Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster Review
Bike Tested: Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster; Road Test No. 1006; Test Location: Mumbai
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 15,00,534/- (w/ Accessory Kit)
Bikes like the Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster are melodies on two wheels with their high torque engines
For the Independence day ride, I had to ride the Bonneville Speedmaster with the Triumph group. As the bike needed new brake pads, I didn’t ride on the Bonneville Bobber. Last weekend, Triumph got back and gave me a chance to ride the Speedmaster I had been waiting for. To put it down in one sentence, the Speedmaster is a matured and comfortable version of the frantic Bobber. We at MotorBeam rode for over 500 kms for that weekend and we all were pretty amazed by how torquey yet soothing the Speedmaster is.
Motor Quest: Triumph had launched its first Speedmaster in 2002. It had a parallel-twin 790cc motor, while in 2004 the powerplant was upgraded to 865cc. In 2007, the Speedmaster got electronic fuel injection and then there were not many updates over the years. Triumph entered India a few years back and launched the 2018-spec Speedmaster within the Bonneville line-up. The Speedmaster became the flagship bike of the Bonneville range. It carries most of the underpinnings, even the 1200cc motor from the Bonneville T120.
The LED headlight unit looks brilliant with the signature Bonneville DRLs
Styling – With a first glance, anyone who has seen the Bonneville series will say it’s similar to the T120. Not just similar but a souped-up cruiser version of the T120 which is exactly right. The Speedmaster we rode had an accessory kit and this added a lot to the cruiser charm. A tall wind visor at the front, backrest for the pillion and a pair of small leather saddle bags. Chrome treatment all-over with beach-bar type handlebars and a distinctive LED headlight too. Twin slash-cut peashooter exhaust pipes coming from both the sides and thick rubber at the front as well as the rear. The Speedmaster was talking style, retro-charm and cruise ethics all over!
The single pod instrument cluster does the job well, shows a lot of information
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – A round-shaped single-pod adjustable console does the job on the Bonneville Speedmaster. The instrument cluster is analogue-digital and it’s the same unit that we have seen on other Bonneville motorcycle. However, it is a fixed unit unlike the Bobber while a few more tell-tale lights are integrated within. The speedometer is analogue while the digital unit contains all the other information such as the gear position indicator, fuel gauge, odometer with two trip meters and current as well as total fuel consumption. The switchgear is shared among all the Bonneville models and the quality is pretty good too. As an addition, the Speedmaster gets a single switch cruise control button. This is also displayed within the digital cluster and the tell-tale lights when engaged.
The Bonneville Speedmaster is the second bike in the Bonneville lineup to get a monoshock
Ergonomics – The Bonneville Speedmaster is a comfortable and matured version of the Bobber. By this sentence, I mean, the seat is plush and very well cushioned. The seat height is just 705 mm, making it very comfortable to get on and off. The footpegs are front-set and it gets beach-bar handlebars. All of this sums up to a very comfortable and cruiser oriented ergonomics. It also gets a small yet usable pillion seat while with the accessory package, there’s an additional backrest too. The Speedmaster gets chrome rearview mirrors too as the handlebar is wide too, they come in real handy. The windshield at the front is also tall but not very convenient if you ride in bright sunlight or late in the night.
Engine is very torquey, picks up pace very quickly
Performance – At the heart, the Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster borrows the 1200cc parallel-twin motor from the T120. However, it runs on a slightly different state of tune, making 76 BHP of power at 6100 RPM and a massive 106 Nm of torque at 4000 RPM. However, this wasn’t the first time we rode a Bonneville with a 1200cc parallel-twin engine, yet we were impressed with the immense torque pull. The Bobber had no weight at the rear and it used to wheelspin a lot, the Speedmaster on the other hand did not wheelspin as much with its much-sophisticated traction control. Once turned off, without good throttle control, all hell breaks loose! Redlining at 6500 RPM, the powertrain picks up pace very quickly.
The 1200cc motor in complete flesh, did you notice the key placement?
