is more covered, with a much stockier front end. The bow wheel is reduced from 19 to 16 inches, and gains a second brake disc. Increased efficiency and a muscular look are the result. The headlight has been given a prominent place, and it shows. More imposing than the Bobber's minimalist eye, the Speedmaster's headlight benefits from a chrome ring extending into a side spine and a singular light signature. The changes continue at the front with wide handlebars, contributing to a more relaxed riding position. This is also the case for the footrests, which move forward to the edge of the crankcases. This gives the rider a cool attitude. The seat is not very high, set at 710 mm from the ground.
The fuel tank expands slightly, gaining 3 liters in capacity (12 liters in all). And the rear end takes on the full measure of a crew compared to the Bobber. The rider's seat is more generous, and takes on the company of a passenger seat. The rear fender is larger and more enveloping, finishing off a bike that's much more assertive than its 865 predecessor.

The twin is de rigueur, both in its range and in its category. And in 1200, it's a generous hand. The block originally came from the Bonnie T120 , but benefits from a High Torque setting introduced by the Bobber. This translates into more torque - 10% more than the big Bonneville. And former Speedmaster owners will feel a big change. The engine sends out 42% more torque. With 10.8 mkg at 4000 rpm, the heart lifts all kinds of emotions with ease. Power output is also up significantly. We had 61 hp on the 865 -> we now enjoy 77 horses on the 1200. An assisted clutch reduces lever effort.
Without sacrificing looks: fins have pride of place, water cooling is discreet, fuel injection is hidden behind fake carburetors, the twin-cylinder is pleasing to the eye and aggressively finished off with the Bobber's short, bevelled pots.

And technological to boot. Reduced only to the fruit of fuel injection on the 865, the 1200 Speedmaster's electronics are very much in evidence. As a member of the Bonneville family, it's only logical that the Speedmaster should pick up the goodies of its siblings. These include a Ride-By-Wire throttle, disconnectable traction control, ABS, LEDs for all lighting appendages (headlights, indicators, plates), two fuel injection maps (Rain or Road) and cruise control operated by a single button.

Are you ready to cruise? Not quite. Triumph's Classic range is packed with accessories. For the 1200 Speedmaster, no fewer than 130 gusset bins are available. And to help you find inspiration, two kits are available. A "Maverick", not at all specified by Goose, but apt to give a rougher profile, with a brown padded solo seat, flatter lowered handlebars, black Vance & Hines exhausts, along with other "dark" details, including exhaust manifolds and an oil filler cap, plus a passenger grip delete kit and rear fender cover.
The other kit is more "long-haul", and could take over from the 865 America LT, which never made it to our shores. Dressed in the "Highway" pack, the Speedmaster becomes a lightweight tourer with a set of waxed cotton and leather saddlebags, a reusable GTwindscreen, a comfort seat, a wider matching passenger seat, and a set of chrome finishes including engine protection bars, a passenger backrest, a package holder and a polished machined oil filler cap.

The Speedmaster offers much more generous performance with this 1200 cm3 mutation. Triumph hasn't been content to simply duet with its Bobber , but has truly modified it into a cruiser with a name and presence. The muscle and technology are there, all that's missing is a long road ahead.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos