Triumph Speed Twin (1959-63)

The Triumph Speed Twin was a motorcycle produced from 1959 to 1963. It had a four-stroke parallel-twin engine with a capacity of 490cc and a compression ratio of 7.2:1. The bike was air-cooled and had a single Amal carburetor. Its ignition was a 6V magnetic flywheel and it was started by a kick. The maximum power of the motorcycle was 20.1 kW or 27 hp at 6500 rpm. The bike had a wet clutch and a four-speed, constant mesh transmission. The final drive was through a chain. The Triumph Speed Twin had a single tube frame and was equipped with a hydraulic telescopic fork at the front and a 1947-1954 sprung hub, which was later replaced by a swingarm with two shock absorbers at the rear. Both front and rear brakes were drums with a size of 7 in SLS. The front and rear tyres had Dunlop Universal tyres with sizes of 3.25-19 and 3.50-19 respectively. The bike weighed 155 kg or 341 lbs and had a fuel capacity of 18 L or 4.8 US gal or 4.0 Imp gal. The motorcycle had a wheelbase of 1372 mm or 54 inches, a saddle height of 749 mm or 29.5 inches, and a ground clearance of 152 mm or 6.0 inches.

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Technical specifications:

Make Model: Triumph Speed Twin 500

Year: 1959 – 63

Engine: Four stroke, parallel twin, OHV

Capacity: 490 cc / 29.9 cub in.

Bore x Stroke: 63 x 80 mm

Compression Ratio: 7.2:1

Cooling System: Air cooled

Induction: Single Amal carburetor 15/16″

Ignition: 6 V magnetic flywheel

Starting: Kick

Max Power: 20.1 kW / 27 hp @ 6500 rpm

Clutch: Wet,6 plate

Transmission: 4 Speed, constant mesh

Final Drive: Chain

Frame: Singe tube frame

Front Suspension: Hydraulic telescopic fork

Rear Suspension: 1947-1954 sprung hub, after 1954 Swingarm with two shock absorbers

Front Brakes: Drum, 7 in SLS

Rear Brakes: Drum, 7 in SLS

Front Tyre: 3.25 – 19, Dunlop Universal

Rear Tyre: 3.50 – 19, Dunlop Universal

Wheelbase: 1372 mm / 54 in

Saddle Height: 749 mm / 29.5 in

Ground Clearance: 152 mm / 6.0 in

Dry Weight: 155 kg / 341 lbs

Fuel Capacity: 18 L / 4.8 US gal / 4.0 Imp gal