The twin exhaust rumble from the 1200cc motor is very soothing, it is neither too loud nor too quiet
The 6-speed gearbox has slick shifts but the clutch feels so heavy that getting it into neutral is also a task. The Speedmaster just like other Bonneville motorcycles, has tall gears which means lesser gear shifts are required. Hitting the ton is just as easy and quick as it can be. First gear tops out at 80 km/hr while second gear takes the bike to 120 km/hr. However, the engine runs smoothly even in the sixth gear at 60 km/hr. Unlike the other 1200s, there are no vibrations at all. Even without any aftermarket exhaust, the bike is loud and grabs all the attention once revved hard!
The Bonneville Speedmaster looks just as alluring as it can be
Riding Dynamics – As the Speedmaster has very comfortable ergonomics, getting used to the riding posture won’t take much time. However, getting used to the beach-bar handlebars will surely take some time. The low saddle height makes it easy for anyone to ride. Unlike the Bobber it has two seats and the seat height cannot be adjusted. The maximum seat height is 705 mm with a ground clearance which is better than the Bobber. The front 41 mm KYB forks are the same as we’ve seen on all Bonneville models and the rear suspension is a tiny KYB monoshock with linkage offering only 72 mm of travel. Overall, the motorcycle is comfortable but not suited as much for riding on Indian roads. The Speedmaster has a raw mass of 245.5 kgs and yet it doesn’t feel heavy once you get going.
Riding at any speeds, the Speedmaster stays just as comfortable
A regular cruiser to live with and yet the Speedmaster is one hell of a looker
The rake angle is also high making the wheelbase a little longer at 1510 mm. Hence, the Speedmaster requires extra effort and a little more lean angle to tackle corners. Unlike the other Bonnevilles, the Speedmaster has a 16-inch rim at the front as well as the rear. It also gets thicker rubber, a 130 section at the front and 150 section at the rear. The Cobra tyres come from England and are made by Avon. However, these tyres don’t grip as much as you would expect on our Indian roads. In spite of that, the 310 mm dual disc at the front and the 255 mm single disc at the rear provide enough braking feedback.
Holding triple digit speeds isn’t a problem for the Speedmaster
Verdict – Easily the most cruiser looking motorcycle of the Triumph Bonneville lineup, the Speedmaster would take some time for the rider to get used to the handlebars and the windscreen (if opted for). But once on the saddle, the comfort it provides just takes you over. The refinement from the parallel-twin motor just makes the Speedmaster a lot more appealing. It has a few shortcomings like the tyres and suspension don’t gel well if you encounter bad roads. And the windscreen visor just drafts a lot of air at high speeds. But the cruiser character and a retro appeal gives it the necessary brownie points.
The Speedmaster gets a pair of these leather saddle bags, quite useful to carry some luggage
What’s Cool
* Cruiser retro design looks very cool
* Low seat height makes it accessible to all kind of riders
* Parallel-twin rumble is very engaging, the engine is refined too
What’s Not So Cool
* Rear suspension has a bounce-back effect on bad roads
* Long wheelbase, difficult to turn around and requires efforts
Only if it could take the Indian roads just as gracefully as it rides
Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster Specifications
* Engine: 1200cc, Parallel-Twin, Liquid-Cooled, 8-Valve, SOHC
* Power: 76 BHP @ 6100 RPM
* Torque: 106 Nm @ 4000 RPM
* Transmission: 6-speed
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Frame: Tubular Steel Cradle
* Suspension: 41 mm KYB Telescopic Forks (Front), KYB Monoshock with Linkage (Rear)
* Tyres: 130/90/16 (Front), 150/80/16 (Rear) (Cobra Avon)
* Brakes: 310 mm Dual Discs (Front), 255 mm Disc (Rear), ABS
Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster Dimensions
* Length x Width x Height: 2235 mm x 770 mm x 1040 mm
* Wheelbase: 1510 mm
* Seat Height: 705 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 12-litres
* Kerb weight: 245.5 kgs
Testers’ Note:
[wp-review id=”222181″]