I buy a 2020 Triumph Speed Twin, in 2023 | KTM 890R is now sold | Have I gone mad? 

After crashing my r9t in 2020 I bought the ktm 790 adv. I never ever had ktm on the radar, but the performance of this beast was extraordinary. But still missing my bmw I was looking around for something else and made a test ride with an 2016 Thruxton 1200. Riding the Thruxton was so cool, the engine was mind blowing. But finally I decided to not buy it as I am to old for this bike (after a 20 minute ride I couldn't feel my bones anymore). But in the meantime I own a red Speed Twin 1200 which is perfect for my 65 years (the ktm of course is also still in the garage and getting prepared for a Trip this summer in the french/spanisch pyrenees. cheerio from switzerland

Love my 2019 Speed Twin. Does everything I want it to do and makes a wonderful noise. Added new rear fox adjustable shocks, seat and Hitchcox exhaust for a little more (still legal) noise. Same colour scheme as you but I love it. Cool, old style with some oomph, enough for me. Enjoy.

Happy New Bike Day....now looking forward to the upcoming "Fettling" videos... always enjoy your videos and thanks for sharing

Great video looking forward to more videos on the speed twin 🇬🇧👍

Hi, I own a Speed twin 2022 and love it. It keeps me out of trouble, lots of low down grunt without lots of top end. Leave the suspension and ride the bike to its limits otherwise you may as well have just kept the KTM.

Nice bike enjoy , looks like work of art !

Good video and I think these things can get you into trouble too they get up there quick 👍

I bought a 2021 Speed twin 1200 (the first of the revised model) as my first bike, i love it and it's more than quick enough for road use, i just loved the looks and sound of the thing!

Fabulous bike I hope you enjoy 👍

I love my 2021 Speed Twin. Bar risers both up and back a bit made my ride more comfortable. Small screen took away a bit of chest buffeting. I haven’t done anything with the suspension. I just ride it. Had the throttle plastic chip fitted which made the pick up smoother. It’s a great addition to my Tiger 900GT Pro Mine is all black gloss with blacked out engine nuts and bolts and the injection covers etc It looks great

Sometimes I wonder like do you really need a 120HP bike for everyday use? I feel like this speed twin would just be a lot more fun. Congrats!

Hi, Congratulations on the Triumph. I’m really liking the Retro looking Bikes that are coming out. I love the Triumphs, but I would love to get the Kawasaki Z1 900. When I was young, I rode around on a Z1 that was a 1978 Model I think. I Loved that Bike and kept it for Years. I would like to have another Inline 4 Cylinder Bike again and Love the looks of the new 900. I would put a 4 into one Header on it like I had on the 78 Model. Thanks for the Video. I hope you really enjoy the Triumph. By the way, I also own a R1200GS and will probably keep it the rest of my life.👍👍

Great bikes, I have both. As far as you adjusting the suspension, if the KTM was too fast for you, you would be wasting your money on changing the suspension for you unless you ride track or are 250 lbs. You should of just left your KTM in Urban mode and enjoyed it with CRUISE CONTROL.

I really loved speed twin 1200 looks. although out of budget for me but Looking forward to Spedd 400.

Mine is a 2021 revised model. Bar risers made a big difference, comfort wise. I am a pensioner, so I do not ride like I used to, so the suspenders are fine. Mine has a Vance and Hines exhaust system, which sounds great! Could do with a bigger tank, but you could say the same for most bikes. It is a lovely bit of kit. Enjoy it!

As regards suspension I suggest you get familar with the current setup first, next ensure the tyres have the correct pressure and notch up the rear suspension by 4. The changes are remarkable without having to find £3000 for some KTek upgrades😢

Old man’s bike… never.. looks as though I’m watching your posting back to front. I’ve decided to put black Ohlins on the rear of my SP 1200… not intending to do anything more. Yours is stunning. You’re going to have fun riding it, I’m sure. 😀😀😊

Congrats is a nice looking bike. Ohlins suspension will be a great addition.

Great bike. Have you watched 44Teeth 2019 launch review? Nothing wrong with the handling, stopping and performance of that bike in stock trim.

