Speed Twin 1200 And RS
Two beautiful new bikes it’s the Speed Twin 1200, updated for 2025, and then the new RS edition.
Now, the Speed Twin 1200s have long been some of my favorite retro bikes to ride.
So is this update enough to keep them right up there as one of my default recommendations?
we’ll go through all of the details with the 6 key things that you need to know.
Two New Models: Speed Twin 1200 and RS Edition
Now look, I think the first thing that we got to talk about with these new bikes is the fact that you’ve got two models now, with this base 1200, effectively replacing the previous generation, whereas the RS, as you might have guessed, is more of a sporty performance-orientated take.
Now it’s interesting that Triumph have announced that now, given that the Thruxton, which I think was previously the most sporty interpretation of the Bonneville platform, was discontinued last year.
And so you might see that as a bit of a replacement for the Thruxton, especially with some of the accessories which we’ll get onto in a moment.
What’s New in the Design?
But before we get onto that, let’s take a look at the new styling package.
And although the general idea is the same with a bit of an aggressive forward slanted take on the Bonneville platform, if you start to look into the details, there are plenty of little tweaks all over the bike that just give it a fresh look.
For example, the wheels, you’ve got a new paired seven-spoke design.
And for me, I really like this wheel on a semi-retro bike where you’ve got the convenience and lightness of cast wheels,
but just with a little bit of a nod to the heritage inspiration, with those paired spokes having the smidge of a look of like traditional wire spokes.
Headlight Design
Moving up to the headlight, it’s a little bit flatter this LED headlight, so it sits closer to the headstock, and it gives it a bit more of that snub-nosed, aggressive, sporty look.
But then also with the surrounds and the yokes here as well, there’s lots of detail gone into it.
And that’s one of the things I really like about Triumph.
It doesn’t ever feel like there’s a single component on the bike that hasn’t been well thought out from a visual perspective.
Fresh Paint Options and Tank Details
Back from that, we’ve got the new tank shape. And again, it’s not a massive revolution versus the previous Gen.
It does have that overall Bonneville shape, but it’s just been sharpened up with some straighter lines.
You can see it looks that little bit more sporty, and it’s also finished off with a new flip-up filler cap.
As for the paintwork, well, you’ve got three options for the 1200 and two for this RS So the 1200 comes in red, which is a color that stretches right back in speed twin history to the first model.
So there’s always going to be a red, I guess.
But then you can also get it in the white.
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And then there’s also an aluminum silver, which I think might be my favorite of the bunch.
Now, the base 1,200s get a 1,200 graphic along the bottom of the tank there, whereas this RS gets the stripes and the RS just to distinguish the two bikes.
And this one comes in black or orange, which I really do like, and I expect this to be a great seller.
orange is a color that Triumph have started to use again more and more recently, and I really do think it suits these more premium spec Bonnevilles like the Scrambler 1200 XE.
Side Panel
Now, you’ll also We noticed some changes to the side panels and these air intake covers.
I think the heel guards are slightly updated, too.
They also say they’ve managed to shorten up the silences, again, for that slightly more sporty look.
And so overall, I think it’s a really nice update to this bike that just pushes it a bit without moving completely away from what made it popular in the first place.
While we’re on the looks, though, it’s just worth mentioning, as you’d expect, if you’re paying a little more for the RS, you’re getting a slightly more premium finish.
So stuff like the saddle has a little bit of suede on it, which is better looking but also practical in that it stops you sliding around so much.
So better for more aggressive, sporty riding.
But it also feels like they’ve pulled back a little bit on the finish on this base model just to separate the two bikes with things like the mud guards, which are plastic now.
They were previously brushed aluminum, and you now only get those if you pay more for the RS.
And in fact, the distinction between the two models becomes more apparent when you start to look at the chassis components.
Upgraded Suspension and Brakes
Now, the general geometry of the bikes is still pretty similar to the previous generation.
I think there’s some very minor differences between the two, but ultimately it preserves that modern geometry.
They always say they tried to get the dimensions and handling of the bike to be as close as possible to a modern roadster.
If you look at the numbers, they’re not far off a street triple or a speed triple.
But yeah, where these two do diverge is with the individual components and bits of hardware.
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Again, I feel like in some departments, this base 1,200 has been downgraded a little bit. I mean, don’t get me wrong, the suspension does look better.
You’ve still got the Marzocchi upside down 4 cup front, but at the rear, some piggyback shocks that I reckon should offer slightly better ride quality than the very basic shocks of the previous gen.
And it has to be said, they help the looks a little bit, too.
Down on the brakes, though, well, with the last buy, you did get some really decent Brembo M50, I think, calipers, whereas now you get Triumph’s own brand calipers, which I guess are probably made on their behalf by someone like JJ Now, that’s not to say these won’t be any good.
They’re still four piston, radially mounted.
I’m sure there’s enough stopping power to make sure that they’re up to the job, but perhaps there won’t be just as much bite and power, and also they do look a little bit less bling.
Sporty Tires and Ergonomic Adjustments
To finish it off, tires on this one are Sportec M9 RR from Metzler, so it should be nice and sticky.
And so overall, it looks like a bit of a mixed update for this one with better shocks, but maybe slightly downgraded brakes.
This RS model, though, on the other hand, well, it absolutely delivers on what a lot of speed twin owners have been asking for, I think, and it really does look like a fantastic bike that certainly can pretty much replace the Thruxtern.
So not only have you got Marzocci forks that are fully adjustable, so you can get them dialed to your weight and riding style and current conditions, but also you’ve now got some proper top spec Olin’s piggyback shocks, again, fully adjustable, and I’d expect these to have a bit more ride quality and control still further than the Marzocchi shocks on the base 1200.
Then for braking, you’ve got Brembos Stylemmas, which are one of their top tier products and should give you sports bike levels of braking.
And you also get a Brembos radial master cylinder, which is both span and ratio-adjustable, so you can adjust it to meet the size of your hands, but also the feel of the braking power that you’re getting.
Tires, again, are a touch sportier than the base bike with these Metzler Racetech RRK3s. To me, the entire package really does look quite tasty.
Now, the ergonomics are another place in which Triumph have managed to separate the two bikes with a slightly more relaxed position on this base 1,200.
The seat height is down a couple of mills from the previous generation, I think.
Peg’s roughly in the same position, but it’s the bars that have gone up and forward, and the intention is to give you a bit more room, a more spacious riding position that’s a little more relaxed as well.
Is the RS the New Thruxton Replacement?
Over on the RS, though, while the seat is up around the 8, 10 mill of the previous gen, but they’ve canted the rider forward around that pivot point to give it this more aggressive position.
So the bars are down versus the standard 1,200 model, but no lower than the previous gen, but they have been shifted forward, and that’s mean that they’ve shifted the footpegs up and back, back by about 40 millimeter, I believe, which is quite a bit.
And so it does feel, definitely with the footpeg position, quite a sporty ride.
This is the area in which, though, you can make this bike a little bit more like a Thruxet, because in the Accessories catalogue, they actually offer now a pair of clip on handlebars that are going to give you much more of that proper cafe riding position.
It’s available for both the two bikes, and you You can also spec it with this single seat-hump cafe-style saddle.
If you do both of those things, it’s going to end up looking and feeling fairly similar, I think, if not exactly the same as what a Thruxton would ride like.
The only thing I haven’t seen is a half-faring, which really did complete the looks of the Thruxton, but that’s probably something you’ll eventually be able to buy from a third-party aftermarket manufacturer.