The latest addition to Triumph’s lineup, the Stealth Edition motorcycles, introduces a captivating, darker aesthetic to the renowned British brand.
These Stealth Edition bikes, totaling eight in number and are of Bonneville derivatives, step in as successors to the previous year’s Chrome Collection, which had itself replaced the 2021 Gold Line models.
This exclusive collection comprises the following Triumph Bonneville derivatives: the Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster (red), Triumph Bonneville Bobber (purple), Triumph Bonneville T100 (blue), Triumph Bonneville T120 (blue), Triumph Bonneville T120 Black (black), Triumph Speed Twin 1200 (red), Triumph Speed Twin 900 (green), and Triumph Scrambler 900 (orange).
Each of these motorcycles in the collection boasts a unique color scheme, with the hue elegantly adorning the fuel tank and gradually transitioning to a stylish graphite black towards the front of the tank.
It’s important to note that none of these bikes receive any performance enhancements or technical alterations. The Stealth Edition bikes are primarily a visual transformation compared to their standard counterparts.
Triumph has underlined that the Stealth Edition bikes are hand-painted in a custom style and, similar to the previous Chrome Collection and Gold Line, will only be available for a limited duration of one year. Enthusiasts can already place orders for these models at Triumph dealers, and these bikes are expected to be available in dealerships from February 2024.
Triumph Motorcycles has revealed more details and features of the TE-1 Project developed in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering.
final test results reveal an astonishing 175hp with a 161km range.
the TE-1 is almost on par with Triumph’s Speed Triple 1200 RS.
to remain as a prototype with no clear indication it will go into production.
The British firm has released the final prototype test results, and the all-electric sportsbike reveals a remarkable 175hp with a 161km range.
According to Triumph, the TE-1 recorded range significantly exceeds the real-world capacity of an equivalent electric motorcycle available today.
In addition, the TE-1 makes 130kW (175hp) peak power and can hit 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds.
This almost puts the TE-1 on par with the firm’s flagship Speed Triple 1200 RS, which makes 177.5hp and 125Nm.
Also, the bike only needs 20 minutes of charging time to achieve 80%, making it the fastest charging time for today’s equivalent electric motorcycles. Triumph also claimed that the TE-1 is 20% lighter (220kg) than any of its competitors.
“We are incredibly proud to be able to share such positive outcomes from the completion of Project Triumph TE‑1, where the prototype demonstrator has exceeded many of our initial targets and expectations,” said Nick Bloor, CEO, Triumph Motorcycles
“Everyone on the team is thrilled with the results we have achieved with our partners, and how the outcomes of the project will feed into the electric future to come from Triumph.”
“WAE are delighted to have been involved in this exciting programme to deliver the TE-1 prototype,” said Dyrr Ardash, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Williams Advanced Engineering.
“Since its conception in 2018, all the partners have worked with collaboration, innovation and passion to bring the boundary breaking prototype to life. It is pleasing to hear positive rider comments which confirms that the dynamics of the bike are aligned with Triumph’s DNA.
“This has been underpinned by the class-leading Battery and Control System that WAE has produced within a lightweight and integrated package.
“This core WAE technology has allowed us to exceed performance and charging targets for the battery which we look forward to seeing in future powertrains.”
he added.
Despite the exciting news, the TE-1 Project is yet ready for production, and it could remain a prototype to inspire a production-ready electric motorcycle in the near future.
If you’re in the market for an all-capable motorcycle, you might find the answer in the all-new Triumph Tiger Sport 660.
Built on the same platform as the Trident 660, the Tiger Sport 660 features the same triple-cylinder engine as its naked sibling and is set to go up against the Kawasaki Versys 650, Suzuki V-Strom 650 and the Yamaha Tracer 7.
The triple powerplant delivers around 79hp @ 10,250rpm, and 64Nm @ 6,250rpm, with the British firm, claims 90 per cent of the torque is available from 3,600rpm.
