Perfect timing: Triumph unveil limited Breitling edition Speed Twin

This up-specced version of Triumph’s Speed Twin is the latest limited edition machine to roll out of the British firm’s Hinckley factory and is the result of a tie-up between the firm and premium Swiss watchmaker, Breitling.

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Called the Triumph Speed Twin Breitling Limited Edition (don’t try to say that in a hurry…), the new bike is based on the latest Speed Twin, as updated last year with more power, uprated suspension and better brakes, but gets a host of additional cosmetic and chassis upgrades. At the same time Breitling are launching a new limited edition chronograph watch, the ‘Top Time Triumph’.

The bike gets a special ‘Breitling Edition’ paintjob, comprising a two-tone blue tank with the base colour matched to that of the original 1951 Triumph Thunderbird as imortalised by Marlon Brando in the movie The Wild One. There’s also a ‘Breitling’ logo on the top of the tank along with hand-painted coachlines.

The faces of the twin dials have a bespoke design which takes cues from the new Breitling watch. There’s a unique perforated, ribbed black leather seat with contrasting grey stitching, which is inspired by the Breitling watch strap design, plus special, Breitling ‘B’ logo-ed billet aluminium engine details. Chassis-wise the Breitling Edition gets higher spec, fully-adjustable Öhlins twin shocks with gloss black springs.

Just 270 examples of the bike are to be built, of which only 36 will be available in the UK. The number was chosen to celebrate the Speed Twin’s 270-degree crank, with each bike having an individually-numbered handlebar clamp and coming with a certificate of authenticity signed by both Triumph CEO Nick Bloor and Breitling CEO Georges Kern.

Buyers will also have the opportunity to purchase their own Breitling Top Time Triumph limited-edition chronograph with matching edition number. The bike will cost £16,000 with prices for the watch TBC.