Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster

The Triumph Speedmaster is the newest entry in the midsize cruiser segment. It rivals the Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom and Indian Scout. While the Speedmaster carries the Bonneville Bobber's DNA, it gets mechanical changes for that cruiser look and ride experience. One of the key highlights of this bike is its design and the way it manages to seamlessly blend modern technology like all LED lighting with retro design aesthetics.

It gets a 1200cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin motor that is engineered to look like an old-school air-cooled motor. The engine is quite torquey with usable power available all across the rev range. Aiding its usability is the ride-by-wire and slipper clutch that makes the bike effortless to ride both in city and on the highway. 

Suspension setup is on the stiffer side. However, since damping is quite good, the rider is well insulated from bad road surfaces. Handling is as agile as the Bobber, though it has low cornering clearance leading to excessive footpeg scraping. The ground clearance, by cruiser standards, is acceptable. 

The Speedmaster retails at Rs 11.11. lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). At this price, it is positioned between the Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom (Rs 10.65 lakh) and the Indian Scout (Rs 12.7 lakh). Compared to the competition, the Speedmaster offers better value for money as it is a better overall package and gets features like rider modes, traction control and cruise control. 

The Speedmaster might not feel as big as its rivals, but looks fantastic. It perfectly blends modern tech with retro aesthetics. For example, the vintage looking headlamp, tail lamp and turn indicators house LED lighting elements. Its swooping fuel tank and vintage 'Beach' style handlebars are a nice touch too. Fit and finish is excellent and overall attention to detail is exemplary.

If size is an issue, you can opt for the Highway pack. This kit comprises of a front windshield, more comfortable rider and passenger seats, pillion backrest, pannier mounts and two beautifully crafted leather panniers. These add-ons do make the Speedmaster look substantially larger and cost Rs 1,23,736 (excluding taxes). 

The Speedmaster easily trumps the competition when it comes to features. It gets all-LED lighting, ride-by-wire, two riding modes, traction control and cruise control. These features are not available on both the Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom and Indian Scout. 

Safety features on the Triumph Speedmaster include riding modes, traction control, slipper clutch and ABS.

The Speedmaster' 1200cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin motor might be base on the Bonneville T120’s ‘High Torque’ unit but it is tuned to the same specification as the Bonneville Bobber. It makes 77PS of power and 106Nm of torque. The torquey motor gets plenty of shove across the rev range right upto its 6800rpm redline. Other highlights are its refinement and extremely low NVH levels. Another bonus is the throaty exhaust note that crackles and pops on overrun.

During our performance tests, the Speedmaster clocked the 0-60kmph sprint in 2.51 seconds and the 0-100kmph sprint in 5.05 seconds. The abundance of torque not only delivers fantastic acceleration times but also good fuel efficiency. The Speedmaster runs a relaxed 3000rpm in sixth gear at speeds of up to 100kmph on the highway, helping it deliver an impressive 27.6kmpl. The motor barely crosses 2000rpm at 50kmph in fourth gear in the city. Constant gearshifts in city traffic sees the fuel efficiency drop to 17.58kmpl.

Highway riding is a breeze, thanks to the torquey and flexible motor allowing you to effortlessly overtake other vehicles at any speed. The six-speed gearbox has tall ratios. While ratios are on the taller side, they are a tad clunky but have a positive actuation. The bike has light controls, thanks to the ride-by-wire and slipper clutch that lends light throttle actuation and a light clutch lever feel.

The Speedmaster's ergonomics seem attuned to shorter riders. Case in point being the low 710mm seat height. The optional comfort seat from the 'Highway' kit offers fantastic support and makes for trouble-free and comfortable long distance rides. The optional front windscreen is well mounted and does not shake at speed, though it could have done with some vents directed towards the rider. The 'Beach' style handlebars look fantastic but feel uncomfortable over long distance rides. 

The Speedmaster gets a new rear subframe that is different from the Bonneville Bobber in order to accommodate a pillion seat. The rear monoshock has a smaller travel than the Bonneville Bobber, but features a variable spring rate so ride feels plusher than that on the Bobber. While ride, like the Bobber, is a tad on the stiffer side, it has excellent damping which insulates the rider and pillion well from bad road surfaces. Like most cruisers, ground clearance is on the lower side, so you do have to be careful while riding over steep speed breakers.

The Bobber's sporty handling traits are retained by the Speedmaster too. It gets a fatter 16-inch front wheel (19-inch on the Bobber) which leads to a slightly heavier feeling front end though it tips into corners quicker than the Bobber. Mid-corner stability is so good that we had to complain about the cruiser's low cornering clearance as it is quite easy to scrape footpegs. The bike comes shod with Avon tyres that provide excellent grip on dry tarmac. 

Brakes on the Speedmaster have been upgraded to twin 310mm front disc brakes with Brembo calipers. They offer strong bike but the front brake lever requires some amount of effort to operate.