Triumph Speedmaster reviews

The Speedmaster is my first motorcycle of any kind and it has been absolutely perfect in every way.
I intended to get a Harley and looked at many other bikes but the Triumph simply looks and feels more natural.
The bike fits me like a glove, has plenty of power even for my size and looks like a million bucks without having to spend a lot of money. It's fun to ride and has very distinctive styling. You will get many compliments and be very satisfied with the Speedmaster. Show less

I rode a Bonnie in the 70's and I thought that was the ultimate bike, how wrong I was. The Speedmaster is true to its Triumph name giving you all the nostalgia of the old days coupled with all the modern technologies available. It's a sheer pleasure to get on and just ride. I love the low-end power it has - just open that throttle and you get the deep roar as it just starts pulling away. You need to, however, change your pipes to hear the roar as it is locked away with the standard pipes. The looks - well, what can I say? You cannot park it without coming back to find some one just standing drooling all over it. It also has a great sitting position giving you a long slender feel without feeling huge. As for the handling, I'm not sure how they get it to stick to the road the way they do, but it sure does - it just sits and follows the line you have given it. I have owned many different bikes, but only now do I know what I have been missing all these years. Show less

I gave it 4/5 for quality only because I think they could have added better looking small hardware parts in many places. Some chrome washers and bolts, etc. Not a big deal but just a niggle of mine, and I've done much of that myself. Nevertheless, the bike is just about perfection as my tastes go. Engine is nice and torque-y, though could use a few more HP, which by the way was very easy to acquire by changing pipes to open the airflow more and re-jetting. Now it's as strong as I'd ever need. It's very smooth and as rock solid and stable as anything I've ever ridden all the way up to the ton mark, which is as fast as I'll go. Comfort is perfection, at least to my butt. The seat is as comfortable as a living room chair. And it's the same in that just like your living room chair you gotta get up now and then and stretch. But more than any bike I've ridden, I can stay on it for many miles without discomfort. But the look is what I just can't get over. If you haven't seen one in person, go to a dealer and look. But bring your checkbook because if your taste in bikes is anything like mine you will NOT want to leave without it ! Overall, it's a fabulous bike that turns heads and gets comments all the time. Pull up to a pack of Harleys and watch them do double takes. Then ride away with pride knowing you're unique as you wave goodbye to the lemmings! Show less

Bought my Speedmaster in March of 04. It is now Dec 05 and 11,000 plus miles later and I still fire it up just to hear how amazingly good the bike sounds. Used to have a Sportster 1200c. Doesn't hold a candle to the Speedmaster's sound or performance. People are always surprised at the amount of torque and sound that the 790 produces. Show less

This bike handles beautifully. A 790 engine that handles like a 550. Beautifully balanced. Nothing is brilliant about this bike, but everything is solid. It doesn't give quite as much power as some of the Japanese bikes of the same size, and occasionally I'd like it to be a little louder. It is the most beautiful bike I have ever seen as far as looks. Right up there with BSA for the flash appeal. You've gotta love the dummy air filter and dimpled gas tank; it lets you know it's a triumph from a mile away. I have my dream bike and hope I never have to replace it. Show less

I had a big v-twin(modified just right)which needed work and the dealer let me have a basic Bonny for a weekend. Hated it at first(my wife had to talk me into taking it)and after "10-15 gettin' used to it miles" I had more fun than I'd had on a m/c in a long time. Dealer also had a SM demo with Trimuph off road pipes and they had ported and polished the heads. Runs so smooth. I couldn't resist and although I did miss the V-T initially, I know if I had both bikes,the V-T would be a hangout for spiders. 3400 trouble free miles in about 6 weeks. Been in the twisties, on the interstate, and use it to commute. No problems. It accelerates like a two stroke compared to the V-T so passing is much more fun and it handles great in the curves. I don't even mind having a chain again(it's been 15 years). Two things.. waiting on a new counter- sprocket for higher gearing(which having a chain allows easily) and am swapping out for cruiser type handlebars although I've gotten use to the drag bars and they do look nice. It's nice to have a light weight, great handling, quick scooter again. Great stopping power, I usually get 47 mpg and have gotten as much as 50. I get stopped everywhere, mostly by the older generation who "owned a Triumph" and have got stories they want to tell. The bike feels rock solid, shifts super-smooth with no false neutrals, and just plain runs. I love the blacked out motor and don't spend much time polishing. I also like having mags again, also much easier to clean not to mention tubeless tires. If you prefer the more standard cruiser, the America hits the spot too. I would recommend the SM to anyone looking for a solid, dependable and fun,fun bike to ride. Show less

