1955 Triumph Speed Twin, 498 cc. Registration number 149 UXB...

Estimate

£5,000 - £6,000

1955 Triumph Speed Twin, 498 cc. Registration number 149 UXB (non- transferable). Frame number 64421. Engine number 5T 64340.
It's been called the most important British motorcycle of the 20th century, and almost every industry chronicler would have it on their list of all-time greats. 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 and from certain angles looked just like a twin-port single. Performance proved exemplary for a road-going 500, better than 100mph being attainable under favourable conditions.
This 'pre-unit' example dates from around 1955, by which time the Speed Twin had received a stronger eight-stud cylinder barrel in place of the six-stud original and been updated with a telescopic front fork and swinging-arm frame among many other improvements.
This example was put back on the road in February 2004, presumably after a full rebuild, and given an age related number by Exeter DVLA in the March. At this time it was owned by Don Perry of Bridgewater. The speedo had been reset and by 2010 it had only covered 25 miles, today it is at 14, mmm! It recently came north and is now being sold due to lack of use. It should little in the way of recommissioning to allow the next custodian many miles of motoring.
Sold with the V5Cand various MOT's since 2004.