1952 Triumph Speed Twin T5 500cc

The revered Triumph Speed Twin – a very significant and influential motorcycle

Designed and evolved by Edward Turner, a pioneer of twin-cylinder motorcycles

Desirable 1952 dynamo-charging, rigid frame/telescopic fork model

Fully restored by a Triumph collector just 195 miles ago

The Speed Twin 5T is a motorcycle that was made by Triumph at their Coventry, and later Meriden factories. Edward Turner, Triumph"s Chief Designer and Managing Director, launched the Triumph Speed Twin at the 1937 National Motorcycle Show. It was a 500cc OHV vertical twin in a lightweight frame and the first truly successful British parallel twin, setting the standard for many twins to follow. After World War II, the Speed Twin was responsible for the survival of Triumph - and every major British marque offered a 500cc twin designed on similar lines to the Speed Twin. Performance proved exceptional for a road-going 500, better than 100mph being attainable under favourable conditions.

The motorcycle presented here is a 1952 Triumph Speed Twin T5 500cc, by which time the Speed Twin had been upgraded with a stronger 8-stud cylinder barrel (replacing the original 6-stud) and Triumph's own telescopic front fork. By now, the bikes were looking far more modern and "clean" and sported the distinctive "four-bar tank" which, for some Triumph aficionados, is such a classic design that it gets the pulse racing! In 1953, the Speed Twin caused controversy among traditional British riders as coil ignition replaced the magneto, and alternator charging replaced the dynamo. This upgrade necessitated the repositioning of the crank mounted shock absorber to the clutch hub (cited by many as a retrograde move in that the available damping movement was reduced by around two-thirds).

""When it came to the sheer romance of biking, Triumph's legendary twin was squarely in the lead.""

This particular bike was fully restored by Triumph collector, Steve Pawson, and has covered just 195 miles since restoration. It would be a welcome addition to any collection of significant and fine post-war British motorcycles and is now ready to be enjoyed and appreciated by a new owner.