Classic test: 1946 Triumph 5T Speed Twin THE MOST ICONIC TRIUMPH EVER?
Triumph’s new Speed Twin is one of this year’s two-wheeled stars, enlivening the Hinckley firm’s
Modern Classics range with its blend of punchy 1200cc engine, fine handling and stylish looks. But however successful the new Speed Twin is, it will never approach the impact of its namesake of over 80 years ago. Following its launch in 1937, the original Speed Twin sold in large numbers, began the era of the British parallel twin and became regarded as one of the most influential motorcycles ever produced.
That first Speed Twin was the creation of Edward Turner, the gifted young designer who had already shaped the innovative Square Four for Ariel before that firm took over struggling Triumph in 1936. Turner began by successfully revamping Triumph’s single-cylinder family. But it was his new twin-cylinder model, released just a year later, that would revolutionise the motorcycle industry.
The Speed Twin’s heart was its sweet-running 498cc engine, which had typically long-stroke dimensions of 63 x 80mm, and produced a maximum
