Custom – Triumph Speedmaster test: on the road again, again – Speedmaster test page 3 – Technical update

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Triumph Speedmaster test: on the road again, again

Custom - Triumph Speedmaster test: on the road again, again - Speedmaster test page 3 - Technical update

The Speedmaster is back in 2018 at Triumph, in a brand new version … very close to the Bobber Black which has just been released too! What is the new Bonneville cruiser from the English brand worth? ? Site fetched the answer from San Diego, California (USA).

Speedmaster test page 3 – Technical point

Engine

As its full name suggests, the Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster is equipped with the parallel twin of the very latest Bonnie: the 1200 HT, for 1200 cc (97.6×80 mm) and "High Torque" or large torque (as opposed to the "High Performance "of the Thruxton R)." The Speedmaster takes more precisely the version developed specifically for the Bobber ", tells us the English manufacturer.

As a reminder, the Bobber already took over the engine of the T120, stalled at 270 °, with liquid cooling and single overhead camshaft activating the 8 valves. But the Hinckley engine manufacturers had revised the Twin (intake, exhaust and injection) in order to strengthen the low revs.

Powered on the Bobber – and on the Speedmaster therefore! – by two air boxes instead of one traditionally, the engine does not only gain in force (+ 10% of torque and power at 4500 rpm than the T120, according to its designers), but also in sound.

Custom - Triumph Speedmaster test: on the road again, again - Speedmaster test page 3 - Technical update

Camouflaged – as always on the motorcycles of the "Modern Classics" range of Triumph – by dummy carburettors and controlled by a ride-by-wire accelerator, the electronic injection of the Bobber and Speedmaster uses a particular mapping.

The stainless steel beveled tailpipes are extremely similar to those fitted to the Bobber, so that the maximum power and torque values ​​do not vary from one technical sheet to another: 77 hp at 6100 rpm min and 106 Newton-meters at 4000 rpm.

Custom - Triumph Speedmaster test: on the road again, again - Speedmaster test page 3 - Technical update

Compared to the previous Speedmaster, the 900 cc released from the catalog of the British manufacturer at the end of 2015, the torque climbs by 42% … "The comparison may seem out of date, but for customers satisfied with the old model who wish to replace it with in 2018, the difference will be clear! ", observes one of the Triumph managers.

The rest of the block is identical to those of the entire Bonneville family: the Speedmaster scrupulously retains the same six-speed gearbox and the final chain transmission … Heavy rollers would no doubt have preferred a belt, less demanding in terms of maintenance. Pity.

The multi-disc clutch in an oil bath is always assisted by an anti-slipping system which prevents any locking of the rear wheel when downshifting, and greatly reduces the force required to be supplied to the lever to disengage. The maintenance intervals of the water mill remain fixed every 16,000 km.

Part-cycle

The Bobber frame serves as the basis for the Speedmaster: the front part is basically the same, while the rear part is reconfigured to accommodate saddle the passenger folding seat … which can be removed using a single screw placed under the driver’s seat !

The rider’s saddle, in fact, is 15 mm higher on the Speedmaster than on the Bobber. But it remains very close to the ground: at exactly 705 mm, which makes this bike accessible to all bikers, whatever their size. !

Custom - Triumph Speedmaster test: on the road again, again - Speedmaster test page 3 - Technical update

The dimensions of the chassis are barely modified compared to the Bobber (s): Triumph engineers kept the wheelbase of 1510 mm but very slightly closed the caster angle (25.3 ° against 25.8) while lengthening the socket (91.4 mm Vs 87.9). The rims and tires are stuck in Bobber Black: 130 / 90B16 at the front and 150 / 80R16 at the rear.

At the level of the front axle, Triumph also renewed the two 310 mm discs pinched by Brembo calipers mounted on the "Black" (these are Nissins on the Bonneville T120 and the "short" Bobber), but did not retained the generous 47 mm fork: the Speedmaster is satisfied with a non-adjustable 41 mm model … But with rubber bellows, which is essential on this type of motorcycle !

Custom - Triumph Speedmaster test: on the road again, again - Speedmaster test page 3 - Technical update

At the rear, the ingenious and aesthetic triangular swingarm continues to trap inattentive bikers: no, the Speedmaster is not a "hardtail"! A central mono-shock absorber placed under the buttocks of the pilot and mounted on rods offers the rear wheel a travel of 73 mm, far from being useless and ridiculous: "it is 36% more than our main competitors", tackle the passing the English engineers.

Pneumatic partner Avon equips the Speedmaster when it leaves the factory … based in Thailand! An exotic provenance for the English, which in no way prevents it from achieving comparable or even superior levels of finish with regard to the engine in particular, to the finest European or Japanese productions..

Custom - Triumph Speedmaster test: on the road again, again - Speedmaster test page 3 - Technical update

In its black and white biton color, the Speedmaster also has hand-painted borders. These elegantly dress the new 12 l tank, three liters more than on the Bobber and two less than on the Bonneville T120.

"Why not have chosen this intermediate capacity? Because the lines of the Speedmaster had to remain fluid", replies to us tit-for-tat its designer! "It was necessary to respect the proportions of this rather flat and low motorcycle, while providing it with good autonomy".

"Last but not least", the driving position has been completely revised via forward foot controls and a "Beach Bar" type handlebar tilted back. The laid back spirit of American cruisers! – is thus perfectly respected.

Electronics and piloting aids

Compulsory in Europe for a year (January 1, 2017), ABS is fitted as standard on the 2018 Speedmaster. But Triumph does not content itself with respecting the standards in force and incorporates in its motorcycles, including the most "classic", modern solutions.

The presence of the electronic ride-by-wire accelerator makes it possible to include two injection maps: Rain (rain, softer but no less powerful) and Road (road), which the pilot can select while driving using the button " M "of the right stalk and which it then validates by disengaging, quite simply.

Custom - Triumph Speedmaster test: on the road again, again - Speedmaster test page 3 - Technical update

Electronic throttle management also simplifies the installation of a cruise control, which is itself ultra simple to use because it is very basic: a single button allows you to determine the speed to be maintained (between 30 and 100 mph, in 4th gear and in -of the).

Like other new generation Bonneville (1200 cc), the Speedmaster also receives traction control which should reassure drivers on slippery roads. Unlike the ABS, the TTC can be disconnected, via the left stalk and when stationary only.

Custom - Triumph Speedmaster test: on the road again, again - Speedmaster test page 3 - Technical update

The instrumentation is the same as that installed on the recent Bobber Black: the analogue double-graduation speedometer (km / h and mph) incorporates an LCD screen on which a fuel gauge, the gear indicator, is continuously displayed. engaged and engine mode engaged. But that’s not all !

Thanks to the "i" button on the left stalk, the pilot can then scroll through numerous data: the odometer, the two partial trips, the instantaneous and average consumption, the remaining range, the clock and the traction control status (on or off). What more ?

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