Triumph Speed Twin (2021+) Maintenance Schedule
This is the maintenance schedule with associated service intervals for the Triumph Speed Twin motorcycle, launched in 2019 as the original (modern) Speed Twin, but revamped as a higher-spec bike in 2021.
Triumph significantly upgraded its original Speed Twin in 2021. It’s still the same concept as before — a sportier standard bike than the Triumph T120, without being as committed as the Triumph Thruxton RS, with which it shares some components.
Already an attractive bike, Triumph gave it more performance (and more torque lower in the rev range), higher-spec Brembo M50 brakes, upside-down (rather than right-way-up, with gaiters like the old one), Marzocchi forks (though still not adjustable), and lightweight 12-spoked rims.
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Triumph Speed Twin Service Intervals
Overall, the Triumph Speed Twin has 10000 mile / 16000 km minor service intervals between oil changes. It also has an annual service — i.e. you do an oil change every year, even if you didn’t do the full distance.
At every minor service, also change the oil filter, check or replace the spark plugs, and do a series of other checks.
The major valve service interval for the Speed Twin is every 20000 miles or 32000 km.
Since the Speed Twin has a liquid-cooled engine, make sure you keep the coolant up to date. And replace the brake fluid per the schedule.
What you need to service a Triumph Speed Twin (2021+)
Even though the majority of people who own such a new motorcycle as the Speed Twin will get it serviced at a dealer, a number of people out there will be doing their own service. This guide is for you!
| Triumph | Part spec (2021+ Triumph Speed Twin) |
|---|---|
| Oil | Triumph recommends 10W/40 or 10W/50 semi or fully synthetic motorcycle engine oil that meets specification API SH (or higher) and JASO MA, such as Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T 10W-40, or Mobil 1 10W-40. |
| Oil filter | Replace the oil filter every time you change the oil. Use Triumph part number T1218001. You can also use Hiflofiltro’s HF204RC (better than K&N these days). |
| Brake fluid | Triumph motorcycles need DOT 4 brake fluid (they have a clutch cable, so you don’t need fluid for the clutch). |
| Coolant | Triumph uses Hybrid Organic Acid Technology coolant with a 50% ethylene glycol mix. Zerex G05 is a HOAT coolant that meets this spec. |
| Front brake pads | The 2021 Triumph Speed Twin has Brembo M50 calipers. You use FA447HH, same as for the Thruxton RS. The Triumph part number for the pads is T2021541. |
| Rear brake pads | Triumph part number is T2022955. Use FA214/2HH (same for many Triumph motorcycles) |
| Spark plugs | NGK code LMAR8A-9. Note they’re sold individually. Make sure they’re gapped to 0.9mm with an appropriate spark plug gap tool. |
| Air filter | The part number for the air filter is T2201122. You can also use K&N part TB-1216. |
| Cable maintenance | Protect All Cable Life is a good-quality cable maintenance product. You can also use engine oil (but it’s a bit messy) |
| Chain maintenance | A good kit to have on hand is the Motul chain care kit — including lubricant, cleaners, a brush, and so on. |
Maintenance Schedule for Triumph Speed Twin (2021+)
The following is the list of maintenance operations and to be done on this motorcycle with a distance or time interval — whichever comes earlier.
We’ve broken the schedule into three parts:
- Pre-ride checks
- Standard annual service, and
- Scheduled / Periodic service, which includes major things like oil changes and valve service.
Daily / Pre-ride checks
Here’s the list of daily / pre-ride checks to do on your Triumph Speed Twin. Do these as part of your regular annual service, too.
| Pre-ride checks — Triumph Speed Twin |
|---|
| Engine – check for leaks |
| Cooling system – check for leaks |
| Coolant level – check/adjust |
| Clutch cable – check function and adjust as necessary |
| Tire wear/tire damage – check |
| Tire pressures – check/adjust |
| Wheels – inspect for damage |
| Wheels – check wheels for broken or damaged spokes and check spoke tightness |
| Steering – check for free operation |
| Front and rear suspension – check for damage/ leaks /smooth operation |
| Brake pads – check wear levels |
| Brake fluid levels – check / top up (Castrol DOT 4) |
| Fasteners – inspect visually for security |
| Bank angle indicators – check for wear |
| All lights, instruments and electrical systems – check/adjust |
| Side stand / centre stand (if fitted) – lubricate/check operation |
Standard Annual Service Checklist
This is the standard annual checklist for your Triumph Speed Twin. Do these as per the full service schedule.