Like the Trident, the Tiger Sport 660 features two riding modes, Road and Rain, ride-by-wire with 6-speed transmission, and a slipper/clutch.
Braking is done by twin 2-piston Nissin radial callipers paired to a 310mm disc at the front and a 255mm disc at the rear. It also features dual-channel ABS that’s, unfortunately, can’t be turn off.
Other exciting features include 41mm Showa USD front forks with 150mm travel ad Showa rear monoshock with hydraulic preload adjustable.
Looking at the success of the Trident, the Tiger Sport 660 will follow the same formula and expand to a broader audience that seeks comfort and practicality.
It could potentially become the best seller from the Hinckley factory.
Baru-baru ini, lebih 97 unit Ducati 1299 Superleggera telah dipanggil semula susulan masalah pad brek mudah terhakis dan kini isu itu turut membabitkan lebih 3,691 unit Triumph.
Triumph muncul jenama kedua yang dipanggil National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) di Amerika Syarikat atas isu sama selepas Ducati 1299 Superleggera.
Isu ini membabitkan pad brek mudah terhakis lalu memberi kesan terhadap daya membrek motosikal.
Bagi yang mahu memahami lebih lanjut sila KLIK SINI.
Model Triumph yang terkesan adalah seperti berikut:
Street Triple RS (2018-2020)
Tiger 1200 XCx (2018-2020)
Tiger 1200 XCA (2018-2020)
Speed Triple S (2019-2020)
Speed Triple RS (2019-2020)
Tiger 1200 XRT (2018-2019)
Tiger 1200 XR (2018-2019)
Tiger 1200 XRx (2018-2019)
Tiger 1299 XRx LRH (2018-2019)
Tiger 1200 Alpine/Desert Edition (2020)
Pertukaran pad brek depan akan dilaksanakan secara percuma bagi setiap pemilik jentera yang terkesan.
Triumph Malaysia menerusi Fastbikes Sdn Bhd, melancarkan Triumph Rocket 3 R dan GT untuk pasaran tempatan, hari ini.
Meneruskan legasi Rocket III yang dilancarkan 16 tahun lalu, Triumph Rocket 3 R dan GT merupakan motosikal untuk pasaran umum dengan enjin terbesar pernah dihasilkan – 2,500cc – sekaligus muncul sebagai pesaing utama Ducati Diavel.
The Beast mungkin jolokan paling sesuai bagi Rocket 3 R dan GP namun jangan tertipu kerana jentera ini mampu merekodkan 0-100km/j dalam masa 3.2 saat!
Meskipun berat mencapai 362 kilogram, namun dengan 165hp pada 6,000rpm dan 220Nm pada 4,000rpm – bersamaan dengan tork yang ditawarkan Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P – Rocket 3 R dan GT sememangnya jentera sport cruiser yang pantas.
Triumph Rocket 3 GT
Segala kuasa itu kemudiannya disalurkan menerusi klac hidraulik dengan transmisi 6-kelajuan.
Terdapat dua varian ditawarkan bagi pasaran tempatan, Rocket 3 R dan Rocket 3 GT. Berdasarkan nama diberi, R merupakan versi sporty manakala GT menawarkan tunggangan santai dan jarak jauh.
Triumph Rocket 3 R
Kedua-duanya dilengkapi dengan penyerap hentakan Showa boleh laras – rebound dan compression bagi fork 47mm depan sementara kaliper brek Brembo M4 Stylema empat piston memastikan daya membrek efisien.
Antara ciri elektronik lain ditawarkan:
paparan skrin TFT-LCD
traction control
empat mod tunggangan
hill control
cruise control
keyless
ABS cornering
Bagi memastikan nadi 2.5L terus bernyawa Rocket 3 R dan GT didatangkan dengan tangki 18 liter.
Fastbikes selaku pengedar Triumph Motorcycles di Malaysia melancarkan Triumph Tiger 900, hari ini.
