2011 Cruisers Test: Triumph redeems a ride
After releasing a whole series of rather edgy new motorcycles, Triumph has calmed the game in its novelties by presenting its 2011 Cruisers range, with the magnificent 1700 Storm as the headliner! First try.
Speedmaster and America News
Almost unchanged since their appearance in the Triumph catalog in 2003, the Speedmaster and the America deserved a little facelift! This is done in early 2011, with two motorcycles that come back to us refreshed and especially with more assertive personalities..
The positioning of these two cruisers lacked a little clarity, with identical engines and driving positions and, above all, lines too close..
This is no longer the case with an America which takes a very classic, even retro orientation, and a Speedmaster which plays it more aggressive and stripped-down custom..
Too bad they do not take advantage of this restyling to adopt a toothed belt more in line with the spirit of this kind of motorcycles, instead of a somewhat messy and restrictive chain.
Two good pasta
Descending from the rough 1700 Storm, we find ourselves almost in the world of Care Bears with our two small cruisers of 865 cc. If the big Triumph is rather firm in all respects (saddle, suspensions, brakes, etc.), everything is only soft on the America and the Speedmaster.
Particularly welcoming, they will give confidence to the less experienced bikers. Their saddle height is reduced by 30 mm to only 690 mm, which will reassure the smallest riders..
On paper, the sheer weight of 250 kg fully loaded on our two cruisers is rather impressive. But if it is sensitive during maneuvers with the engine off, all fear dissipates as soon as the ignition is switched on because their center of gravity is placed low enough..
865 cc of softness
The America and the Speedmaster share the same parallel, air-cooled twin as the famous Bonneville, but the timing is different: set 360 ° on the Bonnie, it is 270 ° on the two new Triumph cruisers..
Combined with a different injection mapping, this gives a little more character but a little less flexibility and torque than on the retro roadster. Thus, the twin hiccups a little more if we descend too low in the towers.
The performances are very correct for motorcycles which are not cut for the attack. On the other hand, the sound of their exhausts is quite disappointing, closer to a small 125 4-stroke than a machine of character..
It rubs a little, a lot…
The very curved handlebars of the America encourage more contemplative ride than arousal. And that’s good, because it rubs really very quickly! Even the less experienced riders will quickly overcome its limited ground clearance.
The Speedmaster is doing better, and its T-bar close to that of the Storm offers a natural position. As the footrests rub later, more or less like the Storm, we take more pleasure in winding in the beautiful curves of the surroundings of Le Castellet.
On the braking side, their single front disc does a sufficient job given the performance, but the feeling is a little spongy when taking the lever.
Both pretty and well finished, the America and the Speedmaster are already available at the same price of € 8,990 in the .
If their price does not increase (it is even down by 400 € for the Speedmaster), it is still a bit expensive for poorly equipped motorcycles with modest technological content. Such a price would be more justified if we had, for example, a drive shaft instead of the chain, or at least a belt..
The America is available in gloss black or navy blue and white, like the accessorized model in our test (leather saddlebags and windshield optional). On the Speedmaster, you will have to choose between shiny black and a pretty metallic burgundy.
Benjamin LALO – Photos Jacky LEY
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