The pleasure of powering a big twin has never diminished since I first encountered Triumph’ s remarkable 1200 HP engine in my own Triumph T120 a decade back. It’ s still a great happy lion of a motor that makes for fun and happy motorcycling in a cracking package. In this 2025 model, the Triumph engineers have found about five more horses and there are further refinements, notably, for me, the minor lag on the ride-by-wire throttle is now unnoticeable. It’ s a lively bike to ride, with an immediate willing response to lean angle that surprised me at first. Where there was a relaxation and matter-of-factness about former models, including the rather stately big gentleman in the Bonneville, the Speed Twin RS is much more Steve McQueen than Daniel Craig – like rolling your sleeves up for a punch up at the pub- feel. I like it.
RIDING The two Speed Twins 1200 models are comfortable, naked, retro sports bikes, but the riding position on the RS version is more alert and engaged, with a forward tilt into the lowered headstock at the bars, and foot pegs lifted a notch and moved further back, which
further imparts a more aggressive feel. The standard 1200 model has a slightly more relaxed upright seating position, like the Bonneville, and it’ s probably more comfortable for daily riding. The RS is geared for a sportier feel, which it achieves. It’ s not just the riding position that delivers that. The quality of componentry on the RS is right up there, top drawer in fact; Brembo’ s stunning Stylema M4.30 brake calipers, Öhlins fully adjustable suspension with piggyback reservoirs, and the addition of a quick-shifter. Triumph’ s quick-shifters have been class leading, but this one felt a bit notchy at lower speeds. I used the clutch a lot in low-speed, round-town stuff, simply because it didn’ t really deliver that known ease until there was a bit more pace.
URBAN LIFE The look says this is a fun, quick bike, and that plays out on the road. Three rider modes are available as standard; Rain, Road and Sport, with acceptable and noticeable differences at the throttle. The power delivery through the back wheel certainly deserves the term quick. It’ s winter at time of testing, and pretty stormy, with wet roads and a lot of vegetation and greenery
56 KIWI RIDER