Triumph Tiger – motosikal segmen ADV – menerima nafas baharu bagi tahun 2020 dengan enam varian diperkenalkan.
Triumph memperkenalkan Tiger 900, Tiger 900 GT, GT Low (dengan tempat duduk rendah) serta GT Pro, Tiger 900 Rally dan Rally Pro.
Model baharu ini menggantikan varian XRX dan XCX sebelum ini.
Penambahbaikan terbaru bagi keluarga Tiger adalah penggunaan enjin lebih besar, 900cc 3-silinder berbanding 800cc sebelum ini.
Meskipun menghasilkan 93.9hp pada 8,750rpm – sekitar angka sama dihasilkan model terdahulu – namun Triumph mendakwa nadi baharu ini menghasilkan tork lebih tinggi pada RPM rendah.
Model baharu ini turut dengan chasis serba baharu di samping kaliper Brembo Stylema – seperti yang terdapat pada Ducati Panigale V4 – yang turut didatangkan secara standard pada semua varian!
Bagaimanapun, perbezaan di antara kesemua model terarah kepada bahagian ‘suspension’ dengan Tiger 900 mendapat fork Marzocchi tidak laras dan penyerap hentakan dengan preload sementara Tiger GT didatangkan dengan fork boleh laras – compression dan rebound.
Varian GT Pro pula didatangkan dengan fork sama namun dengan sistem penyerap hentakan elektronik.
Sementara itu, model Rally dan Rally Pro dilengkapi dengan sistem penyerap hentakan Showa boleh laras sepenuhnya.
Pada masa sama, varian GT, GT Pro, Rally dan Rally Pro dilengkapi dengan paparan skrin TFT 7-inci dengan GT Pro dan Rally Pro didatangkan dengan sistem Triumph My Ride.
Ketika ini Fastbikes telah pun menerima lebih 20 tempahan bagi Tiger 900.
Antara ciri menarik lain:
Cornering ABS dan IMU (GT, GT Pro, Rally dan Rally Pro)
6 mod tunggangan (Rain, Road, Sport, Rider, Off-Road, Off-Road Pro)
Quickshifter (GT Pro dan Rally Pro)
Lampu LED
USB Port
Tangki 20L
Berikut harga yang ditawarkan bagi kesemua varian:
Akhirnya, selepas dua tahun mengumumkan bakal menjalinkan kerjasama, Bajaj Auto dan Triumph Motorcycle memeteraikan perjanjian pada 24 Januari lalu.
Perjanjian terbabit menyaksikan Bajaj akan mengambil alih pengedaran Triumph di India dan akan memperkenalkan jenama Britain itu di pasaran dunia lain.
Bagaimanapun, tumpuan utama terarah kepada penghasilan jentera segmen 200 hingga 750 cc dengan model pertama dijangka akan diperkenalkan seawal 2022.
Triumph mendakwa, model hasil kerjasama dengan Bajaj itu menawarkan harga mampu milik serendah USD2,800 (RM11,383) dan akan turut akan dipasarkan di Eropah dan Amerika Utara.
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) Triumph Motorcycle, Nick Bloor, menyifatkan kerjasama ini sebagai langkah yang mengujakan.
“Kerjasama ini cukup penting buat Triumph dan saya teruja segalanya telah rasmi. Kerjasama ini akan membawa jenama kami ke segmen baharu dan produk yang akan diperkenalkan nanti akan membantu menarik perhatian generasi muda terutamanya bagi pasaran Asia Tenggara,” jelasnya dalam satu kenyataan.
Triumph Motorcycle mengumumkan bahawa model terbaru pengeluar motosikal Britain itu, Triumph Tiger 900 akan menjadi jentera rasmi James Bond dalam filem terbaru No Time To Die yang akan ditayangkan April tahun depan.
Pada masa sama, Triumph Scrambler 1200 turut akan membuat penampilan.
Triumph Scrambler 1200
Triumph Motorcycle dalam satu kenyataan mengesahkan kerjasama dengan filem James Bond berjudul No Time To Die dan EON Productions.
