Forgot to mention the seat height: 31.9" (81cm). Should I feature more onscreen specs in my videos? I usually don't bother and only mention the relevant ones in my narration, but I realize some folks might be showing up knowing nothing about a particular bike. Let me know what you think!
Became interested in Triumph and came across your channel. I’ve enjoyed your stories. To the point that I wound up at Motorcycles of Dulles and bought a Speed Twin. Thanks for your content.
As a 2023 Speed Twin owner, there’s no need to take it to the track to push these tires and know how well they are. Just take them to your nearest back roads and twisties. This is a sport naked bike, with old school styling. If a potential customer wants to just cruise, the T120 is their best option, not this twin-headed speed demon.
Picked up a 2022 3 month's ago, man those metzlers are wicked! I'll probably go a sport touring tyre next for better wet weather grip, but I'm really tempted to get the metzlers again just for the wicked grip, and we still haven't got to summer yet here in NZ. Have 3000km on them and they still have plenty in them.
The 'new' Speed Twin went 'too' modern - it now strikes me as a budget Thruxton RS. The wheels look spindly, the paint jobs are a strict downgrade from the hand-painted ones of the previous series, and swapping to inverted forks and monobloc brakes robs it of the heritage look - as if the new paintjobs with the neon and weird matte colours didn't already. The previous generation suspension was poor, but easily upgradeable, and the brakes were actually very good to begin with - they didn't need an upgrade. With EURO5 and a fully welded exhaust, the new one is also a pain in the ass to tune - a de-cat and mild tune makes the previous generation Speed Twin significantly quicker and more powerful than this latest one. Those that didn't like the previous generation really were asking for just one thing - they wanted adjustable suspension... they didn't get it. I would bet money that the 'original' Speed Twin will be the collectors item in years to come - not this one.
You make some great points. I didn't want to dwell on the looks in this video because they're subjective, but I do agree that the matte paint and lack of fork gaiters sacrifice some of the timeless character it had. That said, if the Speed Twin hadn't existed prior to 2022 and this were the first version of it, I'd still think it's a fantastic bike.
But there are positives as well. Better brakes and the front suspension is considerably better. Also, the stock mufflers allow the dB killers to be removed with a T30 bit. It sounds amazing stock with the intake snorkel removed and the stock mufflers opened up. Also, there is power locked up in there. The stock Sport map, never delivers more than 91% power no matter how much you twist the throttle. And from 6000rpm on up, it pulls power back to 83% even at wide open throttle. It's heavily restricted. You can undo all of that with TuneECU and an Android phone, luckily...
Brought my brand new -22 from Stockholm to Gothenburg (roughly 480 km) the day before yesterday, and yes.. those tyres made it a bit nerv wrecking in the cold, dark and damp conditions. But aside from that, I love every bit of the bike!
thank you for this interesting video! I'm in the process to buy a ST and I was undecided between the new and the old version... now it's more clearer. Greetings from Italy!
So I was torn between the new model and the “old model". I rode them back to back multiple times and I settled on a 2019 model. For me what made the old model a clear winner is 1. Euro 4 means much easier to modify. Euro 5 ECU is tamper proof on the new model, as well the cat is welded in so no xpipe install wither. 2. Even though I would of picked black anyway, the new colours are quite frankly, lazy. They do not match the style of the bike at all. 3. I prefer the old school front forks, they match the bikes character much more. Easily change the catrigdes with money saved over a new model. 4. The peak torque 500 rpm earlier is a software lock on the ECU and can be had on the older models with a simple Tune.
You are so right about the tyres! I took my five week old Speed Twin across from UK to Spain and Portugal for a 2000 mile tour of some brilliant roads and scenery in September this year. The tyres performed fantastically on the bendy roads in the dry but the the front nearly washed out on two occasions when it rained. Definitely NOT wet weather tyres and coincidentally I have booked the bike in next week to have the Metzler Racetec RR tyres replaced with Michelin Road 5s. I do love the Speed Twin though.
i'd love to hear your thoughts on the BMW R nineT (scrambler) as it seems to be one of the biggest competitors to the triumph 1200 retros. i got one this summer and i'm loving her so far, but i never got the chance to testdrive a triumph before
I rode an R nineT Scrambler this summer and liked it well enough, although I think I would prefer to just forget any notion of it being a semi-offroader and run it with a set of sporty street tires. Relative to the Speed Twin, it's not as torquey but has a greater top-end rush when you rev it out. The R nineT also feels a little bigger and more top-heavy. The boxer twin has a slightly more untamed personality, and I wouldn't blame anyone for preferring it over the Triumph 1200, even though I'm partial to the Triumph myself.
