Last friday we were invited to attend the first look of new Triumph Speed Twin at Triumph’s Hinckley Factory but due to various reasons I was unable to attend. So I askedMaja Kenney of Maja’s Motorcycle Adventuresshe kindly took my place, heres her initial impression.
Last week I had the pleasure of taking out Triumph’s best-selling modern classic – the Speed Twin that has been updated for 2021.
When I arrived at Triumph I was walked through the controls on the bike. There were no surprises, you’ll be happy to hear. I was then set free to explore some of the quaint Warwickshire villages and lanes.
My first goal was to find a pub. It was lunchtime, I was hungry and I wanted to sit down and look at the bike properly. I have found a lovely pub with parking and outdoor seating. Perfect. I parked up, stopped the engine, and looked for the side stand. I fished with my left foot to kick it out but couldn’t do it. I was sitting on the bike, getting hot as the sun was beaming down on me and by now, the customers in the pub garden started to pay attention. I still couldn’t get the side stand out.
Eventually, I had to lean over and unfold it by hand. But let me explain. I wasn’t exactly wearing the right type of clothing for this beautiful machine. I was in full leathers and racing boots because I had literally gone from Cadwell Park to the Triumph factory. This is not what one might normally choose to wear on a bike like this and therefore the stiffness of the boot meant I had to angle my foot just so, to get the side stand out. Once I figured it out it was as easy as on any other bike.
First things first. The bike is beautiful. I have a huge appreciation for old machines, this includes cars and motorcycles. Thank you, dad! That doesn’t mean I would necessarily choose to run an old classic myself, I don’t know enough about the maintenance. But to have a modern classic where maintenance is easy and the ride feels as effortless as modern bikes do these days, it makes for an interesting proposition.
The setup was perfect for just such a day out. Sunshine, country lanes, big open spaces, and quaint sleepy villages. The seating position is super comfortable, straight back, head up, knees not too bent. The seat height is at 809 mm and the seat itself is quite narrow which means you don’t lose much of the height if your legs are of a shorter disposition.
Big flat bars make the bike super easy to maneuver and a joy to go around the bends. The total (wet) weight of the bike is 216 kg which surprised me as this is almost the same as my Supersport and for some reason I expected the Speed Twin to be lighter.
The Speed Twin is perfectly happy doing 30 mph letting you enjoy the scenery and the gentle ride through the villages. But don’t be fooled, with its 1200cc engine and 98.6 bhp it produces a pretty swift power delivery when you open up the throttle. I got caught out at first, I was wearing waterproofs over my leathers and I slid back on the seat when I came to a clear bit of the road. I had to laugh and I was a bit more steady with the throttle on the next attempt and when overtaking.
Switching between the riding modes is easy. All you have to do is stop the bike and have it in neutral gear, keep the engine running and press one button once for rain mode, again for road mode and again for sport mode. It’s that simple.
The detail and the styling of the Speed Twin have clearly had plenty of attention. The brushed aluminium fuel cap, front and rear mudguards, side panel finishers and heel guards are set off beautifully against the stunning red paint of the fuel tank. Or the Red hopper paint scheme as it is officially called. Two more colour schemes are available, Matt Storm Grey with subtle yellow accents and the Jet Black.
The bar end mirrors finish the look off nicely and the signature LED daylight running light is incorporated into the headlight. The rear light and the indicators are also LED.
It also comes with 50+ accessories according to their marketing department but an engineer I spoke to in the warehouse said the reality is that half of these are a different colour choice of the same thing. So here’s some straight-talking-non-marketing-fact for you.
Overall, a stunning looking motorcycle that is as happy bimbling along at 30 mph or slower when taking in the views and passing picturesque areas as it is enjoying a more spirited ride to really make you feel the wind on your face.
Triumph is one of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers in the world that continues its legacy of providing fun, agile & distinct motorcycles to enthusiasts all over the world. The latest addition of Trident 660 has infused a new spirit and provided riders with an “entry-level” Triumph that is every bit true to Triumph’s DNA as it gets. The 660cc streetfighter has almost been developed from the ground up and it was only just recently that I really got a chance to test it comprehensively and safe to say, I was pleasantly surprised by the spritely character of the youngest Trident.