This bike's strengths are as follows: Very very good handling. Someone else mentioned feeling like it's on rails. Absolutly right. Inspires confidence due to how solid it feels and handles. Smooth. No vibration to speak of anywere in the powerband. Torque from way down low to high RPM's. The power is available wherever you happen to be in the RMP or speed range. Twist the throttle and it pulls with authority always. Freeway cruising is effortless at 70-80. Comfort. Sitting on a bike, ANY bike, for hours on end isn't going to be 100% pleasent no matter how good the seat. But the speedmaster's seat at least for me is very comfortable. More so than any other bike I've ridden. I can ride for hours as long as I take a few minute break here and there. Looks. Well, need I say more? It's the most beautiful bike ever made. Of course that is as subjective as anything is. But that's my take. And I doubt many wouldn't at least think it's good looking. I've recieved compliments on it around town, something I don't ever recall happening once with my other bikes. Certainly not on a regular basis as with this bike. The bad: The pipes are dead quiet and because of this state of non-free flowing exaust, the bike makes less power than it's easily capable of. Both power and sound are easily rectified though with an aftermarket pipe set. But we shouldn't have to do that. No storage for tools or anything. Thats about it for the bad. But as stock the bike is wonderful, and these complaints really don't faze my love for the bike. Unless you are opposed to cruiser footrest position or need face ripping power, I cannot imagine anyone who likes classic looks with a bit of a customized look to it not absolutly falling in love with this bike. I sure did. Show less

I am a new rider and this is my first mid-size bike. It is wonderful, comfortable, well built, rides like a dream, no vibration, corners very well, and is easy for me to handle being a small female. I started on a 250 Rebel and graduated to this bike, as it is powerful. I looked at many bikes before I purchased this one, and none compared, in my opinion. My decision was narrowed down to either a HD 883 Sportster or the Triumph Speedmaster, or Triumph America, very similar. The Triumphs are not only better looking, but are easier to handle, with much smoother ride. The 2004 was a leftover but is new. I love it. Show less

Had the speedmaster for a month now. Bought it new and had the exhaust baffles drilled out and carbies re-jetted. Also had pollution gear taken off. Exhausts sound better than after market ones I have heard. Plenty of torque when passing cars at highway speeds. Fuel economy could be better. Only getting 180km before switching to reserve. Very smooth to ride, no vibration and sticks to the road like it's on a railway track. Very comfortable on a long trip. No more sore backside. No good for pillion's backside though. New 865cc engine seems better than the 790cc engine of earlier models. Recommend to anyone thinking of getting an H-D sporty, this is much better than that. Show less

After looking at every mid size criuser out there, I made up my mind that the Triumph Speedmaster was going to be my bike. After owning one, my feeings about the bike have not changed. There are a lot of good and quality motorcycles out there, but few (within my budget) have the history and tradition of Triumph. If you can't afford a Harley-Davidson then Triumph is the next best thing, especially if tradition and history are important to you. The real big keys for me about the Speedmaster are the feel and the looks of the bike. Every where I go I get looks and compliments on my Speedmaster. Even when I was out riding and stopped by a local Harley dealer, my Speedmaster was turning heads. Also, even the old school Harley bikers have come up to me to rave about my Triumph. To confirm other Speedmaster owner's reviews, if you want that trademark Triumph growl out of your bike, the slash cut pipe upgrades are a must. For safety as well as giving your bike that fatter look, I would also recommend the passing lamps. If you are researching your future motorcycle and you want a bike that has performance, style, with class and tradition behind it, and don't want to break the bank to get it, then I would strongly recommend the Triumph Speedmaster. Show less