Pasukan Triumph turut bekerjasama dengan pasukan lagak ngeri filem tersebut bagi mempersiapkan Tiger 900 dan Scrambler 1200 untuk sesi penggambaran.
Triumph Tiger 900
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Triumph, Nick Bloor menyifatkan kerjasama ini sebagai satu kejayaan baharu.
“Kami teruja kerana dapat menjalinkan kerjasama dengan filem James Bond terbaru berjudul No Time To Die. Kami berbesar hati kerana berpeluang untuk terlibat dengan banyak produksi filem yang besar.
“Pada masa sama jentera kami juga cukup berupaya untuk ditampilkan dalam filem ini terutamanya Tiger 900,” jelasnya.
Sebelum ini, Triumph Motorcycle turut membuat penampilan dalam filem Mission Impossible 2 menampilkan Speed Triple 955i dan Mission Impossible 6: Fallout yang menampilkan Triumph Tiger 800.
No Time To Die akan ke pawagam pada 2 April tahun depan.
The Triumph Street Triple S one of three models in the new Triumph Street Triple (765) range.
It is meant for the daily rider who wants a simpler motorcycle.
Simpler does not mean less entertaining.
“It’s same-same but different,” said Joseph when we spoke about something which looked uncannily alike yet there’s were some differences that we couldn’t quite put a finger on.
The flagship Street Triple RS is the king of the 765cc street fighter, boasting fully-adjustable Showa forks and Ohlins monoshock, radially-mounted Brembo M50 Monobloc front brake calipers, quickshifter, 5 ride modes including TRACK Mode, lap timer and full-colour TFT display, besides 121 bhp from the engine.
The “middle” Street Triple R model, features fully adjustable Showa forks and monoshock, Brembo 4.32 Monobloc front brake calipers, no quickshifter. It’s equipped with the TFT display, however there is no TRACK mode and lap timer. The engine puts out 116 bhp.
The Street Triple S has standard non-adjustable Showa forks, preload-adjustable only Showa monoshock, two-piston Nissin front brake calipers and an instrument cluster carried over from its Street Triple 675 predecessor. It has only two ride modes, ROAD and RAIN. The engine is tuned to produce 111 bhp.
While it’s easy to see off the S as an “entry-level” model, it’s actually meant for riders who want an everyday bike without the fancy stuff. But does it mean the bike is “compromised?”
The Street Triple S’s seat height is a little lower than the RS’s, allowing me to place both feet securely on the ground without needing to move a cheek off the seat. The seating position puts you in a nice sporty crouch without being uncomfortable and all the controls are within reach of your fingers and thumbs.
Accelerating through the gears, there’s an additive warble from underneath the tank and howl from the exhaust, but it’s totally quiet when cruising at a steady throttle at any speed.
Speaking about acceleration, the Street Triple S turns out to have a much direct, rawer feel to it. Twist the throttle aggressively and you’re rewarded with an almost beast-like forward charge.
To overtake another vehicle, just roll up on the target and give the bike some throttle. The Street Triple S will howl forward without hesitation. Keep the gas on and the bright blue shift lights illuminate one after another until the fifth one comes on, all blinking unison. Time to hit another gear – blam! It goes in immediately without ponder. However, you don’t have to blast through the gears if you’re lazy. You could let the revs drop to just above 2000 RPM in sixth gear and the bike will still pull hard at the twist of the loud grip.
When it came to handling, the Street Triple S reminded us clearly beyond doubt of how the Street Triple lineup had been imbued with great handling from the very first model. The bike was composed yet ready to go anywhere you wished it to. It felt like riding a 250cc bike with three times the power. You’ll soon be entertaining yourself with picking your way around traffic, chucking the bike into sharp corners and flying through the long ones. Although shod with Pirelli Rosso Corsa tyres, it’ll be just as happy when riding through the rain – the tyres didn’t slide once – although we rode in ROAD mode.