Great video. Thanks for posting. I'm looking into a first bike bike and keep looking at the new speed twin. I currently ride a grom 🤣 the speed twin will be used daily
Good stuff! If you didn't own your current Speed Twin and were shopping for one, would you go for a leftover 2021 model (that seem to be slightly discounted at a few dealers), or would you go for the new 2022 model?
That's actually a tough call. 2022 is the better performer (slightly) and 2021 & older are cheaper and better looking (also slightly). If one plans to make a lot of mods, upgrades, and customizations, then maybe the older one would make more sense as a starting point. If one plans to leave it mostly as-is (especially the exhaust) then I think the 2022+ would be a better pick. So with that in mind, I'd lean more towards the 2022, unless the discount on a 2021 was like $1K or more.
@@VanBlamm I didn't notice the leak till I looked under the bike and seen a small drop hanging next to the hole in the middle of the oil pan. I never seen any trace of a leak on the garage floor. Others have reported a leak I don't know if it is wide spread or not.
I'm considering a speed twin but am concerned that the new euro 5 spec may not allow exhaust system changes and other mods without upsetting the software.
I think with the new model, if you're going to do any exhaust mods at all it'd be best to just do the full kit & caboodle (slip-ons, decat, air filter, Power Commander, professional dyno tune). You're already talking about cutting & welding as soon as you get to the cat. Minor upgrades, like just slip-ons alone, are less worthwhile now, but a full system upgrade & tune would be just as effective as before. Just my $0.02
@@VanBlamm I agree that would be the way to go but it depends on how sensitive the ECU is to these changes and if it will throw up any fault/error codes which may cause problems at the UK's MOT test, which is compulsory from 3 years old, and annually thereafter, and needed to get road tax. I hope someone tries modifying one soon.
@@michaelmclarney1994 Most bikes ECU requires remap the moment you start increasing airflow through the engine. Plus with electronic throttles these days, you can twist the grip to the stop and the computer will only give you as little as 40% at the engine in the first several gears, only going 100% for a short bit before slamming back down to 60% or less at the top end. Only way to solve that is a remap. No piggyback device can do it.
Truly horrible. I do not recommend it for urban commuting if you live somewhere that gets hot and humid. Sitting in DC traffic on an 85 degree day feels like sitting over an open flame. I can't imagine the stricter emissions equipment of the new model is going to help it shed heat any.
Good review. I wonder if you upgraded the pipes and xpipe, that you would get the torque you're missing. As for suspension and tires, ST is definitely not even close to a track or performance bike so big miss on the ross 3 and especially the Metzler. Check out the vid I posted of taking a ST on the track. Way out of its league.
Earlier this year I was searching for a second bike so the wife could ride with me from time to time as my other bike is an '18 Bobber Black. Your channel (edit: and this video: th-cam.com/video/ocK1jPpfDHE/w-d-xo.html) was the main reason I bought a Speed Twin. (Thanks for the pillion video!) Waited for the '22 model to come out to compare and happened to walk in to my local dealer the same day they got their first three. They had a '21 and '22 (both in black) right next to each other. While I like the more retro looks (and silver paint) of the 19-21, there was no discount on either so I bought the '22 in black right then and there. No regrets so far and was waiting to hear your driving impressions on the changes. Your channel has been great, keep up the great work!
Thank you very much, and congrats on the new bike! I too prefer the looks of my older bike, but the new one still looks fantastic too; if the 2022 version had been the first one they made, I would never have questioned it.
I don't know if I actually want a Speed Twin R or RS. That's not really what the Speed Twin is about, at least to me. I think it's supposed to be a sporting T120, not a mini Speed Triple 1200 RS. Thruxton bling on the Speed Twin is going to spoil the retro vibe.
I like the look of the new exhaust and the inverted forks kind of fit it as its more of a standard than a classic. Don't care for the new tank graphics though. Prefer the bold lettering on the old one. I never notice much difference in these upgrades. I remember when the GL1800 came out. I had owned a GL1500 and from all the hype, you'd have thought they built a rocket. I rented one on vacation and the only difference I noticed was the new one pinged a lot on regular fuel. Had I not known which was which, I would have had to work to figure it out. I'm sure the new one was a few mph faster, but those bikes are so comfy at high speeds, unless you're looking at the speedo, you'd never notice 120 from 125 mph.
