Triumph Street Twin Review

Classic bikes are back with a big bang. In India, while the Royal Enfields set the ball rolling for classic machines with modern hearts, it was the likes of Triumph who brought back the flavour of British motorcycling of the 1950s era, with the Bonneville range, in a premium fashion. Another new bike to be launched under the Bonneville umbrella is the 2016 Triumph Street Twin. We review this motorcycle to find out what is unique about it.

The Triumph Street twin was launched in India during the Auto Expo 2016, early this year. An all-new bike, the Street Twin comes across as a very usable motorcycle that can appeal to a variety of buyers.

2016 Triumph Street Twin Design 

The 2016 Triumph Street Twin is the new modern classic with new inputs like design, chassis, suspension and even a new engine. The Street Twin looks similar to the Bonnevile but has some different styling cues. The styling is very classic with similar lines of the Bonneville. The not has a single round headlamp and a single pod instrument cluster which is a combination of analogue and digital. A flat handlebar sits behind the instrument pod. The fuel tank is a classic rounded one with insets for the the knees. The seat is a sleek one followed by a neatly finished rear end. This provides a lot of scope for after market customization.

The fit and finish on the bike is very good and feels premium.The instrument pod misses a tachometer but you do get information like trip meters, distance to empty and also a gear indicator. The finish on the engine too is spectacular. It has those classic looks which makes the Street Twin different from the crowd. The bike is compact for its cubic capacity and is very well suited to short riders as well. The seating posture is sporty but comfortable and is not aggressive.The modern undertone comes with the alloy wheels.

2016 Triumph Street Twin Engine

The Triumph Street Twin gets a new engine which is a 900cc unit. This engine churns out 54bhp of power, however what matters here is the torque it produces, which is a healthy 80Nm at a very low 3200rpm. The torque is very well spread out too and this is felt the moment you wring the throttle only to get a kind of pull that makes one smile instantly. This pull is available in other gears as well and this make the Street Twin a very usable bike in different conditions, be it city riding or steep, curvy roads. At higher revs too, the engine maintains its calmness and has minimal vibrations.

Another thing worth mentioning is the light clutch which makes city riding a breeze. The five-speed transmission has gearshifts which are also quite slick. The Street Twin is not about outright power but more about enjoying the ride. Its only after riding it for a while that you realize its strengths.

Also Read: Kawasaki Versys 650 Price and Review

2016 Triumph Street Twin Ride and Handling 

The all-new chassis of the Street Twin is very well balanced and brings out the best in the bike. It handles corners superbly and one will find it an easy to ride motorcycle. The suspension is also impressive as it handles bad roads well. The 41mm Kayaba forks at the front have 120mm of travel. The rear twin shocks from Kayaba offer 120mm travel  and can be adjusted for preload. The brakes are adequate with single 310mm disc at the front, and a 255mm single disc at the rear. The dual channel ABS works fantastic and can retard speeds quickly.

2016 Triumph Street Price

The 2016 Triumph Street Twin is priced at INR 8.05 lakhs (on-road, Mumbai)

Verdict

The Triumph Street Twin not only lives upto the reputation of the Bonneville in delivering an easy riding experience, but goes beyond that. The new engine and chassis have put in new life to the motorcycle. What you get for around INR 8 lakhs is a clean-looking, classic-styled bike that has a gem of an engine, which offers good performance and excellent rideability. This one is a good all-round package.