2022 Triumph Speed Twin Review | Motorcyclist

  • last year
Triumph Motorcycles specializes in manufacturing new motorcycles that ride pleasingly like old ones. The company has mastered the art of preserving the sound, feel, and overall character that make old-school streetbikes so neat, without the need for riders to add engine oil every few weeks. Its 2022 Speed Twin ($12,500) is the latest modern classic to roll off its Hinckley assembly line, and it rides as well as it looks.

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Obviously, we’re big fans of the Speed Twin’s looks. From its oversized and cooling-fin-shod 1,200cc parallel twin to its old-school shaped 3.8-gallon metal fuel tank and dual swept exhaust, it’s a classic standard that’s sure to turn heads. Aside from a couple of cheap fasteners, for example the clutch tension barrel adjuster, the bike’s fit and finish is top-notch. We deeply appreciate Triumph’s attention to detail.

Flip the ignition key and thumb the starter button and the Speed Twin settles into a lumpy idle. With its offset engine firing order, the twin’s healthy growl builds excitement but isn’t enough to annoy the neighbors. Throttle response is measured, and we love the bike’s rowdy bark at full song. The last time we dyno tested it (MY2020), the engine was good for nearly 80 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm and 91.4 hp at 6,700 rpm; not bad for a retro-themed standard. Power gets to the 160-series Metzeler Racetec rear tire through a responsive, well-weighted cable-actuated clutch and right-hand-side chain final drive.

Lifting the 476-pound Trumpet off its kickstand requires some muscle, but from behind the bars its heft is easier to manage. We appreciate its slim seating position, well-proportioned ergonomics, and low seat height...

Find out more: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/reviews/2022-triumph-speed-twin/

Photography/video/edit: Joseph Agustin

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Sports
Transcript
00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 Hey folks, we just got done riding
00:16 Triumph Motorcycles 2022 Speed Twin.
00:21 This is a standard roadster style motorcycle
00:26 from the Hinckley brand in England.
00:30 Now, for the 2022 model year,
00:34 Triumph's done a number of improvements on this motorcycle.
00:39 Let's start with the engine.
00:41 As usual, 1200 CC water-cooled parallel twin
00:46 powers this Speed Twin.
00:49 And the engine is just marvelous.
00:51 It creates a ton of torque.
00:53 It has a very, very pleasing engine and exhaust note.
00:58 I love the power pulses of this engine.
01:03 It brings me back into what I would think
01:06 the old days would even be.
01:08 I was a kid during the 1970s, well, I was one years old,
01:12 but if I was alive back then,
01:14 this engine configuration just reminds me of that era.
01:18 Just lots of character, lots of power,
01:21 a very fun ride down memory lane.
01:26 Even though this is more of a classically styled motorcycle,
01:31 this street bike really likes to boogie
01:34 when the road gets curvy.
01:36 I was really impressed with how well
01:39 this motorcycle handles.
01:41 It's very fun to ride in the corners.
01:45 The motorcycle, without a doubt, it's heavy.
01:49 When you're pushing it around the parking lot,
01:51 when you're wheeling it in and out of the garage,
01:53 it's a heavy motorcycle.
01:54 But with 17 inch wheels spinning, it's very maneuverable.
01:59 I like the suspension action.
02:02 It soaked up the bumps really well
02:04 and delivered me to where I wanted to be very comfortably.
02:08 But at the same time, for a motorcycle that costs $12,500,
02:12 this motorcycle should have adjustable suspension.
02:17 The chassis is definitely up for whaling.
02:20 And when you start really getting after on this bike,
02:23 the suspension is a little bit of the weak link.
02:27 For this price, for the capability of the chassis,
02:31 we would really like to see adjustable suspension
02:33 on this Speed Twin.
02:36 Braking components, triple disc hydraulic brakes
02:40 keep speed in check.
02:41 I love the big rigid feeling Brembo Stylema calipers.
02:46 Those calipers are just awesome.
02:49 But again, they're almost a little bit overkill
02:52 compared to the more limited sport capability
02:56 of that suspension.
02:58 I still love the power and the feel of the brakes.
03:01 The radial mount master cylinder on the front brake system
03:06 is very good, nice touch.
03:09 Overall, if you're looking for a really, really fun,
03:14 standard roadster style motorcycle
03:16 that looks like an old bike,
03:19 but still has all the modern touches,
03:22 like big powerful brakes,
03:24 a nice torquey parallel twin engine,
03:27 and that signature styling
03:30 that Triumph Motorcycles is all about,
03:33 you're gonna really like this Speed Twin.
03:37 But still, for $12,500,
03:39 that's still, it's a motorcycle that commands a big price.
03:44 Doesn't have adjustable suspension,
03:47 it still uses a halogen headlamp,
03:50 which is nowhere near as bright as a modern LED setup.
03:55 But still, if you can overlook those two bugaboos,
04:00 the 2022 Speed Twin is one heck of a fun motorcycle to ride.
04:05 All right, folks, that's a wrap
04:08 from the 2022 Triumph Motorcycles Speed Twin review.
04:13 Please log on to MotorcyclistOnline.com.
04:15 That's where all of my written content lives.
04:19 Give this video a thumbs up if you liked it.
04:21 Please thumbs it down if you didn't.
04:23 And we'll see you next time.
04:24 Thanks for riding with us today.
04:25 (upbeat music)
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