This updated model took away the retro look, completely different looking bike and certainly not for better. On the bright side you can pick up the much better looking 2019 cheaper.
Thank you for the review mate. I agree with you on the tires choice. They went a bit too far to the extreme with them. I ride the Moto Guzzi V7 iii and i have horrible pirelli tires but they re never going to wear down! I have 10.000 miles on this thing and i am going to swap them just because i dont like the way they perform, they do have more miles to give. The ones Triumph opted for, would have been suitable for Thruxton RS maybe, but not for Speed Twin. About the bike i wish it was a bit bigger physically, even as big as my V7iii would do. Its a beauty, sounds great, its punchy but the way it is now, is a bit small for me and most likely not comfy either. I am just over 6,0'' but i am a big dude like 250lb big and i would look funny on one of these :P
You're right about the size! I am frankly amazed that Triumph managed to cram this much bike into such a small package. I'm fortunate enough to be 5'8" and ~160lb, so it feels like it was made for me. I hear those V7s are pretty light on their feet, so I bet your bike will have a lot more performance to offer once you get better tires!
Price being equal (or close) I'd say the newest model year is your best bet. They iron out more defects the longer a model has been in production, and if you're planning on doing big miles then you should prioritize reliability.
Being honestI'd say get something more comfortable. I usually only do 6000 a year riding 200 mile jaunts on the weekends. I once rode from San Diego to Big Bear and back and my ass and back hurt big time. This is not the bike for long hauls. This is a great bike for 150 miles a day of canyon carving but beyond that, no. I'm thinking of getting the new Moto Guzzi Mandelo for longer trips but they are delaying release on that. It just depends on how that 15,000 miles is divied up
@@nickdolan7710 I like the thought of an older Harley, but the mental issue that I envision is slow response time to hazards. I want reliability, basic maintenance, narrow for lane splitting, decent mpg, responsive, minimal plastic parts, etc..
@@nickdolan7710 Just searched that Moto Guzzi, and that bike looks incredible. That's what is difficult with motorcycles, you can't pick a single bike without wanting another.
looks to me like that brace is meant to protect the exposed part of the upside fork from stones and debris...which in the long should extend the life of the oil seals
Forgot to mention the seat height: 31.9" (81cm). Should I feature more onscreen specs in my videos? I usually don't bother and only mention the relevant ones in my narration, but I realize some folks might be showing up knowing nothing about a particular bike. Let me know what you think!
Nah … like what you’re doing 👍
That is a cracking little review, I like that it was short and to the point.
Became interested in Triumph and came across your channel. I’ve enjoyed your stories. To the point that I wound up at Motorcycles of Dulles and bought a Speed Twin. Thanks for your content.
That's awesome! I hope you told them that, haha. Anyway, ride safe and enjoy the new bike!
As a 2023 Speed Twin owner, there’s no need to take it to the track to push these tires and know how well they are. Just take them to your nearest back roads and twisties. This is a sport naked bike, with old school styling. If a potential customer wants to just cruise, the T120 is their best option, not this twin-headed speed demon.
New one sounds amazing, however the looks of the 2019 in Silver and Red look by far better👍
Nice to see a fellow local frequent the Dulles Triumph where I bought my T120 Black, greetings from SoMD!
Picked up a 2022 3 month's ago, man those metzlers are wicked! I'll probably go a sport touring tyre next for better wet weather grip, but I'm really tempted to get the metzlers again just for the wicked grip, and we still haven't got to summer yet here in NZ. Have 3000km on them and they still have plenty in them.
Nice! I'd be really curious to hear how the ride changes if you switch to something like a Road 6 or Angel GT
@@VanBlamm I'll let you know.
Finally! The rider insights I have been waiting for. Thanks!
I just bought the new one and loving it!
MOD is my local dealer--I had forgotten that you are local to me. Keep up the good work.
