Triumph

In a world where outright horsepower and straight-line speed hold center stage, these machines have blazed the streets and have swept us off our feet in the most fashionable ways possible. Built for speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering, they come equipped with components from the industry’s best names to achieve a little more speed every single time they get on the paved asphalt.

Here are our top five picks of serious sports machines coming in 2020 with rider ergonomics favor function, and ones built to cut through the air as smoothly as possible with massive engines and fancy equipment list.

Minimalism and understatement do not always go hand in hand. In this case, it is the whole point of the design. Bringing the designs from their history books and fusing them with cues of early performance models, manufacturers catered to the ’bob-job’ from the 1930s through the 1990s custom scene.

Stripping excess bodywork from a motorcycle, shortening the fenders, and having a bob-tail, here is our list of the top five Bobbers coming in 2020. They run on massive engines yet harks back to a different time – ostensibly the post-WWII era when returning servicemen stripped their bikes of all unnecessary weight for the sake of going faster.

Being the closest thing to flying without leaving the ground, Cruisers have been the incarnation of the ‘30s to ‘60s American lifestyles. Large motors with plenty of low-end torque, forward set footpegs, and a laid-back reclined riding position define any modern-day cruisers. Traditionally, large V-twins ran under the hoods, but inline engines have become more common these days.

Here is our list of new cruiser motorcycles coming in hot in 2020 that gets us to simply cruise, at one with our bike, taking in the sights and smells, the cool air washing over, and supposedly cleansing the soul.

Triumph Motorcycles took last year’s Thruxton R and levied a bevy of improvements to create the new-for-2020 Thruxton RS. The tuneup is far from just being a facelift. Power increased almost 8 horsepower on the torque-rich powerplant, the bike dropped about 13 pounds from its curb weight, and grunt comes on earlier for a broader, more useful powerband. Triumph finished it off with top-shelf safety electronics, contemporary style, and a two-tone paint package over a blackout frame and powerplant.

The beginning of this century saw the world views changing gradually towards climate change and the need to preserve the environment. This, along with stringent policies, has forced the manufacturers to develop motorcycles that can run cleaner fuel and extract the maximum economy from it, sometimes even at the cost of performance.

Bad news for people who seek the element of thrill, but a pretty good one for someone living in urban jungles where folks prefer commuting on a motorcycle rather thank a car for its practicality and frugal fuel-efficiency. Then there are us few who love the idea of putting serious miles on two-wheels and living the adventure.

We here have compiled a list to give you the best available tools for such situations and save some money on gas while at it.

Triumph hits its top-shelf Street Triple RS roadster with a major overhaul ahead of the 2020 model year that includes aggressive tweaks to the overall look and an improved engine to back it up. The factory managed to eke out a 9-percent increase in torque and horsepower while it hits the important Euro 5 emissions-rating benchmark. Moderate ride-quality adjustments round out the ride with safety and infotainment as part of the standard package.

Triumph refurbished its Speed Triple family ahead of MY2018, and the British giant carries its new-in-’18 Speed Triple S and Speed Triple RS straight over into the 2020 lineup. These two rides epitomize the “performance naked” subgenre with a stripped-down look. They come with an updated powerplant alongside a robust electronics suite on the base model that gets even better on the “RS” variant. Power, poise and control, the new Speed Triples seem to have it all.

Triumph upped the ante in 2018 with a newly-redesigned base model for its Street Triple line and introduced the all-new-in-2018 Street Triple S. The “S” runs with the same naked roadster looks as its predecessor, but with revised bodywork, an all-new powerplant for greater performance and tweaks to the frame to better handle high-speeds. Electronic wizardry abounds in the form of a riding mode feature, traction control, and ABS to help you manage all that newfound power that comes with an impressive 113 horsepower, all for about $10k.

Triumph raises the bar with a mid-level upgrade to its base Street Triple model with the Street Triple R and Street Triple R Low. These two siblings take the family to a more sport-tastic level with a number of upgrades to go with its aggressive good looks, starting with TFT instrumentation and extra electronic engine-control features that see riding modes added alongside the TC system, and an on-board ride computer that monitors and displays fuel burn rates, ambient temps and more. A souped-up engine powers the pair with 116 ponies in the paddock that are just waiting to be turned loose and let run. Upgraded suspension components improve handling with beefier brakes to haul it down, but that’s just the broad strokes.

Triumph carries the Bonneville name into a new generation with the Bonneville T120 and T120 “Black.” Such a classic name deserves to be treated with dignity with a certain amount of retro appeal, and the factory took extraordinary steps to keep this ride as old school as possible. The designers didn’t go too far, though; a modern mill cranks out 80 ponies and over 77 pounds of grunt under a ride-by-wire throttle and traction control. A modern ride through and through, but with a very definite, and dated, curb appeal.

Triumph started the Bonneville legacy all the way back in 1959, and it is a name that the factory is still taking to the bank today. The newly-repowered “Bonnie” T100 and T100 Black boast a 900 cc mill set in what is more or less a T120 chassis. At 59 horsepower, the T100 plant makes for a newbie-friendly riding experience while the weight savings around the bike imparts a nimble nature that you don’t really feel with the big-brother T120. Classic looks abound on the base model, while the “Black” takes a turn down memory lane to the heyday of garage custom standards with a large dose of blackout treatment for a more sinister look. So, not only do we have a bit of a spread on design, but we also have a balanced machine that can introduce folks to the joys of riding while remaining fun enough to keep experienced riders interested. If that sounds good to you, read on to see what else the T100 family has to offer.

