Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS 2025 — Specifications

The "RS" designation carries a strong sporting connotation, regardless of the brand. This is even more true at Triumph, where only a few models use this adjective and are particularly hungry for sensations. Speed Triple RS (1200 and 1050), Street Triple 765 RS, ex-Thruxton RS… We will exclude the old sport-GT Sprint RS, whose identity followed the VFR doctrine.

With the Thruxton having left the lineup, the Modern Classic range finds itself without a café racer. A niche market, certainly, but one with a cult image. It is up to the 1200 Speed Twin to cultivate some of this spirit with its RS version. It is not a matter of replacing the café racer but rather of enlivening the roadster a bit to subject it to a more muscular riding style.

A few significant gildings… aluminum fenders… more demonstrative decorations… Miss RS neither shocks nor provokes but expresses directly her more dynamic orientation. It is a matter of not trembling in the face of a demanding enthusiast, and why not put a spoke in the wheel of a R12 NineT should it stray while parking near her.

The Triumph does not paw at its impatience. It waits patiently, with British phlegm and the assurance of a well-built machine. The front end of the Speed Twin 1200 RS takes full advantage of its desires. The fork is still a Marzocchi model but enriched with adjustments for preload, compression, and rebound. The beautiful gold color quickly informs each curious person that the steering wants to dominate its subject. Braking reaches a high level of performance with the arrival of Stylema calipers, one of Brembo’s best references. They are more effective than the M50s of the ex-Speed Twin; and of a noticeably more distinguished pedigree than the calipers of the standard Speed Twin.

This "super-Bonneville-sport" charms the road with a more pneumatic and robust grip tire, Metzeler Racetec RR K3, a hypersport tire with a strong road bias. And with superior quality Öhlins dampers, also adjustable in every way. The rider will more naturally want to attack because its riding position is more engaged than on the Speed Twin: the butts are 5 mm higher (at 810 mm from the ground), the handlebars lower and more recessed (16.2 mm / 9 mm); while the footrests rise slightly and recede more frankly (6.5 mm / 40 mm). Triumph does not fail to encourage the discovery of clip-on handlebars (optional) to make it a sport-classic machine voracious for emotions.

With a bit more electronics, the Speed Twin RS asserts its position. For the first time in the Bonneville family (very extensive), a quickshifter makes its appearance. Active both up and down, we are curious to see how it will behave with an engine originally designed for boxing and not specifically for a cheetah race. To this is added an additional riding Mode "Sport"… or rather the reintegration of this Mode. The Speed Twin of yesterday, not RS at all, had it as standard. But Triumph has streamlined the model to mark the difference as much as the added value of this RS.

As standard, the Speed Twin 1200 RS features the Up&Down quickshifter, three riding Modes (Road – Rain – Sport), traction control, ABS (now cornering), a slip and assist clutch, a new headlight (full LED) and a completely redesigned dashboard. Some will not appreciate this all-digital speedometer, which is rather bland compared to the old very classic double dial with chrome accents. One part displays driving information in LCD, the other manages the assistance and goodies in TFT. Step-by-step navigation makes its appearance and the USB port changes location.

Optimized in its chassis, the RS will not have more horsepower to manage than the Speed Twin. Each is entitled to 105 horsepower at 7,750 rpm, 5 units more than the 1200 from 2021-2024. Only the Sport electronic management will allow the RS to give a little more vigor. The 11.4 kgm will take care to give you a rewarding push while the mechanical timing at 270° will take care of the adequate dose of character.

The 1200 Speed Twins announce their 3rd generation with a review of details (tank, silencer, wheels, seat, trim elements). Halfway between the Thruxton café racer and the normal Speed Twin, the rock 'n' roll RS strives to find a refined recognition. Better suspended, better equipped, a little more bourgeois-trash, here it is ready to rumble its force and its bursts. But beware, it knows how to make you pay for the warmth of its company. At more than €17,000, it feels more like a monarchy than a democracy.

M.B - Photos constructeur