Beschreibung:

Although Edward Turner’s Triumph Speed Twin caused a sensation when it appeared at the 1937 Motorcycle Show, few of its admirers can have guessed how influential the design would prove to be. True, there had been vertical twins before; indeed, Turner’s predecessor at Meriden - Val Page - had designed one a few years previously, but Triumph’s newcomer established a formula that would be adopted by all of Britain’s major motorcycle manufacturers in the succeeding decade. And whereas previous vertical twins had suffered from excess bulk, Turner’s was lighter and narrower across the crankcase than the contemporary single-cylinder Tiger 90, whose cycle parts it shared, and from certain angles looked just like a twin-port single. This was just what the conservatively minded motorcycling public wanted and the Speed Twin proved an enormous success for Triumph, lifting the company out of the economic doldrums and setting it on the road to future prosperity. Performance proved exemplary for a road-going 500, around 85mph being attainable by the Speed Twin while the Tiger 100 sports version could reach the ‘ton’ under favourable conditions. This wonderful example of Turner’s landmark masterpiece was totally restored to concours condition in 1996 and has seen little use since. We are advised that the machine was treated to a full inspection and remedial work carried out by Terry McDonald in 2007, when the engine was rebuilt. Presented in excellent condition in every respect, ‘YFF 280’ is offered with sundry restoration invoices, current MoT and Swansea V5 registration document, and represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire a fully restored example of this iconic model.