Meet the Triumph Speed Twin Breitling Limited Edition

[Hugh Janus]

The Triumph Speed Twin Breitling Limited Edition wears both a unique blue that pays homage to The Wild One and fully adjustable Öhlins piggyback twin rear suspension. (Triumph Motorcycles/)

Following a record sales year, Triumph Motorcycles has unveiled its first model of 2023. And it’s a timeless one.

Meet the Triumph Speed Twin Breitling Limited Edition, a modern classic developed through a partnership with Breitling, the iconic Swiss chronograph company founded by Léon Breitling in 1884.

Only 270 of these special editions will be available. That number celebrates the 270-degree firing order of the parallel-twin engine. Buyers can also order a matching edition number Breitling Top Time Triumph watch.

Here’s a look into this unique Triumph, which joins an expansive lineup of currently available special-edition models including the Street Twin ECI, Gold Line, Thruxton Ton Up, and Rocket 3 GT and R 221 editions.

Triumph paint team artist Gary Devine hand paints all 270 models. (Triumph Motorcycles/)

Speed Twin Breitling Timeless Styling

Triumph enthusiasts will notice the Polychromatic Blue coloring on the Breitling LE, which is influenced by the Triumph Thunderbird 6T Marlon Brandon rode in The Wild One, the 1953 movie that’s a motorcyclist favorite.

Triumph didn’t cut any corners with regard to exact replication. The Hinckley-based company says it took a mint condition color chip of the original Thunderbird paint option from the 1950s factory paint sample book and put it under a spectrograph to exactly match the color. Triumph also hand masked and painted the bike with a jet black stripe and Breitling script, and added a jet black side panel and headlamp bowl.

To further enhance the limited-edition look, Triumph paint team artist Gary Devine hand painted the detailing of all 270 models.

Designers didn’t have to search far for some timeless looks of the Speed Twin Breitling’s gauges. (Triumph Motorcycles/)

Other aesthetic highlights include:

• Machined billet aluminum clutch and alternator covers with dark anodized finish that featured machined Breitling branding.
• Perforated black leather seat with contrast gray stitching, complementing the Breitling edition watch strap, with pillowed ribbed detailing and black single-stitching detail with an elegant Breitling “B” embroidered branding.
• Bespoke Breitling Speed Twin instrument faces with styling cues from the watch design.

Another look at the Polychromatic Blue and jet black stripe on the Speed Twin Breitling’s tank. (Triumph Motorcycles/)

Speed Twin Breitling: Enhanced Modern Performance

Just as Triumph enthusiasts will enjoy their bikes’ relationship to Brando’s, the performance rider will enjoy a relationship to some special components.

Fully adjustable Öhlins piggyback twin rear shocks with gloss black springs are the highlight of the performance upgrades.

Fully adjustable Öhlins piggyback twin rear suspension adds to the performance appeal of this special-edition Triumph. (Triumph Motorcycles/)

All else is typical of the Speed Twin, part of Triumph’s Modern Classic lineup that was launched in 2018. The bike, created to offer the power of a Thruxton R in a more comfortable setup, comes with a 1,200cc High Power Bonneville twin producing 98 hp at 7,250 rpm and 82 pound-feet of torque.

Complementing the Öhlins rear suspension is a 43mm Marzocchi fork with cartridge damping. Stopping the Speed Twin Breitling are Brembo four-piston M50 Monoblock calipers squeezing twin 320 Brembo discs up front and a Nissin two-piston floating caliper squeezing a 220mm disc out back.

Other highlights include:

• 17-inch, 12-spoke cast aluminum wheels wrapped in Metzeler Racetec RR tires
• Three riding modes (Rain, Road, Sport)
• Traction control
• ABS
• LED turn signals
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

The Breitling custom stitching adds some further styling to the leather. (Triumph Motorcycles/)

Notable Motorcycle Collector Attractions and Price

Each of the 270 Speed Twin Breitling Limited Edition models will arrive with an individually numbered unique handlebar clamp and a certificate of authenticity signed by Triumph CEO Nick Bloor and Breitling CEO Georges Kern.

Each buyer will also have the opportunity to purchase a Breitling Top Time Triumph limited-edition chronograph with a personalized matching edition number (if requested by August 22, 2022).

As per pricing, the Speed Twin is available for $18,300, a $5,800 premium over the base 2021 Speed Twin.

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