Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1531151
P60 RIDE REVIEW I 2025 TRIUMPH SPEED TWIN 1200 to the RS doesn't hurt here, either, and you can lean the RS over further without thinking you're going to grind the pegs off and eventually the tips of your boots. When it comes to braking, the Brembo Stylema front brake calipers, matched to a higher-spec Brembo master cylinder, are a cut above what you'll get on the base model. Hard braking from high speed requires two fingers at best, and the more composed front suspension ensures that you won't get an ABS shudder until it's absolutely necessary. I'm a massive stickler for master cylinders. To get a good one on your bike costs the manufacturer very little, and it's an easy thing for them to sneak under the buyer's radar. Thankfully Tri- umph hasn't done this with the RS. What you get is good braking power from the calipers and good feel at the lever from the master cylinder, so thanks, Triumph. Classic Never Goes Out Of Style The older I get, the more I gravitate to these kinds of bikes. At just over 100 horsepower, that's plenty for my liking and the kind of rid- ing that—if I'm brutally honest with myself—is what I mainly do these days. However, whether it's 100 or 200 horse- power, the fact remains that these bikes—be it in base or RS trim (but I'll take the RS any day)—are very handsome bikes that stand out from the crowd. I'd have liked at least a little adjustability on the front end of the standard bike, but I guess that's why the RS is there. For the extra $2500, what you get with the RS is well worth the outlay, even if all the general public will see is one has a fancy orange paint job and the other doesn't. The best part is these bikes just don't go out of style. Triumph has done exceptionally well to create an homage to its past while giving you every modern bell and whistle you need, all in a package even my seven-year-old son says is "a good-looking bike." That's a pretty big compliment right there. CN 2025 TRIUMPH SPEED TWIN 1200/SPEED TWIN 1200 RS ($13,595 / $15,995) ENGINE Parallel-twin VALVETRAIN 8 valves, SOHC, 270° firing order COOLING SYSTEM Liquid DISPLACEMENT 1200cc BORE X STROKE 97.6 x 80mm COMPRESSION RATIO 12.1:1 MAX POWER (CLAIMED) 103.5 hp at 7750 rpm MAX TORQUE (CLAIMED) 82.6 lb-ft at 4250 rpm FUEL SYSTEM Electronic fuel injection system, ride-by-wire throttle EXHAUST 2-2 TRANSMISSION Six-speed ELECTRONICS Two Riding Modes, full LED lighting system, traction control, ABS/Three riding modes, quickshifter, full LED lighting system, traction control, ABS CHASSIS Tubular steel cradle FRONT SUSPENSION 43mm inverted Marzocchi, nonadjustable/ 43mm inverted Marzocchi, fully adjustable REAR SUSPENSION Dual Marzocchi shocks, preload adjustable; 4.6 in. travel / Dual Ohlins shocks, fully adjustable FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 4.7 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 4.8 in. FRONT BRAKE Dual 4-piston monobloc calipers, 320mm discs, ABS/ Brembo Stylema M4.30 radial-mount calipers, 320mm discs, ABS REAR BRAKE Nissin 2-piston caliper, 220mm disc, ABS FRONT TIRE 120/70 ZR17 in. REAR TIRE 160/60 ZR17 in. RAKE 22.4° / 22.6° TRAIL 3.6 in. WHEELBASE 55.6 in. / 55.7 in. SEAT HEIGHT 31.7 in. / 31.9 in. FUEL CAPACITY 3.8 gal. WEIGHT (WET, CLAIMED) 476 lbs. S P E C I F I C AT I O N S