Features

The Triumph Speed Triple is a British biking icon. It's been around for just over a decade, and in that time its wailing three-cylinder motor, wacky styling and penchant for wheelies have made this Hinckley-made bullet the hooligan's first choice.

So here's the new one, born kicking and screaming into the 21st century with trademark style and aggression. Just as before, this is still a 160mph superbike, stripped of its bodywork and fitted with wheelie-inducing motocrossstyle handlebars.

But now it's got a new engine, with capacity up from 955 to 1050cc, giving the £7,699 Triumph a hefty 128bhp and 78lb ft of torque. Chassis-wise, it has a new frame and suspension (including upside-down forks) to improve its already superb handling, and the latest radialmount brakes that give enough power to lift the rear wheel into the air, should you desire.

Triumph has unapologetically given the Speed Triple a certain raw, aggressive edge. Not only does it look plain sinister from every angle, the new engine feels raw and nasty, so you feel every engine revolution pulse through the seat, pegs and handlebars - it's fantastic.

Flat out you'll see close to 160mph, but these kinds of insane speeds are academic, because the Speed Triple's ideal playground is scratching on twisty A and B roads, and enjoying life below the ton.

On bendy roads, the front wheel will paw the air with ease as you accelerate in the lower gears between corners - illegal, but fun. And all the time the ears are enjoying the harsh, metallic wail from the rear.

The superb chassis gives terrific handling too - nimble enough to flick round hairpins and firm enough to tackle fast sweepers with confidence. It's even capable of doing sensible.

The riding position isn't back breaking, the seat is comfy and that torquey engine means you don't have to go round screaming the engine through the gears. Not that you should, the Speed Triple has got its image to think about.