Triumph rolled out a mid-year release in July of 2019 with a new pair of Rocket 3 models (not to be confused with its established Rocket III lineup) that brings an extra-muscular powerplant, plus 11-percent horsepower, to the table along with an undeniably sporty bent that moves the line firmly into sport-cruiser territory. These new rides by the British heavyweight still maintain a relaxed rider’s triangle even while they offer a choice between mid-mount foot controls (Rocket 3 R) and forward foot controls (Rocket 3 GT) to bridge the gap between around-town riding and long-distance comfort. In spite of the plethora of changes, both are still readily recognizable as members of the Rocket family.

Triumph expanded its record-setting Bonneville Bobber range last year with the new-in-2018 Bonneville Bobber Black. The “Black” builds on that success with more of the same stuff that made it a hit in the first place and some custom touches that give it more of a home-spun look right off the showroom floor. Already a thoroughly modern ride, the factory brushed it up with more tech even as it embraced even more retro-tastic features for an interesting duality of development, if you will. The Bonnie Twin mill delivers its 77 horsepower with the same characteristic ’tude we expect.

Triumph’s Bonneville Bobber was a calculated risk that paid off big-time. Springboarding off that success, the factory doubled down with a blackout/custom version of the popular Bobber, and it added to the lineup with the all-new Bonneville Speedmaster. The Speedmaster still serves as the custom-cruiser of the Bonnevilles, but it drops the old swingarm frame in favor of the faux-hardtail Bobber bones. Riding modes, ABS, traction control, cruise control and two-up seating join the 1,200 cc Bonnie engine to make the Speedmaster a much more capable machine for longer trips and interstate work. Yeah, let’s face it shall we? The Bobber is a great little barhopper, but little else, and this new setup expands the lineup into more practical territory.

Triumph Motorcycles beefed up its Tiger 800 line ahead of MY2018 and carried the improved models — including the Tiger 800 XCa — directly over into the 2019 model year. The Tiger “XC” range represents the more off-road-oriented models within the Tiger family, and the “A” variant brings everything the marque has to offer in a mid-displacement adventure bike. Among the new features are a half-dozen riding modes and TFT-screen setups along with bright LED lighting to make it an all-LED ride, and that’s on top of the top-shelf features the previous models already carried.

Triumph updated the Tiger 800 lineup ahead of MY2018 and carried it into MY2019 with over 200 individual improvements to boost its already top-tier XRt to new heights. The factory bills this ride as its ultimate on-road adventure bike, and it justifies that position with all the comfort and safety equipment it has to offer along with newly designed bodywork for some fresh visual appeal. Power comes from a next-gen, 800 cc plant, and it has a full electronics suite to help keep it under control and allow you to get the most out of the machine.

The Triumph Tiger 1200 XRx builds on the base XR to deliver a mid-range machine with some new top-shelf gear for a welcome dose of lagniappe. Updates to core features include ride-quality electronics to deliver more safety and comfort as you tackle the tarmac or the less-civilized paths alike. This machine carries Triumph’s next-gen engine, which is the larger displacement engine in its adventure bike range.

Triumph Motorcycles Limited is currently the U.K.’s largest bikebuilder according to sales numbers. Headquartered in Hinckley, Leicestershire, the British giant competes on the world stage against the top manufacturers out of Europe, Asia, and North America, and it sets the standard for British bikes. Not only does the marque draw on its own deep roots for the looks of its Modern Classic line, but it also shows a willingness to embrace contemporary design elements as well as the performance expectations of the buyer base

Triumph has been busy as of late, expending vast energies and resources reinvigorating the venerable Bonneville range. The Thruxton family got some lovin’ in 2016 and the new incarnation certainly had big shoes to fill considering the fame and glory associated with the Thruxton name from back in the ’60s and ’70s, a fact not lost on the designers. A brand-new engine drives the range, and a whole host of modern, race-tastic features brings the old-school cafe’ racer look to the table with contemporary performance and features that make it less like just a tribute piece, and more of a modern machine with real-world relevance.

Triumph takes a shot at the U.S. power-cruiser market with its Rocket III Roadster. Wrapped in a very cruise-tastic package, the Roadster runs what was the largest production powerplant in the world with its now-famous, 2,294 cc triple, eclipsed in 2019 by its top-shelf sibling, the Rocket III TFC. To call it a “roadster” is almost tongue-in-cheek considering the mass of this thing, but the “Rocket” part of the name is spot-on.

Triumph Motorcycles bills its new Scrambler 1200 XC as an “all-road” machine that’s got what it takes to tackle everything you throw at it. Not quite as off-road-tastic as its sibling, the 1200 XE, it nevertheless delivers top-shelf performance by anyone’s standards. Adjustable, long-stroke suspension components join a “scrambler-tuned” engine and wire wheels for the brown-top work, and for the blacktop, there’s a whole slew of electronic safety goodies that give the “XC” its split-personality. Bonneville power and classic looks come together in the XC.

A 1200 cc plant pushes the classic-looking frame on the new-from-2017 Triumph Bonneville Bobber. Much like Harley-Davidson’s Softail, it comes built to look like an old hard-tail. The result is a modern ride with very deep roots traceable back to the Speed Twin 5T of the late ’30s. There are plenty of other little historical touches here and there, and though this is no replica piece, it can serve as a sort of rolling museum.