| Triumph Speed Twin standard annual service checklist |
|---|
| [T] Autoscan – Carry out a full Autoscan using the Triumph Diagnostic Tool |
| [T] Instruments, chassis ECM (if equipped) and engine ECM – check for latest calibration |
| Fuel system – check for chafing, leaks, kinks in routing |
| Cooling system – check for leaks, chafing, kinks in routing |
| Wheel bearings – check for wear/smooth operation |
| Steering head bearings – check/adjust |
| Brake master cylinders – check for fluid leaks |
| Brake calipers – check for fluid leaks and seized pistons |
| Drive chain slack – check / adjust (see guidance below) |
| Drive chain rubbing strips – check |
| Side stand pivot pin – clean/grease |
| [T] Carry out all outstanding Service Bulletin and warranty work |
| Carry out road test |
| [T] Complete the service record book and reset the service indicator |
Scheduled service
Below is the full service schedule.
Keep repeating this maintenance schedule beyond the end of the indicated time/distance.
Note that there is no “break in” schedule for the Speed Twin. The first service is the first annual service.
| Mi x 1000 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Km x 1000 | 16 | 32 | 48 | 64 | Every |
| Conduct all pre-ride checks (See list above) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Conduct all annual service inspection checklist items (See list above) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Engine oil – replace (Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T 10W-40) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Engine oil filter – replace (HF204RC) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Throttle body plate (butterfly) – check/clean | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Throttle bodies – balance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Air cleaner – replace (TB-1216) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Spark plugs – check | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Spark plugs – replace (LMAR8A-9) | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Fuel filter – replace | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Valve clearances – check | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Camshaft timing – check / adjust | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Steering head bearings – lubricate | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Fork oil – replace | ✓ | ||||
| Brake fluid – replace (Castrol DOT 4) | 2 years | ||||
| Coolant – replace (Triumph HD4X or an alternative) | 3 years | ||||
| Fuel hoses – replace | 4 years | ||||
| Evaporative loss hoses (if fitted) – replace | 4 years |
Triumph Speed Twin — Chain Maintenance
Triumph recommends you lubricate your chain and check the wear periodically according to the following schedule.
| Item | Every |
|---|---|
| Drive chain – lubricate (Motul chain paste) | 200 miles (300 km), or after riding in rain / washing motorcycle |
| Drive chain – check wear of chain and sprockets | 500 miles (800 km) |
You also need to regularly check the slack of the chain per the schedule.
How to check chain slack on a Triumph Speed Twin
Every brand of motorcycle measures chain slack differently. For Triumph, slack is the free vertical movement of the middle part of the bottom chain segment.
- You need a ruler (or tape measure) and nitrile gloves or a rag (to avoid getting grease on your hands)
- Put the motorcycle in neutral, on a level service, and elevate the rear wheel with a stand or center stand if you have one fitted.
- Rotate the wheel and find the tightest part of the chain, in the middle.
- Use a finger to lightly push the chain up and down. Measure the deflection, which is the chain slack.
Target chain slack (Speed Twin): 20-30 mm (0.8 – 1.2 in)
How to adjust chain slack on a Speed Twin
The procedure is similar to on many motorcycles, but of course specifics vary between brands.
You need wrenches and torque wrenches to re-tighten the rear wheel. You need a large torque wrench for the rear axle to re-tighten it.
- Keep the motorcycle’s rear wheel elevated.
- Loosen the rear axle nut.
- Loosen the lock nuts on the left and hand side.
- Turn the adjuster bolts, usually counter-clockwise, extending the bolt “outward” to lengthen the chain and make it tighter. (Sometimes you’ll want to make it looser — in those cases, turn it clockwise / inward)
- Make sure to adjust the bolts the same amount on each side — check the markings.
