So there I was last Thursday morning, sitting at my kitchen table staring blankly at my aging bike’s maintenance bills. Coffee’s gone cold, rain’s tapping the window, and I’m thinking, “Man, I need a change.” Scrolled through dozens of listings online until this 2022 Triumph Street Twin ad pops up. Looked proper tidy. Figured I’d dig deeper instead of just staring at shiny photos like some muppet.
Getting My Hands Dirty with Specs
First things first – booked a test ride over the weekend. Walked into the dealership, spotted it immediately. That classic Bonneville look, right? Matte black finish, minimal chrome, looks lean but solid. Sales bloke starts rattling off numbers. My brain went “alright, slow down mate” so I whipped out my notepad later to make sense of it all.
Searched up the proper spec sheet after lunch. Key stuff that jumped out:
- That Engine: It’s a 900cc parallel twin – they call it the “High Torque” engine. Makes 65 horsepower at 7,500 rpm. Not mental power, but honestly? More than enough for blasting through B-roads. The torque’s where it’s at though – 59 lb-ft grunt kicking in way down at 3,800 rpm. Means it pulls like a train when you twist the throttle.
- Weight Matters: Felt surprisingly light shuffling it around the carpark. Dry weight is listed as 438 pounds. Wet? Add about another 40lbs for oil and a full tank. Still way lighter than my old lump. Helps that the fuel tank only holds 3.2 gallons – decent range, keeps the overall mass down.
- Sitting Down: Seat height’s 30.1 inches. Honestly perfect for my short legs! Could flat-foot it easy at lights. Feels low and manageable, doesn’t try to fight you when you stop.
- The Bits Holding It Up: Got standard KYB shocks front and rear – nothing fancy, just solid. Brakes are simple too – twin piston caliper up front grabbing a single disc, basic ABS keeping things sensible. Not track-day gear, but for town runs and weekend blasts? Does the job.
Actually Riding the Thing
Took it out for a proper hour-long spin. First gear, pull away… and whoa. That torque hit is immediate and addictive. Doesn’t feel aggressive, just solid. Like it’s got serious muscle under the surface. Handled potholes better than I expected – suspension soaked ’em up without drama. The riding position’s dead natural – crisp throttle response, gear changes smooth as anything thanks to that slip & assist clutch.
Honestly thought I might drop it manoeuvring slowly in a cramped side street. But that low weight saved my bacon. Leaned over easy, flickable. More importantly, stopped easy too – brakes felt strong enough without being grabby.
The Little Things That Stuck Out
Cruising back, started noticing the details. Twin peashooter exhausts giving that proper British thump without sounding obnoxious. Clean digital-analog hybrid speedo gives speed, gear indicator, fuel level – all clear. Footpegs are solid rubber mounted, so less vibes through your boots. Even the mirrors worked decently!
Bit annoying? Indicator switch felt a tad cheap and fiddly compared to the rest of the controls. And taller mates will complain about the low seat.
Overall though? Didn’t blow my mind with tech gizmos. What it did do was make me grin the whole way back. Easy to live with, proper fun, looks the business parked outside the cafe.
