P116
RIDE REVIEW I 2025 TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1200 RS
TO THE TRACK
Cooking in tire warmers in Portimão's famous
pitlane, the new Speed Triple 1200 RS looked
ready to race. Triumph had removed the rear
number plate and mirrors for track use, and
despite its naked styling, it exuded a race-
ready vibe. The new design looks great in
person, though I wish they hadn't hidden the
gorgeous single-sided swingarm with a bulky
exhaust (though an Akrapovic silencer is avail
-
able). The only other issue was that, instead
of the planned Pirelli slicks, we were using
race wets due to the weather.
Yes, the Triumph has a Rain mode that
limits power to 100 horsepower and ramps up
the rider aids, but I know Portimão well, so I
opted for the more unrestricted Road mode.
Conditions were slippery, but the Triumph's
rider-friendliness and ease of use shone
through. Right from the start, I was able to
push a bit harder and trust the bike's rider
aids, including cornering ABS, which I couldn't
feel intervening even in the wet.
Portimão is full of huge undulations and
steep gradient changes, and in comfort mode,
the suspension was a little too soft. After
All-new front wheel
lift control has four
levels that range
from just-hovering
to high-and-close-
to-the-balance-
point. It can be
deactivated but not
independently from
the lean-sensitive
traction control.
