2005–2007 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
British Style, American Attitude
Triumph built the Speedmaster as a British reading of an American cruiser, and the 865 cc air-cooled parallel twin is what carries it. The 270-degree crank gives the engine an off-beat pulse and the low-rpm shove a cruiser needs: 60 hp, 51 lb-ft, a five-speed box, chain final drive. The chassis is pure stance. A 65.2-inch wheelbase, a 28.3-inch seat, a fat 170-section rear tire, a 310 mm front brake. There are no rider aids on this one, no ABS, no traction control. What you get instead is metal, finish, and a silhouette that reads as a chopper from thirty feet away.
It rides the way it looks: relaxed, deliberate, happiest at a steady clip on a two-lane road where the twin can lope and the long wheelbase keeps everything calm. At 551 lb it wants a plan in a parking lot, though the low seat and low center of gravity keep it manageable the moment you're rolling. The rear shock takes preload, the fork is fixed, so you set your pace and live with it. This bike is for the rider who wants stance and mechanical feel and doesn't miss electronics. Buy a well-kept example, and look hard at the chrome before you sign.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 60 hp (45 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 51 lb-ft (69 Nm) |
| Displacement | 865 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 310 mm |
| Front tire | 110/80-18 |
| Rear tire | 170/80-15 |
| Wheelbase | 65.2 in (1655 mm) |
| Seat height | 28.3 in (720 mm)Motorcycles With a Seat Height Under 30 Inches → |
| Wet weight | 551 lb (250 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.4 gal (16.6 L) |
| Top speed | 110 mph (177 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 37 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
This part isn't my riding notes. It's years of rider conversations boiled down: rallies, gas stops, the talk that starts when someone parks one next to you, and the mail owners send me directly. On the Speedmaster the reports line up unusually well, with broad agreement on what works and the grumbles crowding into one corner.
Riders keep coming back to the twin's pull from low revs, describing it as willing in town and unhurried once they settle into a cruise. Ergonomics get almost as much attention. The low seat, the forward controls, and the laid-back posture add up to long days in the saddle without anyone complaining about their back. Owners add that it stays settled through a series of bends, and the look draws its own share of comment.
One gripe dominates: the stock rear shocks. Owners describe them as short on damping and quick to run out of travel over rough pavement, and they say it turns worse with a passenger aboard or bags strapped on. Past that, the remarks thin out. The pillion perch reads as too small for anything beyond a short hop, and riders who cover distance bring up the wind blast.
Starter idler gear boss cracking
The starter idler gear boss on some early engines can crack, causing starting problems. An aftermarket bracing kit is available.
Engine stalling
The engine may cut out unexpectedly at idle or when slowing to a stop, typically at low revs as the clutch is pulled in.
Cam cover oil leak
Minor oil seepage from the cam cover gasket, often appearing around 16,000 mi (25,000 km), is a known nuisance but can be fixed with a gasket replacement.
Corrosion
Some examples show premature corrosion on fasteners and chrome, particularly when used in wet conditions without regular cleaning.
Where this Triumph Speedmaster pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Speedmaster is actually built for.
You get the stance, the off-beat thump, and a bike people walk over to look at in the rally lot. It is a genuine cruiser, just a British one, with its own sound instead of a borrowed one.
Made for Florida State Road A1A · Black Hills · Main Street, Daytona Beach
This is the right register for two-lane roads and slow towns: relaxed pace, real character, classic looks that age well. Just plan fuel stops and accept that it likes cruising more than hurrying.
Made for Park Loop Road · Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Honest answer: it works for measured days on open roads, but there is no cruise control, no luggage system, and no wind protection. Loaded up two-up for weeks at a time, you will want more bike.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Compare it with every bike that shares the same spec or equipment.
