Triumph has an early holiday present for fans of Britain’s custom-classic and road racing culture, in the form of four limited-release Special Edition models, each available for one year only: the Street Twin EC1, Thruxton RS Ton Up, Rocket 3 GT 221, and Rocket 3 R 221.
2022 Triumph Street Twin EC1 Special Edition
Triumph’s best-selling modern classic model, the Street Twin, gets a makeover inspired by the vibrant custom scene of London’s East End – particularly the historic streets of the EC1 district that gives the Street Twin EC1 Special Edition its name. The EC1 is set apart as a Special Edition with a unique Matte Aluminum Silver and Matte Silver Ice paint scheme with special EC1 graphics on the tank and side panels, as well as a matching fly screen.
The spunky Street Twin is unchanged otherwise, with its liquid-cooled 900cc parallel-Twin engine, Brembo 4-piston front brake caliper, ABS, Road and Rain ride modes, traction control, torque-assist clutch, and USB charging socket, all standard. The Street Twin EC1 Special Edition will be available starting in January 2022, for an MSRP of $10,350.
2022 TriumphThruxton RS Ton Up Special Edition
The legendary Ton Up boys of the 1950s and ‘60s – the original café racers – and the first ever production 100mph lap of the Isle of Man TT, achieved by Malcolm Uphill in 1969, are celebrated by the new Thruxton RS Ton Up Special Edition. With its Aegean Blue gas tank, Fusion White seat cowl and front fender, and Carnival Red accents and graphics, the Ton Up will stand out in a crowd. Also included are unique “100” and “Ton Up” graphics and an accessory Aegean Blue fairing to complete the café racer look.
Otherwise the Thruxton RS retains all of its standard features, including a character-filled liquid-cooled 1,200cc parallel-Twin, twin 310mm Brembo floating front brake discs squeezed by Brembo M50 radial monoblock calipers; fully adjustable Öhlins shocks and Showa 43mm fork; Metzeler Racetec RR tires; throttle-by-wire with Road, Rain, and Sport ride modes; ABS; traction control; torque-assist clutch; and a USB charging socket. The Thruxton RS Ton Up Special Edition will be available starting in January 2022, for an MSRP of $17,300.
2022 TriumphRocket 3 GT and Rocket 3 R 221 Special Editions
The Rocket 3 GT and Rocket 3 R 221 Special Editions seek to remind the world of one thing: their superlative 221 Newton meters of torque (or 163 lb-ft for us Yanks), the highest claimed torque of any production motorcycle in the world. The 221s get their message across with a rich Red Hopper paint scheme incorporating the Rocket 3’s performance numbers emblazed on the tank: horsepower, torque, engine size, bore, and stroke.
Backing it up, of course, is the massive 2,458cc inline-Triple producing all that torque and a claimed 167 horsepower, along with a fully adjustable Showa shock, adjustable 47mm Showa fork, Brembo Stylema 4-piston radial monoblock calipers, TFT instrumentation, IMU-based ABS and traction control, four ride modes (Road, Rain, Sport and Rider-configurable), hill hold control, cruise control, keyless ignition, heated grips (GT only), and a USB charging socket.
The Rocket 3 GT 221 Special Edition will be available starting in January 2022, for an MSRP of $24,600. The Rocket 3 R 221 Special Edition will be available starting in January 2022, for an MSRP of $23,900.
For more information or to find a Triumph dealer near you, visit triumphmotorcycles.com.
The Street Twin received the limited edition Gold Line version in 2021, and 2022 will deliver a new special edition, this time the EC1, which Triumph claim is inspired by the custom-classic motorcycle culture of London’s East End.
The 2022 Triumph Street Twin EC1 is expected to arrive in Australian dealers from January, 2022, with pricing to start from $17,150 ride-away.
The Street Twin EC1 will feature a contemporary custom-inspired Matt Aluminium Silver and Matt Silver Ice paint scheme, including EC1 graphics across the tank and side panels. An optional accessory fly screen in matching Matt Silver Ice will also be available to further that look. Both front and rear mudguards are Matt Aluminium Silver.
