Triumph 865 SPEEDMASTER 2012 — Specifications

Who said you absolutely need a V-twin to play in the custom yard? Triumph has never followed the rules of the genre, and the 865 Speedmaster is the rolling proof. With its 270°-offset parallel twin, it refuses to ape Harleys while very clearly eyeing the 883 Iron. A bold positioning, owned since the first versions of the Triumph 865 Speedmaster 2006 and 2007, and one that has been refined over the model years to produce a machine with a thoroughly hardened character.

The 2012 model year inherits the cosmetic tweaks that appeared a year earlier, and the result leans decidedly toward the dark side. The fork has lost its covers to expose its 41 mm stanchions, now blacked out. The front rim has moved to 19 inches, wearing a 110/80, which stretches the silhouette and gives it a sleeker stance than the previous generation. The rear fender, cut short and straight, finishes hardening the lines. This is a far cry from the chromed, pot-bellied custom. The Speedmaster was playing the dark custom card before the term became a marketing buzzword worn to the bone. On the chassis side, the tubular steel cradle frame saw its wheelbase shortened by 55 mm, a detail that is immediately felt in low-speed manoeuvres and corner entries. For a machine weighing 250 kg wet, that is a welcome gain in agility.

The ergonomics have also evolved in the right direction. The seat drops to 690 mm, a figure that will speak to smaller riders or those who want both feet planted firmly on the ground. The widened handlebar offers a comfortable lever arm without falling into the arms-outstretched posture of some American cruisers. You sit down, grab the controls, and everything falls to hand effortlessly. The 19.3-litre tank allows decent range for stress-free rides. The Triumph 865 Speedmaster 2009 had already begun this shift toward greater accessibility, but the result here is more accomplished.

Beneath the black dress, the 865 cc twin delivers 61 horsepower at 6800 rpm and, more importantly, 73.5 Nm of torque from just 3300 rpm. That is where the real pleasure of this engine lies. No need to thrash the 5-speed gearbox to feel the thrust. The engine pulls cleanly from mid-range revs, which perfectly suits the boulevard and back-road use this machine is built for. The claimed top speed of 180 km/h is largely beside the point. Nobody buys a Speedmaster to hunt on the motorway. Braking, handled by a 310 mm disc up front and a 285 mm disc at the rear with two-piston calipers, gets the job done without particular distinction. Adequate for the machine's natural cruising pace, but a bit more initial bite would have been appreciated.

At €9,190 in 2012, with the Triumph 865 Speedmaster 2016 having since taken over in the catalogue, this generation now represents an attractive entry point on the used market for anyone seeking an atypical custom. It is aimed at riders who want the cruiser style without the mass of a bagger or the maintenance bill of a Milwaukee V-twin. Beginners will find a reassuring machine thanks to its seat height and available torque. More experienced riders will appreciate its offbeat British temperament, which makes no attempt to imitate what others do. That is its strength, and incidentally its limitation, because those who crave the deep rumble of a V-twin will be left wanting. The Speedmaster offers something different. It is up to you to decide whether that is what you are looking for.