At $31,490, the new Speed Triple 1200 RS needs to bring more than just macho-mumbo. Has Triumph managed to give it the brain to match the biceps? Snaggy tells…
What we like:
– Finish is class-leading
– Goes like a rat up a rope
– Clever technology
Not so much:
– A fly screen please
– Bring your wallet
– TFT a little fussy
When the first Hinckley Speed Triple off the boat stretched its muscular shoulders to greet the Melbourne morning light back in 1994, well, a green-but-keen, slightly ugly Australian motorcycle journalist was instantly smitten. Yep, I loved the T309.
The fact that I happened to draw the lucky straw to pick it up from Triumph HQ with just 17 kilometres on the odo was just cream on the Snaggy cake. That I had written it off on the same day before 250km is another story…
I’ll save you the finer details, but trying to keep up with a top Australian Superbike runner on the road to Wilson’s Promontory possibly represented a mistake. You see, he was fast, he was talented and he was in his element. I was of course, none of those things.
Editor Ken Wootton picked the bike up before attending to me, such was his disbelieving despair that I’d totalled the lovely orange thing. That was the right call. I was okay. It, on the other hand, was now worth a couple of hundred bucks.
Enough tender reminiscing. 2024 saw the designation light 30 candles on its birthday cake, after nine models (yeah, I know, it depends on how tightly you count updates, nerdy-face), to arrive at the magnificent beastie you see here – the 2025 Speed Triple 1200 RS.
Indeed, the RS remains true to its backstreet roots. Read that as Tough As. It’s a brawler, a no compromises streetfighter. While the new bike retains that brutal edge, and I love it for it, truth is the brains trust at Hinckley have pulled off a bit of Gandalfery here. You see, the bloody thing is more than happy to offend anyone game enough to square up to it in the ‘f@#k you’ stakes, yet it’s kinda comfortable, and the suite of techno-wonderstuff is as long as your arm. Wingardium Leviosa!
It’s a handsome, brutalist thing; the twin headlights and single-sided swingarm giving the game away at first glance. That’s the domain of an icon – when you know just by a hint of silhouette at just what you are looking. It’s simply market-gold for a manufacturer and Triumph well knows it. I can’t see Triumph designers ever taking the Speed Triple away from this ‘up yours’ design. That would just be silly. Perish that noise.
The signature 1160cc three-cylinder engine is a thrilling bit of kit, now boasting 134kW at 10,750rpm, which is 2kW more than the previous generation. There’s 128Nm of torque at 8750rpm, which is 3Nm more than the outgoing model, and it lobs slightly lower in the rev range (8750 vs 9000rpm). With that sort of potency dragging just 199kg wet (I reckon the Triumph guys would have worked hard indeed to get that under 200kg benchmark), well, it goes like shite out of a shanghai. Simple as that.
Much of that happy-go-increase is due to a new exhaust and silencer and an optional Akrapovič can is available. It comes in weighing a whole 700g less than the standard exhaust, and you know that’s gonna make you so much quicker, don’t you Giacomo.
If you are in any doubt where Triumph sees this bike being used, look no further than the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa V3 tyres that come fitted at standard. That’s seriously sporting rubber right there and with a bit of temp in them, you’ll struggle to be better booted. I’m not sure they represent the greatest decision when it comes to wet weather running, but they are as sexy as hell in my book. And, well that matters, Mr Peabody.
The seating position is aggressive, without the sports head-down-bum-up contortion. There’s zero weather protection and there’s no doubt you personally do all the weather blocking work when pushing on. That can become a little tedious, because trust me, you’ll be up this thing for the rent. You can’t resist it. Well, I couldn’t anyway. In short, it’s a real naked, so be prepared for the compromises for which that calls.
The new bike looks very similar to the outgoing version but don’t be fooled. Gone is the manually-adjustable suspension making way for semi-active Öhlins Smart EC3 technology. This system is also found in the most recent Honda Fireblade SP, Ducati’s Streetfighter V4 S, and Panigale V4 S models.
This arrangement features the advanced Öhlins Objective Based Tuning Interface (OBTi), enabling quick suspension damping adjustments for various riding conditions. There are seven parameters that can be independently adjusted and it really is cutting-edge gear.
There is also new independently adjustable wheelie control, engine braking control and brake slide control, as well as fully adjustable cruise control. You keeping up here? There’ll be questions later.
The bike has five riding modes, cornering ABS, switchable traction control, and a 5-inch TFT display. The My Triumph Connectivity System provides navigation, phone, and music control.
Now, A gripe. I found that instrument cluster a touch busy. Could be old man blues, but it’s situated a distance forward of the top triple clamp and there’s a whole bunch of information to consider. Relevant information, but a lot all the same. Bigger fonts and less mumbo-jumbo please.
Now the fun stuff. It’s devilishly nimble and pointy at the front end. The focus here has clearly been all about sporting prowess. Sharp is understating it. Oh yes, the steering damper is there for a reason. It’s a razor up front.
Starting at $31,490 rideaway, colours are Jet Black, or there’s an upgrade option to Granite and Diablo Red or Granite and Performance Yellow for $31,990 rideaway.
So… It’s hard not to love this one. It’s in the price range that demands a lot of a buyer, because it will probably represent an only bike situation. I’m not sure it does all things for all people to fulfill that brief entirely. It’s sharp and wickedly quick therefore demands that you ride it in a sporting manner. I’m pretty sure long-distance touring will test your patience, but you’ll get there quickly. In its favour the bars are wider and higher than previous iterations, so if you are a Speed Triple guy, you’ll probably wonder about what I’m on.
In the category are the KTM 1390 Super Duke R, BMW’s S1000R, and the Aprilia Tuono V4 range, so the bike has to fend off some serious showroom foes. Helping will be the superb build quality on display here. Triumph hits the mark in number one spot in fit and finish for mine.
It’s the only Speed Triple in the range now, so Triumph has filled this RS basket with all its naked premium eggs. That’s a lot to place on the bike’s muscle-bound shoulders, but it has the stones to deal with that I reckon.
Anyway. All that is academic Poindexter. It’s about that triple scream when you are all up on the tank and giving it the berries. Just on that front, the one thing of which I’m dead sure, and the thing that matters more than any of the stats – I never would have run off that Wilson’s Promontory road if I’d had the 2025 Speed Triple RS under me…
Snag’s career in motoring journalism spans 30 years with stints at major bike mags Australian Road Rider, Motorcycle Trader and AMCN along with contributions to just about every other outlet worth a hill of beans. He was editor of Unique Cars magazine and hosts his legendary podcast ‘Snag Says’ when he gets off his date.
