The Triumph Speed Twin 1200 is a contemporary interpretation of the iconic original Speed Twin, blending classic styling with modern performance and technology. It’s a beautiful bike aimed at riders who appreciate a blend of retro aesthetics and modern engineering.
The 1200cc parallel-twin engine is a gem. It delivers strong, torquey performance and is equally at home in the city or carving along a fast A road. Only the lack of wind protection holds you back.
Triumph’s Speed Twin sports a timeless design that evokes the spirit of classic British motorcycles. With its round headlight, twin round gauges, and classic tank shape, It’s a beautiful bike that turns heads everywhere you go.
Despite its retro styling, the Speed Twin is equipped with modern features like ABS, traction control, and rider modes and as you would expect, Triumph offers a wide range of accessories and options that enable you to customise and personalise your Speed Twin.
Suspension
The Triumph Speed Twin 1200 comes with a suspension setup that is designed to offer a balance of comfort and performance. In my opinion, I felt the suspension was the weak link with the Speed Twin 1200. This is a very capable bike with a great engine, but the budget, unadjustable suspension suspension has its limits.
At the front you have unadjustable Marzocchi 43mm open cartridge USD forks and at the rear, unbranded twin shocks, adjustable for preload only.
It works fine most of the time, offering a soft and comfortable ride, but I’m not small and when things got a bit more spicy, which is easy to do on this bike, the suspension struggled, with bumps and undulations and the more you pushed, the more pronounced it became.
If you’re not within the standard spring and damping range, finding the perfect balance of the motorcycle is always going to be a battle.
The stock suspension on the Speed Twin 1200 is generally considered adequate for most riders. It provides a comfortable ride and handles most road surfaces well. However, some riders may find the lack of adjustability to be a limitation, especially if they want to customise the ride to their preferences.
If you’re looking for a more adjustable and higher-performance suspension setup, there are several aftermarket options available. Triumph offers Ohlins through their optional equipment catalogue and there are companies such as K-Tech that can offer aftermarket upgraded suspension packages. These upgrades can significantly improve the handling and ride quality of the Speed Twin 1200.
K-Tech
I asked Kevin Harris, Product Manager at K-Tech Suspension in Swadlincote about the Speed Twin 1200 suspension. K-Tech are experts in the world of motorcycle suspension. Their reputation as a world-class race suspension manufacturer has stood for over 20 years, along the way they have earned multiple championship wins across circuit racing, motocross enduro and road racing. K-tech’s Kevin explained; “the damping function or design is the key. It needs to be matched with the correct spring to ensure the best set up and comfort.”
OEMs have to work to a budget and ensure a bike appeals to a wide range of riders and environments. When you approach a company like K-Tech, you can create a suspension package that is tailored to your riding style and weight”.
Kevin had a 2018 Speed Twin himself and inevitably, replaced the shocks and installed a K-Tech cartridge kit into the forks, pretty much immediately; it transformed the ride quality and adjustability.
Brakes
Stopping power comes courtesy of Brembo radial calipers and 320 mm discs and they do a great job. With a pillion on board, I used up all of the lever travel but never felt like they wouldn’t stop me. On my own, they were good and offered a good level of feel.
Engine
The Triumph Speed Twin 1200 engine is a liquid-cooled, 8-valve, SOHC, 270° crank angle, 1200 cc, parallel twin, producing a lively 105 PS (103.5 bhp) @ 7,750 rpm and 112 Nm of torque at 4,250 rpm. I love this engine, it’s raspy and overflowing with character. There’s a big fat spread of torque that means the Speed Twin is a riot to ride, you see a gap, crack the throttle and imagine you’re a 1950s ton-up boy, racing between cafes.
You have two rider modes to choose from: Road and Rain, but with 105 PS, I just left it in road and enjoyed it.
Overall,
The Triumph Speed Twin 1200 is a versatile and stylish motorcycle that appeals to a wide range of riders. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or new to motorcycling, this bike offers a rewarding and enjoyable riding experience.
It’s raucous, overflowing with character and is great fun to ride. It will certainly bring joy to your life.
Speed Twin 1200 (MY24)
Price From £11,995.00
Engine – Liquid-cooled, 8 valve, SOHC, 270° crank angle parallel twin 1200 cc
Max Power EC – 105 PS / 103.5 bhp (77.2 kW) @ 7,750 rpm
Max Torque EC – 112 Nm @ 4,250 rpm
Chassis – Tubular steel frame with steel cradles
Swingarm – Twin-sided aluminium
Front Wheel – Cast aluminium alloy, 7-spoke, 17 x 3.5 in
Rear Wheel – Cast aluminium alloy, 7-spoke, 17 x 5.0 in
Front Tyre – 120/70 R17
Rear Tyre – 160/60 R17
Front Suspension – Ø 43mm USD Marzocchi forks, 120mm travel
Rear Suspension – Twin Marzocchi RSUs with external reservoirs and adjustable preload, 116 mm wheel travel
Front Brakes – Twin Ø 320mm floating discs, Triumph branded four-piston radial calipers, OCABS (optimised cornering ABS)
Rear Brakes – Single Ø 220mm disc, Nissin 2-piston floating caliper, OCABS
Instrument Display and Functions – LCD multi-function instruments with integrated colour TFT screen
Seat Height – 805 mm
Tank Capacity – 14.5 L
Wet Weight – 216 kg
Service Interval – 10,000 miles/16,000 Km or 12 Months, whichever comes first
Standard equipment
Optimised Cornering ABS and Traction Control
LED headlights with DRL
2 riding modes (Road, Rain)
Cockpit-mounted USB-C Socket
Optional Equipment
Ohlins adjustable rear shock units
Low handlebar kit
Cruise control kit – DRL
TPMS Tyre pressure monitoring system
MyTriumph connectivity module
Scrolling LED Indicators
Triumph Protect
Triumph Track
If you are interested in upgrading your suspension, K-Tech Suspension can be contacted here;
01283 559000