The suspension on both ends were suppler that the RS’s, but big bumps and deep holes will produce big jolts. At the track, the standard setting had the footpeg feelers touching down early, but on the streets, it took very, very committed (read: high speed) cornering to have them sniffing the tarmac.
Last but not least, the Nissin brakes were strong although they required a harder squeeze further into the stroke.
To wrap up, the Triumph Street Triple S is a great commuter and weekend canyon blaster despite being devoid of the flashier stuff. In skilled hands, it’ll punish plenty of bikes out there when the road goes less than straight. Furthermore, the Street Triple S is rider friendly and practical for many uses, too.
Some spy shots of what seems to be the 1200cc Triumph Street Scrambler have been going around online.
The new Street Scrambler is rumoured to have a much bigger 1200cc parallel-twin engine similar to the one used in the Bobber.
Other noticeable features include Brembo brakes, Showa USD forks, rear Ohlins shocks and other off-road parts.
Image source: MCN
The latest report by MCN has indicated that Triumph Motorcycles are well in their way in the testing phase of producing their latest range of modern classic motorcycles. Their latest spy shots also showed that a 1200cc Triumph Street Scrambler might just be one of many on the drawing board. (more…)
TRIUMPH STREET SCRAMBLER HOW TO ESCAPE THE DAILY DROLL
There are many war movies. There are also many motorcycle movies. Likewise, there are war movies with motorcycles in them.
But there is one particular movie which immortalized the motorcycle in a war setting. Not so much as an implement of war, but rather as a symbol of freedom, defiance, rebellion against insurmountable odds, way before a copywriter thought up Adidas’ Impossible Is Nothing tagline.
No, not Born To Ride starring duck-face-king Jon Stamos, ‘though it was a fun movie. And not Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi either.
We are talking about that 1963 classic, The Great Escape. You probably saw it coming.
The movie was an adaptation of Paul Brickhill’s book of the same name, which told of the first-hand account of a mass escape of POWs from the Nazi Stalag Luft III camp during WWII.
Entertainment values aside, we saw how much each man gave in the pursuit of freedom from oppression, with many ultimately paying the ultimate price. It’s a demonstration man’s indomitable spirit to be free – vanquishing walls, armed guards, machine guns, and barbed wires.
The most iconic scene was none other than of Steve McQueen’s character (stunt performed by Bud Ekins) jumping over the barbed wire fences on a Triumph TR6 Trophy, which was disguised as a BMW R75 for the movie.
I had just been bitten by the Street Triple RS bug. Fast was just a by-word for this naked sportbike. It was as agile as a 250cc, braked like it had retro rockets, flew through corners like a 125cc two-stroke racer, gripped as if the tyres were made of bubblegum. Out there, in the real world, it absolutely blew everything away. I’ve never had so much fun on a motorcycle before. And I never got over it.
Then just last week, Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia announced that their Penang branch was moving to a different location, hence an official launching was in store. Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia offered a few bikes for the ride up north, along with the RATPack (Riders Association of Triumph Motorcycles).
Still smarting from a broken heart after parting with the RS, I didn’t give much attention to which motorcycle I was assigned (Shhh… I was secretly hoping for the RS again). It turned out to be the Street Scrambler.
Arie handed over the key and said, “You’ll love this one, Bro!”
It sure looked pretty. But those two exhausts sticking out the side like cannons exuded attitude. Additionally, unlike the Street Twin, it had a 19-inch spoked front wheel, and knobbies (Metzeler Tourance adventure tyres, actually), fuel tank respendent in flaming Korosi Red. Instinct told me that although it was basically aStreet Twin, this one’s going to be naughty.
Interestingly, the Scrambler harks back to the TR6 Trophy, on which our intrepid hero jumped over the fences.
Anyway, I climbed on and the ribbed seat was truly comfortable. The handblebar felt higher and wider than the Street Twin’s. The footpegs were placed in a natural position. The ergonomics is definitely friendly to newer riders too.