The Street Twin EC1 is based on the latest Euro5 compliant Street Twin, featuring the High Torque 900 cc Bonneville twin, and producing 65 hp and 80 Nm of torque from just 3800 rpm. For a traditional look is a set of twin up-swept mufflers.
Two ride modes offer differing throttle maps and traction control settings, with ABS also fitted, as well as a torque-assist clutch for a lighter lever pull.
A handlebar mounted scroll button allows easy control, with an analogue speedometer joined by digital rev-counter, incorporating the menu system. An under-seat USB is also ready to charge mobile devices, with an immobiliser standard fitment.
Suspension is 41 mm cartridge forks up front while the dual rear shocks offer pre-load adjustability. A Brembo four-piston front calliper clamps a single 310 mm rotor up front. Pirelli Phantom Sport Comp tyres are factory fitted to the cast aluminium wheels, with an 18-inch front and 17-inch rear. Nissin provides the rear two-piston caliper on a 255 mm rotor.
The bench style seat is at a very manageable 765 mm. Fuel capacity is 12 litres, with a wet weight of 216 kg. Service intervals are a generous 16,000 km, helping keep long term ownership affordable.
I admit it, I didn’t actually expect the Triumph Street Twin to be all that different from the deliciously laid back Street Scrambler I’d spent a couple of weeks getting to know and love. Check out my full review here (link).
I mean they share the same engine, gearbox, forks, shock, brakes and frame (almost). I assumed it was pretty much a styling exercise between them… right..? Ahh… yeah nah.
I mean obviously they’re still quite similar. But the subtle differences combine to make for quite a distinctly different riding proposition. There’s no doubt they’re brothers from the same mother, but they are more than skin deep apart on the road.
Figuring out which one is right for you will depend on what look blows your hair back in terms of styling but also where/how you’re going to be riding it. Let’s quickly re-cap on the common elements we found with the Scrambler for those who shamefully missed my earlier review. Here’s a picture of the Street Scramber for comparison.
Effortless laid back fun – 100% chilled and ready for grins
Silky smooth 900cc Bonneville twin with deceptive helpings of torque
Ride position spot on for the classic rider in all of us
‘Small’ overall dimensions, but without feeling cramped
Immediately accessible in terms of feel and performance
Everything ‘works’
Initially, throwing the leg over the Street Twin it felt pretty much the same. To be fair I didn’t even twig that the bars were 50mm wider at first. Not until I tipped into the first corner when it quickly became apparent that I needed to rethink the similarities and differences between the bikes a little further.
The Street Twin is clearly more responsive to tip into corners and much happier on its side. It’s still no sports bike obviously, but is eminently more capable from a handling point of view. It changes direction willingly, no doubt helped by the slightly tighter steering rake and more rounded tyre profile of the Pirelli Phantom Sportcomp, compared to the flatter dual purpose Tourances on the Scrambler.
Add that to a more responsive throttle action that gives the bike quite a different feel. Where the Scrambler throttle response is soft, feeling almost delayed off idle at first (which gives it that laid back feel), the Street Twin feels more immediate.
It has a slightly different engine tune, along with that aforementioned different throttle action enabled by the ride by wire techwizardy. The spec’ sheet says that the peak torque arrives 600rpm higher on the Twin at 3800rpm, but that’s not what it feels like when combined with the more instant throttle response.
It feels like another five or six ponies have been liberated. Even though the spec’ sheet again says they’re both dishing out 65 hp. If I was a betting man I’d have lost some coin there no doubt. So it steers better and goes better. What else?
Well even though it has the same Brembo four-piston caliper (with ABS), it feels like there’s more bite when you get on the picks. At the time of writing I couldn’t confirm if the Twin was running different pads, or it was all down to better tyres and sharper geometry. But the brakes definitely feel slightly more willing.
That’s a lot of ticks already, translating into a more sporting ride. The trade-off is that the bike loses some of the oh-so-laid-back charm of the Scrambler, so it’s really more about what you want out of your bike… It’s still a charming ride, just a different flavour.
