No - the tubeless Metzler tires (used on Speedmasters and Americas now, I believe) are not radial tires, although I am pretty sure that I have an old 2003 or 2004 Triumph brochure that may indicate that they were. (They weren't.) That was back when the 16t front sprocket on the Speedmaster was advertised....the SM really was intended for a different sort, as opposed to the "cruiser" slant for the America.
The T100 and maybe the Thruxton run radial rear tires, but the front tires are bias ply.
An old tire man, myself, radial tires were something I was keen on when I started shopping bikes back in 2001-2002. The Honda VTX1800 had radial tires, but the VTX1300 did not when it was introduced. Seems you have to either be riding a sport or sport tourer, or a top-of-the-line cruiser to get them.
Despite the early advertisements about radial tires running cooler, and therefore lasting longer (they do run cooler), in reality today, we find that, on motorcycles anyway, the radial-clad scoots are all running high-speed rated (Z) tires that are not going to last nearly as long as our Metzler tires do. And those radials, if you could find any our size, would cost a lot more too.
The tubeless Metzler we run is optimized to have good radial-like characteristics such as low rolling resistance, and a shape that lends to great leaned-over bite and grip, as well as a sophisticated high-silicate rubber compound that makes for good grip on wet pavement.
I got over my bend for a radial-clad motorcyle. I realize now that 10-15k miles out of a motorcycle tire is pretty darn good compared to what our radial-clad brethren experience, especially seeing that I have been having to replace mine every year anyway. (My right hand is directly connected to my wallet...)
You won't find a car or truck marketed today (for highway use) that does not come equipped with radial tires. The motorcycle world may not be ready for that yet.
I'll take the tubeless though, thank you.