- Tighten both adjuster nuts to 15 lb-ft / 20 Nm, and the rear axle nut to 81 lb-ft / 110 Nm (“very tight”).
Wheels and tires for the Triumph Speed Twin
The Triumph Speed Twin is a sport bike and runs on cast wheels, unlike the wire-spoke wheels of the Thruxton. It ships with radial tubeless tires. They’re 17-inch tires, but the rear tire is a 160-profile, unlike most sport bikes that have a 180-profile tire.
Here are the tire sizes and recommended tire pressures.
| Wheel | Tire size | Tire pressure (cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 120/70 R17 | 36 psi / 250 kPa / 2.5 bar |
| Rear | 160/60 R17 | 42 psi / 290 kPa / 2.9 bar |
About the Triumph Speed Twin (2021+)
The Triumph Speed Twin 2021+ takes the same basic formula of the 2019 Triumph Speed Twin and adds more quality components. The Speed Twin is a sporty naked roadster with the 1200cc engine that is the base for Triumph’s premium twins, but in a high-power tune.
It’s still a “sporty” motorcycle in the Triumph Modern Classics line. It has more of an aggressive riding position than the Bonneville T120, but less of an actual sporty position than on the Triumph Thruxton RS (updated for 2020). The same can be said of spec — somewhere between the two.
But the Triumph Speed Twin is considerably updated for 2021, with a number of high-end upgrades that make it significantly sportier. It has a higher-power engine, better braking, and much more competent suspension.
| Spec | 2019-2020 Triumph Speed Twin | 2021+ Triumph Speed Twin |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 72.3 (97 hp) kW @ 6750 rpm | 73.6 kW (98.6 hp) @ 7250 rpm |
| Torque | 112 Nm (82.6 ft-lb) @ 4950 rpm | 112 Nm (82.6 ft-lb) @ 4250 RPM |
| Front brakes | Twin 305mm discs, Brembo calipers | Twin 320mm discs, Brembo M50 calipers |
| Front suspension | 41mm cartridge forks, right side up | 43mm USD Marzocchi forks |
Upside-down (sometimes called USD) forks on a sportbike are almost mandatory these days, so it’s a little odd — though not out of character — for the original Speed Twin to not have them. This isn’t to say that they handle notably better. After all, the Speed Twin still isn’t a high-power sport bike. It’s more, dare I say it about a Triumph “Modern Classic”, a style thing.
Brembo M50 calipers are pretty high spec. Just a few years ago prior, these debuted on high-power superbikes. So seeing them on a bike which is designed to look good and perform well second (not that it doesn’t perform well, it’s just that performance isn’t the primary objective) is pretty cool.
The 2021 Triumph Speed Twin otherwise delivers what the original did — a sporty and yet comfortable “everyday sports bike”, with an engine that’s full of character and doesn’t need you to rev it to the moon to get the most out of it.
It has handlebars, a “standard” plank seat, and a riding position that will have you enthusiastically revving without feeling like this bike is only happy when it’s leaned over, like on a superbike.
Triumph didn’t just improve the forks by adding the Marzocchi units. They also added lighter weight rims. Combined with the upside-down fork configuration, this contributes to significantly lower un-sprung mass at the front, for better handling.
While the Triumph Speed Twin doesn’t have the higher power output of the Triumph Thruxton RS, Triumph did revise the engine’s internals. It has a lighter crank and an alternator built with rare earth magnets for less inertia, higher compression pistons, and modified intake and exhaust ports.
The combination of the engine mods means that even though power only got a small bump, peak power (the same) gets delivered lower in the rev range. This is a rare treat in the age of emissions restrictions!
Maintenance of the Speed Twin is much like earlier generations — 10000-mile (16000 km) service intervals where you need to change the oil, change the fluids (or on a time basis, e.g. brake fluid), and tighten everything up.
Manual for the Triumph Speed Twin (2021+)
The above maintenance schedule comes directly from the user’s manual for the Triumph Speed Twin (2021), which is available on the Triumph website.