Although the Trident 660 is built in Thailand, but its superb built quality and minimalistic form allow it to remain true to Triumph’s heritage. Triumph has done a great job at blending retro styling with contemporary needs making the Trident looks well-balanced & refreshing. Part of the reason behind the refreshing looks can be contributed to its street-racer & naked style which, as we all know, is a category where Triumph really excels. The round LED headlight & a rather brief but cute rear end adds to the overall character & styling of the motorbike which I am sure you’ll also appreciate once you’ve got a glance at it up-close.
Let’s move on to the most important feature of the Trident 660, which, of course, is its powerplant. Unlike the majority of 600cc motorbikes available out there, the “baby” Triumph packs a 3-cylinder engine which, despite having one less cylinder churns out enough punch to make your day-to-day rides a fun experience. The sweet roar of the engine is also quite distinct and helps the British bike boast its unique identity. The power output is rated at 80 hp with 64 Nm of torque, both of which are readily available at mid to higher RPMs, which helps you explore the realms of the bike at a relatively early stage. The robust engine happily takes abuse while the six-speed gearbox effortlessly blends all the gears, leaving no stones unturned for you.
Worthy to mention here is the fact that the Trident 660 weighs in at 190 kgs, which when combined with its 80 hp might feel a bit underwhelming in elevated areas or a racetrack, but I certainly didn’t feel that the bike would be better off with some additional horses or pulling power during my test rides in the extremely sunny Sussex countryside.
The Trident 660 is reasonably packed with electronic & mechanical aides that continuously assist in making the ride more enjoyable & seamless. Such aides include ride-by-wire throttle, non-switchable anti-lock brakes, two riding modes, switchable traction control & an optional quick shifter & autoblipper. The quick shifter works really well, the two riding modes – road & rain, are a blessing, especially in Britain’s unpredictable weather.
The Triumph Trident 660 sits on a tubular steel frame and its ride is assisted at the front by Showa folks and at the rear by Showa’s pre-load adjustable mono-shock. The non-adjustable & a bit harsh folks at the front are a slight bummer, but they surely did wonders when it comes to handling or slight lean angles. This is where the Michelin tyres also come into play, they provided ample grip on dry & wet surfaces. The chassis, developed from the ground up, has enough flexibility to let you go hooligan if you are in the mood to go wild.
Another feature that stands out is the ergonomics which is well set up. The round digital instrument cluster honors the tradition of retro Triumphs, albeit in a contemporary way and all of its controls are nicely laid out on the left handlebar, whilst the settings too are quite intuitive. The riding posture is slightly similar to sports motorbikes but is far from being uncomfortable. The seat, placed at a height of 805 mm(31.7 inches), is welcoming for all age groups, being 5’8″ (but with short legs I’ve been told) meant I was able to get both feet down when at the lights or junctions. The comfort level of the seat is at par or better than the competitors and the pillion seat is wide & comfy enough for someone wanting to take a short trip on it but would suggest the pillion grip accessory that you can purchase as an extra.
Whilst riding on motorway due to the nakedness of the bike (which I loved the looks) I was buffeted around a fair bit especially living by the seaside you get extra wind off sea. That said Triumph do supply as an extra accessory a moulded fly screen which they say is designed to reduce wind fatigue.
Overall, the Trident 660 is a great motorbike for newbies & pros alike. Triumph’s impeccable build quality is there, the overall design falls nothing short of refreshing. You will walk away from the bike with a smile on your face. At from £7,395.00, Triumph’s latest package not only proves its worth but also offers a lot to those who want a quality British two-wheeler. I had the Sapphire black for this test which had the looks but I do particularly like the union jack detail on the grey model Matt Jet Black and Silver ICE and also features on the Silver Ice Diablo Red but these are £100 more from £7,495.00 (prices from official website)
Motorcycle kindly supplied by Triumph UK, for more information on Triumph Motorcycles UK visit triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/
Myself and Maja Kenney of Maja’s Motorcycle Adventures were invited along to Piaggio press day to try out some of the brands bikes. My short musing can be read here below are Maja’s thoughts on the day and machines.
A couple of weeks ago I was invited to attend Piaggio Press Day in Silverstone. That means riding Italian bikes for the day. I couldn’t be happier. Aprilia, in particular, was always one on my want list.
I have made my selection of bikes I wanted to ride before I arrived at Silverstone and I was a little bit anxious and very much excited to get going. A number of us attended and were greeted by the very friendly team at Piaggio. Once the paperwork and the initial briefing were done we set off on our first ride.
