Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128198
2003 Triumph Speedmaster because you shouldn't take the Speedmaster at face value unless you are into self-deprivation. This "Bonnie"based boulevard bruiser is all that the America is, and isn't. And then some. If you have read our ink on the America (see Issue #39, October 3, 2001), then you might not be surprised to learn that there are few mechanical differences between the Speedmaster and the America, and they are mostly in the styling department. The models share the same Bonneville-based, air-cooled, DOHC eight-valve 790cc vertical twin motor, which has had its crank timing altered from the Bonneville's 360 degrees to 270 degrees to give it a more cruiser-like exhaust note. The Speedmaster and the America also sport the same camshafts, same duet of 36mm carburetors, the same twin counterbalancers to quell the vibes, and the same five-speed gearbox, which houses ratios to exploit the twin's torque output. The Speedmaster retains the America's taller fifth gear, but the Speedmaster's overall gearing has been reduced via a one-toothsmaller countershaft sprocket. Uke the America, the Speedmaster's engine is housed in a tubular steel By SCOTT ROUSSEAU PHOTOS By GOLD £, GOOSE aken at first glance, a cruiser made by Triumph and dubbed the Speedmaster might appear to be the ultimate in contradictions. Compounding the perplexity is the fact that, although Triumph hosted a crosscountry ride and gala to celebrate the marque's centennial anniversary, nowhere in that 100 years can you page back and find a custom cruiser, much less one with the Speedmaster name on its flanks. Nope, this is just another example of British motorcycle magnate John Bloor and his team of engineers and designers exercising their artistic license to produce a motorcycle with Triumph badging that will sell. Not that Triumph's sporting range hasn't produced increasingly respectable numbers in the past several years, but the Hinckley concern's very first attempt at building a true, feet-forward, American-style cruiser, the aptly named Bonneville America, was a best seller. Hence the Speedmaster, which is basically an America with hot-rodded aesthetics. But wait, 'let's go back to that first glance thing, lJ 18 JANUARY 29, 2003' cue I • ne..,s frame that is about 7 '/2 inches longer than the Bonneville. Up front, the America rides on KYB 41 mm forks that have been raked out to 33.3degrees, while the tail is held up by a pair of chromed KYB shocks that are preload adjustable only. But - and this turns out to be a big but - even if only in the interest of providing sportier aesthetics, Triumph has seen fit to fortify the front of the Speedmaster with dual 31 Omm discs with two-piston calipers, where- as the America utilizes only a single 310mm unit. We'll get back to that later. Meanwhile, the Speedmaster's six-spoke alloy front wheel is a 2.5 x 18-incher with a 110/80-18 tire, and its rear cast alloy "mag" measures 3.5 x 15 inches and rides on a 170/80-15 tire. A single twin-piston caliper clamps the 285mm disc out back. Other new styling frills include a mini tachometer set into the tank pod, just forward of the fuel cap, and