The exhaust pipes were right beneath my right thigh. Keeping my machismo, I didn’t ask Arie if it gets hot.
I looked at the instrument cluster and it was the familiar face on the Street Twin’s. It may look simple but the LCD screen provided plenty of useful info, including fuel range (yay!).
The engine fired up without hesitation to the familiar irregular throb of a 270-degree crank. Just the right amount of vibration was allowed through but the bike felt alive.
First gear engaged with a clack but the action was positive, the hallmark of Triumph’s transmissions. I let out the clutch, gave it throttle and BROOOOAR it took off down the road! Whoa, boy!
Its handling was instantly apparent. The 19-inch wheel may need slightly more effort (due to the centrifugal force) to get it turned but it was flick-flick-flick once you’re committed. The suspension was well-sorted as it soaked up bumps and the “knobbies” didn’t induce vibrations. Triumph had reduced the swingarm by 50mm over its sibling, resulting in a fast turning bike.
We were supposed to congregate at the Rawang R&R at 6.30am on Saturday for the ride but I couldn’t make the time and left an hour later, planning to catch up at Sungai Perak before the convoy resumed.
While filling up at the Rawang R&R, I met a gentleman who was smitten by the Scrambler. As a pattern of what was to come, the questions were, “How does it handle?” “How fast can it do?” “How many cc’s?” and most of all, “Is that exhaust hot?” Everywhere I went, people would walk up and ask questions with, “That’s a nice bike,” as the prelude while ignoring the flashier, faster, modern bikes in the vicinity. They somehow looked disappointed when told it belongs to Triumph as a demo bike.
Having slept for only two hours, I decided to take it easy and droned along at the speed limit. It was during this time I discovered many things I’ve never noticed.
Over to my right was a mountain range. The early morning sunlight had just started kissing its slopes. Thick clouds caressed the tops intimately, as if jealous of the sunlight. On the left, well, it was just oil palm estates but it was only then I discovered that Dato’ Lee Chong Wei is the “Eco Ambassador” for a building materials company called Pentens. The morning air was cool and fresh, with which I filled lungsful of. I even flashed the “peace” sign at an AES camera (it didn’t fire).
I was in a state of zen. A huge group of Suzuki Belang 150 blew past on either side. I smiled. Solutions to deep-rooted problems started to filter in through the air, as I sang Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head to myself.
Remember the “nice bike routine”? It happened even riding! As I readied to overtake a car, my peripheral vision caught sight of this black MPV next to me in the right lane. I backed off to let it pass but it stayed put and matched my speed. I looked over to see two kids and a teenager snapping pictures on their phones. Their Mum gave me a thumbs up.
I kept on cruising, thighs far apart, arms stretched straight out. The engine was humming along, the wheels tracked perfectly over the bumps, until I passed Ipoh and started up the twisty section to the tunnel. Still minding my own business, Uncle Camry swept past two lanes directly into my path to round a curve, and braked 20 metres in front of me! He must’ve thought he was going wide.
A blast of throttle awoken the bike’s fat midrange and I slingshot past him. Speed picked up so quickly I had to push my buttocks back and crouch onto the tank. The bike charged through every turn like a naked sportbike (I kid you not!). A few corners up and I came across a group Triumph Tiger riders. I passed them on the outside of a turn and waved. Sorry guys, wasn’t trying to show off. To be fair, they had passengers and were being careful.
If the bike had felt stable when cruising straight up and down, it was disconcertingly stable when leaned fully over. Eh?
I split both lanes in the tunnel, horn blasting away. Traffic was backed up when I exited the tunnel, due to two trailers up ahead going I think I can, I think I can, side-by-side. Slicing in and out of the traffic, the brakes were super strong, despite having only a single 310mm disc gripped by a two-piston caliper up front. The forks didn’t dive all the way down when I gave the brake lever the grip of death, either.
I was now singing Turbo Love to the roar of the engine. Suddenly, there they were, those Belang riders. They stood no chance.