Thanks! Be sure to say hi if you ever see me out & about
Thank you, was very interested to hear a good comparison. 👍
The 'new' Speed Twin went 'too' modern - it now strikes me as a budget Thruxton RS. The wheels look spindly, the paint jobs are a strict downgrade from the hand-painted ones of the previous series, and swapping to inverted forks and monobloc brakes robs it of the heritage look - as if the new paintjobs with the neon and weird matte colours didn't already. The previous generation suspension was poor, but easily upgradeable, and the brakes were actually very good to begin with - they didn't need an upgrade. With EURO5 and a fully welded exhaust, the new one is also a pain in the ass to tune - a de-cat and mild tune makes the previous generation Speed Twin significantly quicker and more powerful than this latest one. Those that didn't like the previous generation really were asking for just one thing - they wanted adjustable suspension... they didn't get it. I would bet money that the 'original' Speed Twin will be the collectors item in years to come - not this one.
You make some great points. I didn't want to dwell on the looks in this video because they're subjective, but I do agree that the matte paint and lack of fork gaiters sacrifice some of the timeless character it had. That said, if the Speed Twin hadn't existed prior to 2022 and this were the first version of it, I'd still think it's a fantastic bike.
But there are positives as well. Better brakes and the front suspension is considerably better.
Also, the stock mufflers allow the dB killers to be removed with a T30 bit. It sounds amazing stock with the intake snorkel removed and the stock mufflers opened up.
Also, there is power locked up in there. The stock Sport map, never delivers more than 91% power no matter how much you twist the throttle. And from 6000rpm on up, it pulls power back to 83% even at wide open throttle. It's heavily restricted.
You can undo all of that with TuneECU and an Android phone, luckily...
I got a brand new one on Monday, it's brilliant, love it 😊👍👍
I’m a fan, watched three of your videos and I’m on board. Thank you and oh, great job !
Thank you sir!
Brought my brand new -22 from Stockholm to Gothenburg (roughly 480 km) the day before yesterday, and yes.. those tyres made it a bit nerv wrecking in the cold, dark and damp conditions.
But aside from that, I love every bit of the bike!
Glad you're liking it! Always good to know you can handle those conditions when necessary.
thank you for this interesting video! I'm in the process to buy a ST and I was undecided between the new and the old version... now it's more clearer. Greetings from Italy!
Great brakes always feel great even with casual riding!!!
Very Nice Review ‼️
Greetings from Brasil 👍🏼🇧🇷
So I was torn between the new model and the “old model". I rode them back to back multiple times and I settled on a 2019 model.
For me what made the old model a clear winner is
1. Euro 4 means much easier to modify. Euro 5 ECU is tamper proof on the new model, as well the cat is welded in so no xpipe install wither.
2. Even though I would of picked black anyway, the new colours are quite frankly, lazy. They do not match the style of the bike at all.
3. I prefer the old school front forks, they match the bikes character much more. Easily change the catrigdes with money saved over a new model.
4. The peak torque 500 rpm earlier is a software lock on the ECU and can be had on the older models with a simple Tune.
Great answer. Definitely cannot go wrong with the "old" one!
You are so right about the tyres! I took my five week old Speed Twin across from UK to Spain and Portugal for a 2000 mile tour of some brilliant roads and scenery in September this year. The tyres performed fantastically on the bendy roads in the dry but the the front nearly washed out on two occasions when it rained. Definitely NOT wet weather tyres and coincidentally I have booked the bike in next week to have the Metzler Racetec RR tyres replaced with Michelin Road 5s. I do love the Speed Twin though.
Yeah...all weather tires is a MUST!
Great review. You told about everything I was looking for.
Great work as usual, but I am going for the looks of the 2019 model and gonna customise it a little.
Nice, a discounted older one is a good move for those planning on customizing
i'd love to hear your thoughts on the BMW R nineT (scrambler) as it seems to be one of the biggest competitors to the triumph 1200 retros. i got one this summer and i'm loving her so far, but i never got the chance to testdrive a triumph before
I rode an R nineT Scrambler this summer and liked it well enough, although I think I would prefer to just forget any notion of it being a semi-offroader and run it with a set of sporty street tires. Relative to the Speed Twin, it's not as torquey but has a greater top-end rush when you rev it out. The R nineT also feels a little bigger and more top-heavy. The boxer twin has a slightly more untamed personality, and I wouldn't blame anyone for preferring it over the Triumph 1200, even though I'm partial to the Triumph myself.
HMMM does homie have a camera slider?? I can't tell haha
Great video. Thanks for posting. I'm looking into a first bike bike and keep looking at the new speed twin. I currently ride a grom 🤣 the speed twin will be used daily
Welded cat. PAHHH!
