In an nutshell, the Triumph seems to be well made, paint and chrome is good, and engine so far seems perfectly reliable <touches wood>. The riding position is incredibly comfortable with a massive low slung gunfighter seat. Forward controls are cool too and hardly took any getting used to. Its not a heavyweight cruiser and goes round corners surprisingly well, with pegs touching down at roundabouts. The Speedmaster is quick enough but occasionally could do with a little more power, the noise does make up for it though.

Highly recommended.

Russ Stevens

One observation... other bikers have stopped nodding when they pass, sports bike riders appear to look down at cruiser riders, and cruiser riders are way too cool to nod. But, I get loads of attention from car drivers and pedestrians. The engine looks virtually identical to the original Bonnevilles of the 60s. The fuel injection unit looks like a pair of twin carbs, and you think you can see a chrome pancake filter, but the airbox is actually hidden away. A guy came up to me once when I was filling up with petrol and said, “Ahh, I used to have a Bonny long ago, what year is yours?” and he was shocked when I said it was brand new!

I fitted a small flyscreen, teardrop mirrors, and the loud slash cut pipes from new. The flyscreen reduces buffetting enough to make motrway travel comfortable and without the loud pipes the bike sounded like a sewing machine. I’ve since fitted leather panniers - first time I’ve ever had permanent luggage on a motorbike and its great. Oh, and an iPhone holder!

I don’t think I’m getting old. I still tear around on a scrambler when I have to, and I still love the sports bikes, but I’ve always secretly wanted a cruiser. I won’t go back to sports bikes now, my next bike will probably be a Harley Davidson and with a bigger lump. Or if not another cruiser, then maybe something like a Buell, Triumph Speed Triple, or the new Honda CB1000. That sort of thing.

I found that as soon as I got on the R1 I just had to overtake the car in front, then the next one, and the next. When I got on the motorway, 70mph felt so wrong, and I found myself going faster and faster the whole time. Going home after a late shift, I just wanted to get home and get the crouched, uncomfortable journey over with. Now, its a completely different story. I’m happy just getting on the bike and riding, no stress, just riding. Besides, you want people to see how cool you are, so there’s no point in racing everywhere. On the motorway, 70mph is cool, and I look forward to the journey home just for the ride.

The thing is, the Speedmaster actually handles quite well and is nimble enough to fight through traffic whilst being supremely comfortable on the motorway. Okay its no rocket but it doesn’t feel like a compromise, its fast enough to be fun, and speed isn’t the issue I thought it was going to be after the Yamaha R1. What the Speedmaster lacks in power and lunacy it more than makes up for in coolness... Low slung seat, foot controls way out front, slight stretch to the drag bars, and slash cut pipes with plenty of bark on aceleration and then popping on the overun. I love it.

I bought the Speedy new in May 2009 from Carl Rosner Triumph, six months later and its due it’s 6,000 mile service already! I didn’t mean to put so many miles on it so quickly, but buying a cruiser after my long succession of sports bikes has re-awakened my love for riding just for the sake of riding. I try to get the train to work as much as possible, but when the sun’s been out I’ve been unable to resist the temptation.