Triumph Speedmaster 1200 (2018-on) Review

Triumph’s original Bonneville Speedmaster was a two-seat version of the hugely successful Bobber and arguably more desirable and practical, plus you have the option of sharing the ride with a (small) pillion. It’s laid-back, smooth and has class-leading handling.

• Latest news: Triumph unveil Stealth Editions of Bonneville family
• Related: 2021 Triumph Speedmaster revealed as whole Bonneville family unveiled

It's powered by a water-cooled parallel twin and tucked away is tech such as ABS, traction control, cruise control and even two power modes. Running feet-forward footpegs, swept-back beach bars and the same 16in wheels and twin front discs as the Bobber Black of the day, it’s aimed at those looking for a chilled retro with the ability to take a pillion - something the Bobber has no provision for.

There’s a small pad attached above the mudguard and a neat chrome grab rail, but the rider’s seat doesn’t exactly have Gold Wing levels of luxury, as MCN tester Jon Urry was to discover when he rode it around the MCN250 test route.

• Related: Best cruisers

He said: "After 272 miles I felt like someone wearing army boots had repeatedly kicked me up the bum. In fact, that sounds preferable to a long stint in the seat. Which is a real shame as it ruins what is, seat aside, a fabulous machine. The Speedmaster has the looks, handling and feel to be a brilliant bike for anyone who enjoys relaxed cruising and the addition of pillion provision opens it up to a whole new audience that the Bobber models can’t satisfy."

"But it is hampered by its poor shock and that seat, so don’t view it as a mile-muncher and if you want a relaxed two-up tourer, buy the Bonneville T120 instead. Despite the agony, I’d have the Speedmaster over the Bonnie as it is better handling and looks amazing. I’d just ensure I got the comfort seat included in the deal."

For 2021 Triumph released an updated version. Chief Road Tester Michael Neeves rode it and said: "It’s low, characterful, easy to ride, beautifully finished and more sure-footed in corners with its new forks.

"The new seat is a marked improvement over the old model’s, too. It’s still a machine to be enjoyed at more relaxed pace, just like an American cruiser, so for more wind in your hair and flies in your teeth on a Sunday morning, a more roadster-style Bonneville will be a better option. That’s not to say the Speedmaster lacks performance, but its grunty engine and laid-back riding position are at their most joyful when you’re taking it easy."

Watch: Triumph Speedmaster 1200 video review

In this film our tester Adam Child takes to the California highways to discover whether the Speedmaster can cruise with the best of 'em. Get his full verdict below...

The suspension on the original 2018 Speedmaster is similar to the Bobber’s and gets that classic hardtail look but is reworked to compensate for the extra weight of a subframe and potential pillion and luggage.

The steering is fluid, and it rolls into corners with relative ease for a laid-back cruiser. Footpegs eventually scrape the road when you push hard, but ground clearance isn’t bad for this type of bike. Twin Brembo calipers offer decent braking considering they’re stopping 245.5kg (dry) of Bonnie and are backed up by an unobtrusive ABS system.

The biggest problem with the way the 2018 Triumph Speedmaster rides is its hard shock and seat, which really made life difficult when tester Jon Urry tackled the MCN250. "Once I pass Burford, the discomfort in my lower back and bum transform into real pain.

"Noises I didn’t know I could make slip through my lips when I hit any pothole. I try sitting on the pillion seat but can only get my bum as far as midway between the rider’s and pillion seat, which is still marginally more comfortable."

For 2021 Triumph have tackled the problem, as Michael Neeves explains: "A plusher new seat with added lumbar support gives the Speedmaster extra comfort over distance – a big improvement over the old model’s.

"The pillion seat also has 11mm thicker foam and, as before, can be removed to give a cleaner single-seat look. The riding position is unmistakably cruisery with feet forward and bars swept back with the grips pointing towards you, like table football handles. It’s easy to ride thanks to a light throttle, clutch and gears and its leant-back, feelgood style works best when cruising, but at motorway speeds, especially in headwind it’s tricky to hang on."