We fueled up at Sungai Perak R&R and continued on the trip. Man, those Tiger 800s were fast! I had to ride almost prone on the tank all the way to Juru just to keep up. Now all my misgivings about “classics” were blown away into the slipstream as the engine obliged without feeling like it wanted to go IED. Five speeds were enough, never needing me to row for the non-existent sixth gear. Windblast was surprisingly acceptable even at those speeds. I’m a highway starrrrr!!!
Reaching Prai, I gunned for the first Penang Bridge, when I should’ve turned onto the new one. All along the way, the locals thought they could teach an uncle on a “classic bike” some lessons. Hah! Hooligan mode on! Welcome to the jungle, we got fun and games!
Everywhere around Penang, other motorcyclists would crane their necks over for a good look of the Street Scrambler, and many asked the same set of questions.
Riding around Penang and later back in Kuala Lumpur also revealed how well the Street Scrambler is suited for the daily commute. There’s just power everywhere, allowing you to zap traffic with so much ease. No wonder, because maximum torque arrives at a low 2850 RPM while maximum horsepower is produced at 6000 RPM. That’s a mountain range of 3150 RPM separation between maximum torque and maximum horsepower, ensuring a flexible power delivery. It means you didn’t have to keep shifting gears while tackling the traffic. The exhausts made enough music to alert drivers, despite being stock.
Oh, before I forget, the Street Scrambler is equipped with Triumph Traction Control (TTC) and ABS that you could turn wither or both off for offroading. Triumph Malaysia had brought one for an offroad event at Mat Daling and it passed with flying colours.
And no, the high-level exhaust didn’t flambé my right thigh. It felt hot of course, but it wasn’t like touching an unprotected section of the exhaust pipe. In fact, the hot air from the radiator was hotter.
In conclusion, there are days or instances when a certain switch is flicked on and we want to go out and ride a certain way. On one day, we just want to carve canyons as Joe Rocket. The next day we just want to cruise and soak up the environment. Or camp in the jungle by riding offroad the next week. Commuting on a motorcycle on a daily basis, in the meantime. You certainly want a bike that’s pretty but not kitschy. Heck, you could even be Justin Bieber or Miley Cyrus (God forbid!) just for a day to cheese people off (God forbid X2). Or how about dressing up dapper? Or just go out there and get away for a while?
However, super-segmented machines could do only the one thing, two max, that it had been designed for. You can’t go offroad on an R1, can you? A cruiser can’t corner like a naked sportbike, can it?
What the Street Scrambler stands for is freedom. The freedom of choice on who you want to be, how you want to be, what you want to be. Free from constrictions, free from conventions, free from barbed wires. Escapism. Or rather, The Great Escape.
The wristwatch has long been considered as the ultimate form of men’s jewellery. It is also seen as a symbol of status and wealth for the elites and other folks alike. The presence of exquisite timepiece makers like Tissot, Tag Heuer and Rolex have been associated with motorsports and today, we’re going to dive into some of the great watches related to two-wheel motorsports.
1) Tissot T-Race MotoGP 2017 Limited Edition
Tissot is the official timekeeper for MotoGP and WorldSBK. Every year, Tissot comes up with a variety of timepieces dedicated to a few key riders like Nicky Hayden and Jorge Lorenzo. This particular piece is the MotoGP 2017 variant which is only limited to 5,000 units. Priced at USD1,395 (around RM6,190), this Swiss made watch is constructed with 316L stainless steel with black PVD coating and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal face.
2) CVSTOS Challenge Dani Pedrosa
CVSTOS is a Swiss watchmaker that is on the super premium level. Their passion for motorsports and Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa led them to the birth of this watch made with black, orange and grey titanium. The Challenge also has 25 jewels embedded in the piece and it is STUNNING. The price may give some folks a heart attack as they’re selling them at USD13,900 (around RM61,674) each. Either this or a middleweight sports bike. Tough choice.
