In its early years, Triumph became famous as part of the rash of British parallel twins. These were the fastest bikes of their time. The Bonneville became one of its most recognizable models in the ‘60s and ‘80s, and it survives to this day, albeit with modern tech backing its old-timey charm. Part of its charm is also the fact that it feels like an old bike.
But what happens if you don’t want to give up the torque of the engine but want modern agility? Triumph has an answer for you, and it is the Speed Triple. It has been around since 1994, and it is the English manufacturer’s interpretation of a liter-class streetfighter. Since it is a Triumph, it has to have either two or three cylinders, and the clue is in its name. The three-cylinder layout means it can cut weight and increase torque over its four-cylinder competition. Thus, it is the Triumph that combines lightweight agility with oodles of torque.
The Speed Triple 1200 RS Is The Triumph That Combines Lightweight Agility With Oodles Of Torque
The Speed Triple is the OG streetfighter, and the current model got a much-needed update for 2025. That gave it more power and torque, and a whole host of electronics, including semi-active suspension that can be tuned any which way you want. The result is a horsepower figure (180 horsepower) that outdoes nearly all the competition, and the chassis components are right up there with the best of them. This being a three-cylinder, it has great torque as well. And you can be sure it is available every time you twist your wrist!
Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS Price: $20,845
All this performance and agility isn’t cheap. The update increased the price by $1,000 over the older Speed Triple, bringing the base price to just shy of $21,000. Again, this makes it more expensive than pretty much everything but the most exotic streetfighters from Europe and Japan. But given that it is a European motorcycle itself and has one of the highest horsepower figures in its class, there is a case that can be made for it.
Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS Engine
The Speed Triple has the kind of engine that Triumph has become famous for: a transverse inline three-cylinder engine. This particular one displaces 1,160 cc, runs a 13.2:1 compression ratio, and generates 180.5 horsepower at 10,750 RPM and 94.4 pound-feet at 8,750 RPM. Unlike the Tigers, this doesn’t have the T-Plane crank, but a regular interval of 120 degrees. That means it sounds like a traditional screamer, and it has the screamer’s torque distribution.
There is a six-speed gearbox with a slip and assist clutch, and a two-way quickshifter is standard. Since this has a by-wire throttle and a six-axis IMU, it gets standard five ride modes, engine braking control, wheelie control, fully adjustable cruise control, and switchable cornering traction control. The wheelie control is now adaptive and lets you hover the front wheel to make you look like a pro!
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Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS Chassis
The Speed Triple 1200 RS gets all the equipment you’d expect from an exotic streetfighter flagship. There is a twin spar frame made of aluminum, with the bolt-on rear subframe, the 17-inch alloy wheels, and the single-sided swingarm also being aluminum. Ohlins provides its semi-active Smart EC 3.0 suspension, so the 43 mm front inverted forks are fully adjustable electronically. At the rear, a link-type monoshock also offers identical adjustments. Travel is the same at both ends (4.7 inches).
The brakes are sourced from Brembo, with twin 320 mm front discs mated to Stylema monobloc radial calipers and a radial master cylinder. At the rear, a 220 mm disc has a two-piston caliper attached to it. The cornering ABS is switchable, just like the traction control, and you can also access brake slide assist in track mode. An adjustable steering damper is standard fare.
As for other dimensions, this is a full-size streetfighter. Yet, there’s a remarkably compact (and therefore, fun) wheelbase of 56.4 inches. It is quite tall to sit on, with a seat height of 32.4 inches. It weighs 438.7 pounds wet, and the fuel tank can hold 4.1 gallons of fuel.
Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS Features
The Speed Triple has a 5-inch TFT display for instrumentation. This is a little small by today’s standards for a premium streetfighter, but it is equipped as standard with Bluetooth and navigation. Other standard features include keyless ignition and a Lithium-ion battery. The accessories list includes a titanium exhaust muffler from Akrapovic, quick-release luggage (tank bag and tail pack), machined brake reservoirs, heated grips, tire pressure monitoring, a fly screen, and frame sliders. There is a two-year/unlimited mileage standard warranty, and services need to be done every 12 months.
Triumph also has a variant called the Speed Triple 1200 RX with a more aggressive riding position via a lower clip-on handlebar and higher, rearward footpegs, an Ohlins adjustable steering damper, a performance seat, and a unique colorway. There are also carbon fiber accents and the Akrapovic end-can as standard features. Triumph asks for a mere $1,500 over the standard Speed Triple 1200 RS for the RX, which makes it a great value for money, given the accessories added.
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Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS Competition
The premium streetfighter space has a lot of very impressive products like the BMW S 1000 R ($14,475), but we’re looking for a combination of agility and torque that will compete with what the Triumph has to offer. Nobody can doubt the sheer torque that the BMW R 1300 R ($16,695) produces, but it is a little too big and heavy to offer the agility of the Triumph. There is one inline four streetfighter that has decent torque, electronic suspension, and a fun chassis – and that is the Yamaha MT-10 SP ($17,499). The MT-10 hasn’t been updated in a while, though.
Europe has quite a few options: there is the Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory 1100 ($19,799), and giving it company is the Ducati Streetfighter V4 with its mental performance. You also have the KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo, which has a list of features and electronics that is longer than its name. The V-twin engine is a torque monster; it also has semi-active electronic suspension, and it is light, like the Triumph. It does approach the chassis a little differently, with a steel trellis frame and a two-sided swingarm, but it is equally ferocious in intent.
Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS Vs KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo
|
Model |
Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS |
KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo |
|
Price |
$20,845 |
$22,149 |
|
Engine |
I3 |
75° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
1,160 cc |
1,350 cc |
|
Power |
180.5 HP @ 10,750 RPM |
187.4 HP @ 10,000 RPM |
|
Torque |
94.4 LB-FT @ 8,750 RPM |
107 LB-FT @ 8,000 RPM |
|
Curb Weight |
438.7 pounds (wet) |
441 pounds (wet) |
Source: Triumph Motorcycles