‘Two wheeled perfection’
Jumping on the retro bus, yes... but Triumph also nailed the modern rider’s needs
Best summer ever? Maybe that’s stretching things, but looking back at 2019 it’s easy to become gooey. We had some glorious weather, with the warmest Easter and August bank holiday on record, while July threw up the UK’S hottest-ever day. Royal Enfield and Yamaha revitalised the market with the high-value Interceptor and oh-so-cool Ténéré. Nobody knew what a pandemic was. And indelibly etched in my memory is the arrival of Triumph’s Speed Twin: two-wheel perfection for UK riders. Triumph had punted shiny retros for yonks, but 2016’s
Street Twin, Bonneville and Thruxton cemented them as the go-to for throwbacks. 2019’s Speed Twin appeared more of the same, just an upright take on the café-racer Thruxton.
Yet this bike delivered more; a package of performance, rich sensations, accessibility and tank-stroking feel-good ideal for middleaged blokes with limited free time. Which of course is most of us. B-roads are the natural habitat of British riders and the Speed Twin excels on flinging, scurrying, sun-dappled tarmac. Its confidenceswelling chassis seamlessly merges rapid steering and the direction changes of a chased squirrel with bend-swinging civility, composure and stability. The 1200cc motor is all torque, with a range-wide torrent delivered though abrupt ratios, yet is as happy pootling while you sniff the hedgerows. But it’s how it feels while dispensing its dynamic that wraps all its goodness into such a compelling whole. Bikes are about sensations, not adaptive cruise, touchscreen colour displays or hill hold, and the Triumph makes you spill over with choice-affirming emotion. I did 3000 miles on one that summer, and revelled in its quick-fix thrills, rumbling charm, flattering ride. It’s a bike built for me. For us. Smitten with the Triumph’s combination of modern ability, on-trend looks, real-road performance and ego-boosting feel, we made it 2019 Bike of the Year. And its genius hasn’t gone unnoticed: last year the vibrant Speed Twin was easily the best-selling large naked, overshadowing all headline-making supernakeds. Like I said: perfect for UK riders.
‘Rich sensations and tank-stroking feel-good’