Torque of the town: Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster review

13 March 2023 , 10:21

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Just cruising – Fraser rides the Bonneville Speedmaster (Image: Megan Rudd)

When we think of “cruiser” motorcycle marques, those that immediately come to mind are probably Harley-Davidson, with its Sport Glide, Low Rider and Fat Boy, BMW with its R18, Indian’s Chief range or even Ducati and its love-it-or-hate XDiavel.

One manufacturer which probably wouldn’t be top of the list is Triumph – unless one considers the mammoth 2500cc Rocket 3, which is a fantastic bike, but not to everyone’s taste.

But what of the Hinckley, Leicestershire, firm’s Bonneville.

Surely one of the most iconic names in motorbiking, the “Bonnie” is probably regarded by most as a 60s-style cafe racer.

Iconic – Famous badge and superb 1200cc parallel twin (Megan Rudd)

There are four Bonneville’s in the current line-up and one look at the model we are testing here, the Speedmaster, puts to bed any notion that a Bonneville can’t be a “proper” cruiser.

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Just look at those magnificent swept-back bars, the forward-mounted footpegs and the plush seat.

Torque of the town: Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster review

Swept-back bars and forward footpegs (Megan Rudd)

The Speedmaster is one of those bikes that somehow looks even better in the flesh than in photos.

And it really is a beauty, the superb build and finish quality, plus the attention to detail, immediately obvious when you swing a leg over the comfortably low seat.

High quality finish and attention to detail (Megan Rudd)

Despite weighing over 260kg, that proximity to the tarmac means the bike feels perfectly manageable.

Hit the start button and you are met with a glorious deep rumble.

Known for their outstanding triples, Triumph’s technicians also seem to be the current masters of parallel twins and this liquid-cooled 1200cc is an absolute diamond.

Torque of the town – Plenty of low and mid-range oomph (Megan Rudd)

This is the High Torque version of the engine and that is immediately apparent, with oodles of it on tap at low to mid speeds.

There are two ride modes, Rain and Road, and with so much torque on hand, I found it was actually best to stick it in the former around town for smoother throttle control at low speeds.

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Don’t let the laidback looks and feet-forward riding position fool you though – this bike really can get a shift on when you give it some welly out on the open road.

Nimble – Surprisingly agile through the bends (Megan Rudd)

It’s also surprisingly smooth, assured and, dare I say, nimble through the bends, aided by Showa 47mm forks and a KYB rear shock (pre-load adjustable).

So much so that it’s pretty easy to ground the pegs and I was thankful for the generous “hero blobs”.

Twin 310mm discs with Brembo calipers up front and a 255mm rear with Nissin caliper, combine to provide perfectly assured stopping power.