That's no challenge for a Milwaukee sawzall.
Yeah even on my '19 I had to cut a tab which i then used as a bolt point for my sump guard
Good stuff! If you didn't own your current Speed Twin and were shopping for one, would you go for a leftover 2021 model (that seem to be slightly discounted at a few dealers), or would you go for the new 2022 model?
That's actually a tough call. 2022 is the better performer (slightly) and 2021 & older are cheaper and better looking (also slightly). If one plans to make a lot of mods, upgrades, and customizations, then maybe the older one would make more sense as a starting point. If one plans to leave it mostly as-is (especially the exhaust) then I think the 2022+ would be a better pick. So with that in mind, I'd lean more towards the 2022, unless the discount on a 2021 was like $1K or more.
Hmm, bought my Bonnie from these guys a few years ago! 👍
Does the new speed twins stock exhaust pop on overrun?
Man, makes me want to go test ride one
'19 bought new, first removd cat, and ceramic coated inside and out a Raider 2
Brilliant!
Hello Van Blamm, Have you ever seen signs of coolant leaking from the small hole in the middle of the oil pan under your speed twin?
I have not seen signs of that. Is it a common problem for these bikes?
@@VanBlamm I didn't notice the leak till I looked under the bike and seen a small drop hanging next to the hole in the middle of the oil pan. I never seen any trace of a leak on the garage floor. Others have reported a leak I don't know if it is wide spread or not.
You are posting this comment everywhere?!
WHAT?!??!?! WELDED CAT?! Jesus I'm so happy for my 2019
Me too! There are already some solutions popping up (see Raisch) but it's still more work and money than it was before to change the exhaust.
Nicely done.
Thanks!
I'm considering a speed twin but am concerned that the new euro 5 spec may not allow exhaust system changes and other mods without upsetting the software.
I think with the new model, if you're going to do any exhaust mods at all it'd be best to just do the full kit & caboodle (slip-ons, decat, air filter, Power Commander, professional dyno tune). You're already talking about cutting & welding as soon as you get to the cat. Minor upgrades, like just slip-ons alone, are less worthwhile now, but a full system upgrade & tune would be just as effective as before. Just my $0.02
@@VanBlamm I agree that would be the way to go but it depends on how sensitive the ECU is to these changes and if it will throw up any fault/error codes which may cause problems at the UK's MOT test, which is compulsory from 3 years old, and annually thereafter, and needed to get road tax. I hope someone tries modifying one soon.
@@michaelmclarney1994 Most bikes ECU requires remap the moment you start increasing airflow through the engine. Plus with electronic throttles these days, you can twist the grip to the stop and the computer will only give you as little as 40% at the engine in the first several gears, only going 100% for a short bit before slamming back down to 60% or less at the top end. Only way to solve that is a remap. No piggyback device can do it.
@@exothermal.sprocket thanks, I appreciate your reply. My experience is with older bikes, my most recent bike is 18 years old.
This is my dream bike VB but the problem is the tax in my country have put this bike around $20,000 which make it very expensive
Hi, how are the heat levels from the engine in city riding conditions?
Truly horrible. I do not recommend it for urban commuting if you live somewhere that gets hot and humid. Sitting in DC traffic on an 85 degree day feels like sitting over an open flame. I can't imagine the stricter emissions equipment of the new model is going to help it shed heat any.
ECU flash time. Bet that motor runs 15:1 or 16:1 lean poking around traffic.
Thats why I put an aftermarket 2
Damn i got the same exact new model just with Jekyll N Hyde exhaust
Noice
Good review.
I wonder if you upgraded the pipes and xpipe, that you would get the torque you're missing.
As for suspension and tires, ST is definitely not even close to a track or performance bike so big miss on the ross 3 and especially the Metzler.
Check out the vid I posted of taking a ST on the track. Way out of its league.
Don't forget a good ECU flash to remove all the blasted restrictions.
I'd keep the Metzler tyres very happily
Earlier this year I was searching for a second bike so the wife could ride with me from time to time as my other bike is an '18 Bobber Black. Your channel (edit: and this video: th-cam.com/video/ocK1jPpfDHE/w-d-xo.html) was the main reason I bought a Speed Twin. (Thanks for the pillion video!)
