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/1543956
P104 RIDE REVIEW I 2026 TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1200 RS I'd get the hang of the dash, but it was one of the weak points in the ride experience. Ergonomically, the Speed Triple RS strikes a smart middle ground. The riding position is sporty without being extreme, placing the rider in a commanding stance that works well at both low and high speeds. The bars provide good leverage, making tight maneuvers easy while maintaining stability on faster roads. Seat com - fort, however, could be better. It's a hard cushion, and when you match it to the harder suspension settings, the ride isn't that comfortable. If an RS ever found its way into a permanent spot in my garage, a trip to Saddlemen for a custom seat would be at the top of the priority list. Wind protection is non-existent as expected, but the RS remains perfectly stable at highway speeds. There's no excessive buffeting or wandering, and the chassis feels solid even when dealing with crosswinds or turbulent air. It's not a touring bike, but it doesn't punish you for longer rides, either. The RS's styling continues to walk the line be- tween aggressive and restrained. The twin-head- light design remains unmistakably Speed Triple, updated with modern LED lighting that enhances both aesthetics and functionality. But the fit and finish on the RS is excellent. It looks like what it is: a flagship naked bike held to a high standard. As an everyday ride, the RS is about as extreme a naked bike as I'd want these days, and it's right at that edge of being a little too extreme. It's easy enough to live with day to day thanks to its smooth and beefy engine, sparky suspension and relatively comfortable ergos, and at the same time, it has the performance and composure to deliver serious jollies when the road opens up. I'm just a touch sad I didn't get to take the RS to the track. The 2026 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS feels cohesive and deeply sorted. The model has been around for so long now, and it feels like it's really matured in 2026. It's fast, refined and engaging, yet approach- able and usable. That combination is harder to achieve than it looks, and Triumph deserves credit for getting it right. CN 2026 TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1200 RS ($21,095) Engine Inline three-cylinder, four-stroke Valvetrain DOHC, 12-valve Cooling System Liquid-cooled Displacement 1160cc Bore x Stroke 90 x 60.8mm Compression Ratio 13.2:1 Max Power (claimed) 180.5 hp @ 10,750rpm Max Torque (claimed) 94 lb-ft @ 8750 rpm Fuel System Bosch Multipoint sequential EFI; electronic throttle control, ride-by-wire Exhaust 3-1 Transmission 6-speed Electronics Rider Modes: Rain, Road, Sport, Track, plus two Rider modes. Cornering ABS, 4 throttle maps, 5 traction control, 4 engine-brake control, and 4 front-wheel lift control maps Chassis Aluminum twin spar, bolt-on aluminum rear subframe Front Suspension Öhlins SmartEC3 semi-active, 43mm NIX 30 inverted fork, fully adjustable Rear Suspension Öhlins SmartEC3 semi-active, TTX 36 twin-tube monoshock, fully adjustable Front-Wheel Travel 4.7 in. Rear-Wheel Travel 4.7 in. Front Brake Dual four-piston Brembo Stylema radial-mount calipers, 320mm discs w/ ABS Rear Brake 2-piston caliper, 220mm disc w/ABS Front Tire Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V3, 120/70 ZR17 in. Rear Tire Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V3, 190/55 ZR17 in. Rake 23.9° Trail 4.1 in. Wheelbase 56.4 in. Seat Height 32.4 in. Fuel Capacity 4.1 gal. Weight (wet, claimed) 438.7 lbs.