Each had four time slots to ride four different bikes and we were guided around Silverstone by Mark from Spyder Motorcycles Hire.
My first choice was a Moto Guzzi V85 TT. I am on the lookout for a good adventure bike to run my tours on and with my passion for everything Italian and something that is a little bit rare, this seemed like it could be just the ticket. I jumped on and started the engine and was surprised by how much the bike shook. The engine vibrated so hard it felt the whole bike was moving sideways. Once we got going the shaking stopped and the ride was very smooth. I did find the V85 quite tall and was on my tiptoes as it usually happens on adventure bikes and I stand at 5’6” so not exactly short. The bike was easy to ride, smooth gear changes, easy to corner and it was very comfortable. Suspension is great and I barely noticed the raised ironworks or potholes. In fact, it almost felt as if I was sitting on a sofa and not riding the bike myself. When we returned back to base I dismounted the bike and didn’t even look back. It hasn’t really made much of an impression on me, I would say it would be a useful tool rather than the passion inducing Italian machine.
My second bike choice was the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory. I was really excited about riding this one, having experienced a V4 engine on another Italian a couple of months prior, I was really looking forward to seeing how it compares. The sitting position on the Tuono is more upright, similar to my Ducati Supersport which makes it great for covering the miles in relative comfort. It rivals the Ducati Streetfighter and the BMW S1000R in its design, purpose and looks. The ride is rapid and smooth, the power delivery is consistent and it corners beautifully. It is a beautiful machine that sounds amazing and looks stunning. However, I felt there are too many electronics controlling the ride and I wasn’t really in charge, more of a pillion. It was almost too perfect for enjoyment and whilst I did have a big grin on my face once the ride ended I can’t say it moved my soul.
We stopped for lunch, a proper Italian wood fired pizza oven was waiting for our orders and it was delicious. The weather has turned and it has started to rain which was a bit annoying given that my next bike was the new Aprilia RS660.
I am always a bit anxious sitting on a sports bike because of the riding position. I worry about putting too much weight through my wrists and losing the control of the bike when needed but it always turns out to be an unnecessary worry and in fact, I quite enjoy short rides on such bikes. The RS660 has full fairings which I am used to and that certainly helped because the winds have picked up and at times I felt the winds will pick me and the bike off the road too! An opportunity for an overtake reminded me that you need to work a little bit harder to have enough speed for a safe overtake. Similarly to the V4 Tuono, the bike seems to ride itself and I was very surprised at how small the bike is overall. I felt I was literally sitting on top of it with very little of the bike in front of me. It felt odd to start with but I quickly got used to it and actually felt more in control of the bike and the ride.
My original plan was to leave early and head back to North Wales but was talked into staying for the last ride and to try the Aprilia Tuono 660. The truth is, I was enjoying the other two so much I didn’t really need my arm twisting. And I was glad I stayed! The upright sitting position and the slightly smaller bike to the V4 felt instantly comfortable and oddly familiar. I couldn’t wait to get going. Even in the rain, it felt stable and connected to the road. Somehow it felt faster than the RS660 and less controlling than the V4. I actually felt like I was in charge, not the bike. The cornering was super effortless, incredibly responsive to all of my commandes, it felt raw and willing to listen and follow my lead. I think it was quite obvious when we returned just how much I enjoyed the bike and which ones was my favourite of the day! Huge grin and I wouldn’t shut up about it. I am looking forward to spending more time on this bike to give it a proper review.
After the rides finished we stopped for a cake and more coffee, chatted amongst ourselves and compared notes whilst hoping the rain would stop. No such luck and eventually we felt we better leave our wonderful hosts to wrap up their day as I jumped back on my Supersport for a very windy and rainy ride back to North Wales.
We are looking to review the following items, if you have an item or bike you would like us to review and have it featured on Superbike News and Laramoto.com just email us Superbike News
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Thanks again to Wollaston Motorrad BMW in Northampton UK. https://www.wbikes.com for lending us this bike. Check out their website for all the deals!
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We were filming in gale force winds AGAIN so we apologise for the sound quality, although we have filtered most of it out.
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If you have a bike you’d like me to race or review – get in touch via laramotorevATgmail.com or just leave a comment below!
What I’m wearing – (top half) – the Knox Urbane Pro and the (bottom half) Held Joker Trousers.
Gloves are Knox Handroids and my helmet is made by Nexx. Get in touch if you want some Knox kit! 🙂
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