IN 1994 Triumph released the Speed Triple 900. A bold, muscular icon of engineering, it instantly created a new class of motorcycle and paved the way for 21 years of hard-edged, no-nonsense British biking.
It fused elements of cafe racer culture with the naked aggression of the street fighter scene, the Speed Triple’s sleek, powerful shape and lion-hearted, torque-rich inline triple motor perfectly captured the simple thrill of life on two wheels for a generation of riders.
Today the original Speed Triple is rightfully considered a true classic, and sits alongside a range of newer Speed Triples that have each borne the name with pride, and continued a tradition of raw power, naked excitement and brutal good looks.
And now, in 2015, the heritage and passion of 21 years of the Speed Triple family is reflected in two special editions: the Speed 94 and Speed 94 R.
If you’ve ever wondered what a motor cycle version of Bumblebee from the Transformers might look like, then this is it. And this is not us having a go at the new look Speed bikes, the styling is amazing, and the bikes are wicked to look at.
With styling cues, paint schemes, decals and cosmetic additions designed to hark back to the original classic, the Speed 94 and Speed 94 R combine the handling prowess, performance refinements and convenience of the modern Speed Triple and Speed Triple R with the celebrated history of an icon.
With an engine and chassis based on the current Speed Triple and Speed Triple R, the Speed 94 makes full use of 21 years’ unbroken development to deliver the ultimate combination in naked bike performance, handling and riding dynamic.
The heart of the Speed 94 is, as it was 21 years ago, an exceptionally torque-rich inline three-cylinder engine. Benefiting today from cutting-edge advances in materials and design technology, the Speed 94’s 1050cc motor produces 135PS and 111Nm of torque with a broad power delivery specifically tuned to generate explosive low-down propulsion in any gear. Alongside Triumph’s world-class electronic fuel injection system and engine management, this guarantees colossal thrust whenever and however the rider needs it, and delivers knockout-punch power to back up the Speed 94’s tough good looks.
Controlling the Speed 94’s performance is a well-established chassis set-up consisting of an aluminium trellis frame, beefy single-sided swing-arm, fully adjustable 43mm upside-down Showa forks and monoshock, and Brembo radial calipers equipped with Triumph’s anti-lock brake system. So from cutting through an urban jungle to carving lines along countryside roads, the Speed 94 always has the motive force and responsive handling needed to stamp its authority on the ride.
The Speed 94 unveils a host of styling and design cues to echo the original 1994 Mk1 Speed Triple. Available in striking Racing Yellow or menacing Jet Black, both colours are specially re-formulated mixes created to match the very first Speed Triple paint schemes, and instantly tie Speed 94 back to the iconic machines.
In addition, the Speed 94 features carefully considered colour enhancements to further reflect its lineage, with the subframe painted in Graphite to match the frame and the side panels colour-balanced to match the look of the first Speed Triple. Other enhancements include black exhaust silencer wraps, a black filler cap, a colour-matched fly screen, seat cowl and belly pan, yellow pin-striping (Racing Yellow colour option only), Speed Triple logos in the original 1994 typeface, and a commemorative Speed Triple 94 tank-mounted plaque.
A high-spec R version of the Speed 94, the Speed 94 R, takes the concept to the ultimate level of chassis performance. Coming in the same colours with the same styling enhancements as the Speed 94, the 94 R adds uprated, black-anodized, fully-adjustable NIX30 43mm forks, TTX36 rear shock, Brembo Monobloc radial calipers, and is shod with Pirelli Supercorsa SP tyres. The Speed 94 R really is the last word in raw, naked, streetbike performance matched to classic styling.
Australian release dates and pricing are yet to be determined.