Waited for the '22 model to come out to compare and happened to walk in to my local dealer the same day they got their first three. They had a '21 and '22 (both in black) right next to each other. While I like the more retro looks (and silver paint) of the 19-21, there was no discount on either so I bought the '22 in black right then and there. No regrets so far and was waiting to hear your driving impressions on the changes. Your channel has been great, keep up the great work!
Thank you very much, and congrats on the new bike! I too prefer the looks of my older bike, but the new one still looks fantastic too; if the 2022 version had been the first one they made, I would never have questioned it.
Still waiting for speed twin R ..hehe
I don't know if I actually want a Speed Twin R or RS. That's not really what the Speed Twin is about, at least to me. I think it's supposed to be a sporting T120, not a mini Speed Triple 1200 RS. Thruxton bling on the Speed Twin is going to spoil the retro vibe.
I like the look of the new exhaust and the inverted forks kind of fit it as its more of a standard than a classic. Don't care for the new tank graphics though. Prefer the bold lettering on the old one.
I never notice much difference in these upgrades. I remember when the GL1800 came out. I had owned a GL1500 and from all the hype, you'd have thought they built a rocket. I rented one on vacation and the only difference I noticed was the new one pinged a lot on regular fuel. Had I not known which was which, I would have had to work to figure it out. I'm sure the new one was a few mph faster, but those bikes are so comfy at high speeds, unless you're looking at the speedo, you'd never notice 120 from 125 mph.
you are 100% right about the tires.
As for me they ruined the old school retro look of the bike. Now it is just one of many classic bikes. Specs are better though, no questions.
You look semple bike but powerful Bike,I like very much
Non adjustable inverted forks Bwaha! standard tubes would be nice with adjustable preload
This updated model took away the retro look, completely different looking bike and certainly not for better.
On the bright side you can pick up the much better looking 2019 cheaper.
Thank you for the review mate. I agree with you on the tires choice. They went a bit too far to the extreme with them. I ride the Moto Guzzi V7 iii and i have horrible pirelli tires but they re never going to wear down! I have 10.000 miles on this thing and i am going to swap them just because i dont like the way they perform, they do have more miles to give. The ones Triumph opted for, would have been suitable for Thruxton RS maybe, but not for Speed Twin. About the bike i wish it was a bit bigger physically, even as big as my V7iii would do. Its a beauty, sounds great, its punchy but the way it is now, is a bit small for me and most likely not comfy either. I am just over 6,0'' but i am a big dude like 250lb big and i would look funny on one of these :P
You're right about the size! I am frankly amazed that Triumph managed to cram this much bike into such a small package. I'm fortunate enough to be 5'8" and ~160lb, so it feels like it was made for me. I hear those V7s are pretty light on their feet, so I bet your bike will have a lot more performance to offer once you get better tires!
I'm considering this bike for 15k miles per year riding. Even more torn on year.
Price being equal (or close) I'd say the newest model year is your best bet. They iron out more defects the longer a model has been in production, and if you're planning on doing big miles then you should prioritize reliability.
@@VanBlamm Just can't beat the look on the prior model.
Being honestI'd say get something more comfortable. I usually only do 6000 a year riding 200 mile jaunts on the weekends. I once rode from San Diego to Big Bear and back and my ass and back hurt big time. This is not the bike for long hauls. This is a great bike for 150 miles a day of canyon carving but beyond that, no. I'm thinking of getting the new Moto Guzzi Mandelo for longer trips but they are delaying release on that. It just depends on how that 15,000 miles is divied up
@@nickdolan7710 I like the thought of an older Harley, but the mental issue that I envision is slow response time to hazards. I want reliability, basic maintenance, narrow for lane splitting, decent mpg, responsive, minimal plastic parts, etc..
@@nickdolan7710 Just searched that Moto Guzzi, and that bike looks incredible. That's what is difficult with motorcycles, you can't pick a single bike without wanting another.
Dovevi tenerti la 2019 .
I don't get, but to each his own.
Glad I bought my 2020 Speed Twin before Triumph gave them THE World's ugliest front fender brace!
I didn't want to dwell on the looks in this video since that's totally subjective, but I agree that it was prettier before
looks to me like that brace is meant to protect the exposed part of the upside fork from stones and debris...which in the long should extend the life of the oil seals
nice sexy bike but far too expensive for what you get
I'll take your 2019 the cat in the middle and in the pipes adds more weight!