Styling wise it’s the more classic looker of the two. A pair of low sweeping pipes (one each side) are well executed, a more pillion ready seat and the absence of protectors on the tank indents translates into a genuinely classy looking machine. From the front in particular, it is a well-proportioned and finished design.
It makes me wonder if they started with this design first and then adapted it to the Scrambler, which doesn’t seem to be quite as photogenic from the same angles. That might be a geometry thing, or maybe it’s just my eyes, I’m not sure.
What do I like less about the Street Twin compared to the Scrambler? Well, they both don’t have a whole lot to pick faults at to be fair.
The most awkward thing on the Twin is finding the side-stand hidden down under the sweeping pipe. You get used to it, and there’s no real way around it if you want the pipe right there. Things are getting tough when the side-stand is the only real thing that stands out as annoying…
The suspension is fit for purpose, as long as you don’t start pretending its a bit more sporty than it actually is, then the limits in damping control do start to be felt.
You don’t get a massive amount of range on a tank. The most I saw over a month’s riding between them was around 280km for a tank, which is ample for this type of bike – it’s no tourer with a 12L capacity. And the accuracy of the trip-meter nearly caught me out too. It’s not mucking around.
I was expecting it would leave some fuel up my sleeve, but it was pretty much bang on. Cue the ‘oh-shit-I-gotta-find-fuel-in-the-tank’ shake from side to side trying to find fuel in the tank as I wobbled the last couple of kays to the servo. Aherm. Nothing to see here folks. Everything’s under control. Not the droids you’re looking for.
These are both terrific little classically styled bikes. I really enjoyed them both. More than I thought I would to be honest. They’re an absolute joy to ride, without needing to be ridden fast for that enjoyment – just the ride itself.
They’re excellent in traffic, their small size (more-so the slightly narrower Street Twin) makes them super easy to filter through relatively small gaps with ease. They both look tops, the Twin being the black tie version and the Scrambler being jeans and a white t-shirt.
I’d pick… the Scrambler. I think for its more laid back attitude, ‘soft’ road ability and more edgy styling. But I’d probably ask the shop to sharpen up the throttle action a whisker.
Mind you I do prefer the sharper handling of the Twin. Hmm… I better go for just one more ride before I hand it back.
For 2019 Triumph are boasting a better than ever Street Twin, with a significant improvement to power, higher spec’ equipment and a higher quality of finish, as well as improved rider comfort and technology.
First launched in 2016 the Street Twin has gone on to become of the brand’s strongest sellers in the Bonneville range, offering a modern affordable custom classic, blending technology with a retro theme and strong accessibility for a wide range of riders.
2019 Triumph Street Twin updates
Up 9.8hp to 64hp, 18% more peak power
Red line now 500rpm higher
80Nm of accessible torque
New Brembo four-piston front brake caliper
New higher-specification cartridge front forks
Improved rider ergonomics
New Road & Rain riding modes
New cast aluminium multi-spoke wheels with machined detailing
New contemporary logo
New premium instrument styling
Improved finish and detailing
2 new inspiration kits – Urban Ride and Café Custom
High Torque Bonneville
The 900cc High Torque Bonneville engine benefits from a significant upgrade in 2019, delivering 9.8hp more peak power, taking the total up to 64hp, 18% more than its predecessor.
This upgrade also brings a higher redline, up 500rpm to 7500rpm, with peak torque of 80Nm delivered low down in the rev range from just 3800rpm. Twin upswept silencers were also chosen to deliver an unmistakeable British Twin soundtrack.
To deliver the higher power and performance, the engine updates include a new magnesium cam cover, new lightweight crankshaft, dead shafts and balance shafts, new mass optimised clutch cover and new lighter clutch.
The standard ride-by-wire brings also offers optimised control from a single throttle body, while liquid-cooling delivers low emissions and fuel efficient riding. High service intervals of 10,000 miles (16,000km) also reduce the Street Twin’s cost of ownership.
Improved ergonomics & chassis
The new 2019 Street Twin also represents a step forward in handling and rider and pillion comfort, now including a new Brembo four-piston front brake caliper, for better bite and feel for greater control.
New higher spec cartridge front forks have also been added, with 120mm travel, aiming to deliver a more comfortable ride.
