Black and gold Seems to be a theme lately. Here, it has been applied to the Triumph Speed Twin 1200 with exceptional judgment from Unique Motorworks. But the Polish outfit did a lot more than just wrap the SpeedTwin in pretty paint – this is a brawler, all in all.
In stock form, the Speed Twin 1200 is deliciously brutal – a torquey parallel roadster with handling to match. But it looks so good off the showroom floor that there’s little room for customization. The best approach is to lean into the qualities that make them so good in the first place, and then amplify the whole package.
That’s exactly what Unikat has done with this 2019 model Triumph Speed Twin 1200. The owner of the bike is a real petrolhead – a four and two wheel enthusiast who runs a transmission renewal company. The brief called for an agile city bike with sharp looks and oodles of attitude; an “elegant, brilliant and aggressive bastard”.
It quickly became clear that Unikat’s customer wanted more than just a show pony, so the shop added some suspension upgrades to the already well-specced Speed Twin. Bitubo parts did the trick; new shocks for the back, and new internals for the front to add a full range of adjustability.
Next, Unikat installed a delicious set of 17″ laced wheels from Kineo, spiced up with gold rims and hubs, and black spokes. Measuring 3.5 inches wide at the front and 5.5 inches wide at the rear back, they are shod with Heidenau K73 supermoto tires.Since the Speed Twin comes with twin Brembo calipers up front, there was no need to upgrade the brakes.
Unikat also decided to leave it pretty much alone when it came to parts like the engine and airbox. The stock mufflers have been replaced though, replaced by a pair of aggressive hand made reverse cone mufflers.
Up top, the handlebars have been swapped for a set of drag bars, creating a more squat riding position. The bars are adorned with leather wrapped grips and CNC machined stubby levers. Motogadget bar-end turn signals and mirrors complete the cockpit.
The OEM fuel tank is still in play, but has been fitted with a knurled aluminum gas cap.
The seat unit is completely new. It features leather upholstery with a unique geometric stitching pattern and a bespoke steel tail bump. Despite the cafe racer– Stylish design, the Speed Twin still has a rear fender.
Three-in-one Highsider LEDs act as taillights and rear turn signals, while a side bracket holds the license plate.
At the opposite end of the bike, a slim aluminum fender goes over the front tire. Underneath, a bench from Renstall Moto gives the Speed Twin a sportier profile. LSL footboards complete the parts list.
But it’s Unikat’s take on Triumph’s black and gold livery that really stands out. Gloss black adorns the bodywork, with gold accent slippers popping out against the dominant wheels. Dig deeper, and you’ll discover that the theme extends to even the smallest part.
The entire exhaust system has been ceramic coated, and the swingarm, brake calipers and throttle body covers have been redone in black. The bike also sports a set of gold colored fasteners, with a black chain keeping things dark and moody.
With just the right amount of contrast to keep things interesting, Unikat’s Speed Twin is easy on the eyes – and it’s said to look as good as it looks. Of course, we won’t regret bringing her home.
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