Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster

The Speedmaster is a softened up version of the more focussed Bobber, with traits expected of a cruiser. It might miss out on size but it perfectly marries modern technology with vintage design. It gets LED elements in the headlamp, tail lamp and turn indicators, while the vintage Beach-style handlebars are a nice touch. The optional Highway pack (Rs 1,23,736 excluding taxes) helps give the bike a larger silhouette. The pack includes a front windshield, more comfortable rider and passenger seats, pillion backrest, pannier mounts and two beautifully crafted leather panniers. There are three colours on offer: Red, Black and a two-tone green/white. Fit and finish levels are top notch, as is the attention to detail seen all over the bike. The features list is impressive as well. It has all-LED lighting, ride-by-wire, two riding modes, traction control and cruise control.

Though the Speedmaster is based on the Bonneville Bobber, the two couldn't be more different. It gets a rear subframe that’s been beefed up to accommodate a pillion seat, while the rear wheel travel has been reduced. Other changes include twin discs with Brembo calipers at the front, a sharper rake and a fatter 16-inch front wheel. The front forks and rear monoshock have short travel and are a tad stiff. However, they feel plush when compared to the Bobber’s sporty setup, especially the rear monoshock that has lesser travel but gets a variable spring rate. Ground clearance is on the lower side so you do have to be careful while negotiating badly designed speed breakers. The Speedmaster corners quite well for a cruiser and is only held back by its low cornering clearance. The 1200cc liquid-cooled parallel twin motor might have the same internals as the Bonneville T120’s ‘High Torque’ unit but it is tuned to the same specification as the Bonneville Bobber. It is a highly torquey motor with plenty of shove available across the rev range before tapering off post 6000rpm. Refinement is of top order, with only a small amount of vibration creeping around the top end of the rev band. The gearbox and clutch feature light actuation and riding the bike in the city feels effortless.