3) Lotus Marc Marquez Man
Surprise, surprise. The 2016 MotoGP World Champion has his own signature wristwatch line up and this Man range is simply striking. Sapphire glass, stainless steel case and chronograph functionality, this timepiece in exquisite dark blue colourway is a great way to create a big impression to your fellow motorsports enthusiasts. Coming in at around USD570 (RM2,530), it’s a great gift for any Marc Marquez fan out there.
4) TW Steel VR46 TW937
When it comes to MotoGP, there’s no denying that Valentino Rossi is the Greatest of All Time. A collaboration with TW Steel makes the VR46 brand is the watch-making industry and the TW937 model is the sleekest looking one of all. This beauty is 48mm in diameter comes with a silicon strap and mineral crystal face with sapphire layer all in prestigious black colourway. The watch is water resistant up to 100 metres and you can purchase one for just USD799 (around RM3,545).
5) Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback
Ever heard of Felix Baumgartner? How about the Red Bull Stratos Mission? The guy who skydived from the edge of space? That’s the one! Felix together with Zenith watch hitched a ride on a weather balloon up to the stratosphere, jumped off and fell back to Earth at 1,336km/h! And the watch survived in one piece. If you’re interested to get one of these indestructible pieces of history, the selling price is around USD5,670 (around RM25,158). You can get a brand new Kawasaki Ninja 250 with that amount of cash.
6) Omega Speedmaster Racing Co-Axial Chronograph
There’s no other watchmaker that can claim to be involved in all six lunar missions by NASA. This makes the Speedmaster one of the iconic timepieces of all time. It’s also probably the only watch that has been to the Moon, the North and South Pole. The Speedmaster has also been long associated with motorsports and it’s indeed a key collection for the elites as the asking price is at RM16,700.
7) Triumph Sports Chronograph
The modern classic bike manufacturer has their very own line of fancy timepieces as well and the Sports Chronograph is the crème de la crème. Set with the super accurate Japanese chronograph movement, this baby is water resistant up to 5ATM (about 130 feet or 40 metres) which is more than ideal to withstand any motorcycle journey no matter the weather. The comfortable padded strap are made with 100% leather and the face and stitching comes in three different colours; Black, Silver and Red. It can be yours for just £299 (around RM1,640).
8) Casio G-Shock G-Steel
Presenting the toughest G-Shock of them all, the G-Steel. Made with a layered guard structure, double-layer bezel construction using stainless steel and resin gives it a tough and sleek metal finish. The watch also has a solar panel to recharge its battery so that you’ll never have to worry about it dying on you. Get a piece for your loved ones starting from a reasonable USD320 (around RM1,420).
9) Seiko Giugiaro Design Limited Edition
This Japanese watch legend collaborated with Italian design firm Giugiaro Design or also known as Italdesign in making motorsports-related wristwatches. This particular piece was designed specifically for motorcyclists with a tilted dial and sloped toward the rider to make it easier to read while riding. There are five different variants and all of them are beautifully made to perform flawlessly using Seiko’s signature quartz chronograph movement. Price ranges from USD290 to USD339 (around RM1,287 to RM1,504).
10) Graham Silverstone RS Endurance 24HR
Not many watches pay tribute to one of Europe’s iconic track and its legendary endurance race. This is probably one of the most heavily motorsports inspired timepieces ever made with a seconds counter shaped like a disc brake and race tire patterned strap. The watch also has a double chronograph function to measure 24 hour races and lap times. Sounds complicated, intricate and expensive and it is! With a price tag of USD14,580 (around RM64,700), it’s more of an investment for the rich and famous.
There you have it, fellow motorsport enthusiasts. This is our take on the best motorsport/motorcycle-inspired watches. There are indeed a lot more watches worth mentioning in this article but if we include all of the great ones, this list will be ten times as long filled with tonnes of great options. These ten selections are the most interesting in our opinion. Any plans to get a special someone an awesome birthday gift?