On top of the higher specification equipment, the Street Twin improves rider ergonomics with a more comfortable seat-to-peg riding position. A 10mm increase to the seat foam thickness also increases both rider and pillion comfort, improving longer distance rideability.
First class technology
The 2019 Street Twin boasts a host of advanced rider technology, including the new Road and Rain riding modes, which adjust the throttle map and traction control settings for the optimum riding experience in all conditions.
Traction control is also fitted and switchable via the instrument menu, optimising the delivery of the Street Twin’s torque when traction is compromised. ABS is likewise standard fitment for enhanced rider safety and control, with a torque-assist clutch bringing a lighter touch and feel to the clutch.
A longer LED rear light incorporated into the minimal tail set-up offers a distinctive rear light pattern, while an immobiliser is fitted as standard, with transponder incorporated into the key, for maximum security. A USB charging socket located under the seat also offers convenient charging of personal electronic devices.
A new optional Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) accessory is also now offered and ready for fitment.
Contemporary custom style
The Street Twin’s custom character has been enhanced with more contemporary details and touches, the most noticeable being new cast aluminium, multi-spoke wheels with machined detailing.
The new Street Twin logo, features on the new side panel and provides a more contemporary look compared to the previous model.
There is also an upgrade to the instrumentation with a new bezel complete with metallic Bonneville embellisher, plus a new dial face with a premium translucent silver finish and more integrated warning lights.
Several other enhanced details across the bike include new brushed aluminium headlight brackets, new premium foil decal tank badge, new seat materials, leather inspired dual-material construction with tactile feel and durable finish and new machined headlight detailing.
These new features join the Street Twin’s distinctive custom looks and features including contemporary black engine finish, signature ‘Bonneville’ finned head and header clamps, single throttle body with aluminium finisher, twin upswept brushed stainless-steel silencers, compact headlight with Triumph bulb cap badge, sculpted fuel tank, minimal mirrors and stylish indicators.
The new Street Twin will be available in three paint schemes: Matt Ironstone; Korosi Red; Jet Black.
Customisation platform
Triumph’s Street Twin has become a popular starting point for custom builds around the world, with Triumph’s accessory range also offering 140 dealer-fit options for easy customisation. This range includes a range of custom inspired parts, including silencers from Vance and Hines, Fox rear shocks, bench seats, fly screens, rear mudguard removal kits, and compact bullet LED indicators.
Triumph have also announced a set of two inspiration kits for the Street Twin, which can be fitted as a complete set. The stripped-back Urban Ride kit and the contemporary urban custom style Café Custom kit.
Brushed 2 into 2 exhaust system with twin brushed silencers
Final drive
O ring chain
Clutch
Wet, multi-plate assist clutch, cable operated
Gearbox
5-speed
Frame
Tubular steel cradle
Swingarm
Twin-sided, tubular steel
Front Wheel
Cast aluminium alloy multi-spoke 18 x 2.75in
Rear Wheel
Cast aluminium alloy multi-spoke 17 x 4.25in
Front Tyre
100/90-18
Rear Tyre
150/70 R17
Front Suspension
KYB 41mm cartridge forks with cartridge damping, 120mm travel
Rear Suspension
KYB twin shocks with adjustable preload, 120mm rear wheel travel
Front Brake
Single 310mm disc, Brembo 4-piston fixed caliper, ABS
Rear Brake
Single 255mm disc, Nissin 2-piston floating caliper, ABS
Length
2,090 mm
Width (Handlebars)
785 mm
Height Without Mirrors
1,114 mm
Seat Height
760 mm
Wheelbase
1,415 mm
Rake
25.1 º
Trail
102.4 mm
Dry Weight
198 Kg
Instruments
LCD multi-functional instrument pack with analogue speedometer, engine rpm, odometer, gear position indicator, fuel gauge, range to empty indication, service indicator, clock, 2x trip, average & current fuel consumption display, traction control status display, TPMS ready & heated grip ready – controlled by a handlebar mounted scroll button.
Fuel Consumption
3.9/100km
CO2 Emissions
89.0 g/km
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