He continues: "Triumphs of all flavours handle superbly and the Speedmaster was never an exception, even with its huge balloon-shaped 16in front tyre and 263kg all-up weight. But Triumph have improved it anyway and swapped the old 41mm forks with Showa 47mm cartridge units, adding even sure-footedness through corners, although footpegs still go down easily.

"At low speed and over smooth ground the ride is plush and cossetting, but its short travel suspension doesn’t like big bumps and it’s easy to get flicked out of the seat when the going gets rough. ABS equipped brakes have reassuring power front and rear."

The original Speedmaster shares the same 'High Torque' engine as Bobber. The parallel twin will pull strongly from as low as 1800rpm, allowing you to simply short-shift at 2000rpm and surf the torque in the classic cruiser style. If you need a quick escape, this Triumph fires away from the lights too, laying down enough power to activate the traction control.

At 70mph the motor is hardly working, hovering around 3000rpm, which results in impressive fuel economy. Triumph claims 54.7mpg but we’ve averaged 64mpg with spirited riding on the original.

At town speeds the engine can feel a little snatchy due to the sheer amount of torque available at low rpm. However, the changeable riding modes smooth-out the power at low speeds and Rain Mode is perfect for town work and low speed cruising.

For 2021 its engine is overhauled. Michael Neeves says: "As well as having a cleaner exhaust with bigger catalysts the engine now has a lighter crankshaft, clutch and balance shafts to let the revs spin up faster.

"What the new internals give, Euro5 takes away, though, so power is only up from 76bhp to 77bhp, at the same 6100rpm. Its 78lb-ft@4000rpm torque figure remains. It’s at it most rewarding at low revs, which is where the meat of its smoothly delivered power lives (it still purrs at 70mph in top at 2950rpm). It’s vibey at high rpm, but if you’re revving the Speedmaster you’re missing the point."

Electronics also get a tweak for 2021, as Neeves points out. "One of the joys of Triumph’s Bonnies is how they mix old-school styling and subtle modern tech. Catalysts are hidden away in darkly rumbling chrome exhausts, the Speedmaster has a hardtail look, despite having a rear shock and it’s packed with silicone secrets, including a ride-by-wire throttle, ABS, traction control and rider modes.

"Road and Rain now have full power with their own throttle and traction control maps, but once you’re in Road mode the electronics stay in the background and you never give them a second thought, but its standard issue cruise control is a nice and very useful touch.

No major issues have been reported on the previous, pre-2018 Bonneville/Bobber range, so the mechanically similar Speedmaster should prove just as reliable. The attention to detail is class leading and the level of finish superb.

Our 2018-on Triumph Speedmaster 1200 owners' reviews show very happy customers, however some list the brakes as being in need of an upgrade, but on a cruiser-style machine like this it’s always the rear brake that does the most work, so don’t get too hung up on any lack of stopping power up front.

The Speedmaster sits at the more expensive end of the Bonneville range, along with the identically priced Bobber it’s based on. It’s also on par with an Indian Scout, but a couple of grand cheaper than an entry-level Harley Davidson.

The 2018 Speedmaster has the same engine and brakes as that year’s Bonneville Bobber Black with twin Brembo calipers and 310mm discs up front and a Nissin caliper at the rear.

Like the Bobber, the Speedmaster’s beauty is in the detail, be it the seat piping or stylish and functional single clock, the battery box with heritage styling or carb-styled twin throttle-bodies, the finned exhaust clamps or hand-finished fuel tank. Every time you gaze at it something new catches the eye.

For 2021 Triumph have been careful not to mess with the Speedmaster’s classic looks too much, so changes have been kept to a minimum. It gets full LED lighting and the analogue clock has a new bezel incorporating an engraved Bonneville logo.

As before there’s a digital readout for the trips, fuel gauge, gear position and riding modes, operated via the left switchgear. Build quality is top notch, from the deep chrome and flawlessly finished 12-litre fuel tank (which will get you 137 miles between fill-ups, based on our 52mpg average).

There’s also a raft of Triumph official accessories available, including wax cotton or leather panniers, a chrome luggage rack, touring screen and footboards.