I did exactly same thing last year, I sold my beloved 1200gs and downsized to the ktm890, big mistake ! after a few months I realised I was going to end up killing myself or no licence so traded it in for my new 1250gs Black beauty (Triple Black) no regrets at all. Even in my 70's it was hard not to push the KTM . After reading heaps, longevity of the ktm was also a worry.

Congratulations, great bike, really enjoy mine. Only downside is you will need an asbestos right leg on warm days.

That Triumph is one of my options as a next bike. It's so comfortable and stylish 🔥👏. (Now riding a Honda Vfr 800)

Also look at Wilbers 630TS road for rear shocks. Have them sprung for your weight, no pillion, and your style of riding.

Lovely looking bike Paul. I have considered a stable mate for my GSA however my wife doesn't understand me 🤪

Good bike!😍😍😍😍

I have the same bike, I recommend getting the Bitubo suspension upgrade offered by Obsession Engineering in Lincoln. He has a RU-vid video on the fitting, it's made a big difference to ride quality, especially at the rear.

Congrats man! I'm from Brazil, I had one of these too, but in black. This bike it's not fun, it's AMAZING, hahahahahahahahaha. But the seat, for long rides, could be a little bit more confortable. Anyway, like u said, it is a great toy! Hahahahahah

Interesting. After owning a KTM 390 Duke for 3 years, I tested the 890 Duke and it was mind-blowingly fast after the 390. I wanted one. Then I plan to buy a speed twin, but it didn't handle as well as the KTMs of course but was a lovely bike. That was over 2 years ago and a few months ago I ended up buying 790 Duke, also a 2020 model. They are amazing bikes, butts, I'm definitely going to get a retro bike at some point. Maybe the speed twin or the Kawasaki 900?

Great bike, it’s the retro I’d buy and it sounds great👍

Can’t believe I found this video. I have done exactly the same thing as you. You even have the same backpack!!! I traded my 21 plate KTM 890R for a new 73 plate triumph speed twin on Wednesday. I had my KTM for two years from new and when I traded it it had 2089 miles on it. I love the new speed twin amazing bike. This is too much of a coincidence 😳😳😳

Great video mate, and hello from down under 🇦🇺. You said it yourself that it's for burbling around and not trying to be a motoGP rider and for that it's perfect. I have a 23' ST1200 and am almost finished all my upgrades, ( there have been many...lol), in terms of suspension if you didn't want to splash the cash on sweedish gold suspension you can get 85-90% of the performance out of a pair of YSS piggy back shocks on the rear and nitron cartridges up front. You said there was no throttle play, but the best bang for buck upgrade on the ST are throttle spacers, yours may already have them in ( if you can feel any slop, or play in the throttle with the bike off in the garage before engagement of the throttle they aren't in there yet). If you are compelled to go further a high flow filter and a decat with a professional tune will have the RPM spinning up quicker than a vegan in a steak house restaurant. Enjoy the most refined retro ride around mate 😀👍

I’ve got Triumph Fox shocks on my Street Twin.They are really good.

Just traded in my 890r in for a BMW s1000r sport. Sounds nice. Good choice.

Great bikes and beautiful scenery? Can I ask you where that was filmed? Love those twisty roads on the coast. Is it cornwall? Cheers.

Andreanni front cartridges and Nitron or Fox at the rear.

that KTM was never a doodle round Jersey type bike..I've got one and I live in the open expanses of the Dorset downs, and it's perfect

Great little bike. Love to own one. I just couldn’t get on with the riding position, I might of not been in a good place, on test day. Maybe need another try.🤷🏼‍♂️

Congrats ! I've been looking at these bikes and would definately consider a 2020. some have really low mileage. From what videos i've seen, the suspension is the most effective upgrade to do. I need to test a T120 and these to see which might be better for me, but i'd take either for sure. What does a ECu flash do ?

Hiya I've got one to love it to bits it does everything I want a bike to do for me now I'm 50 looks cool and goes well too she's a keeper 👍👍👍

also, regarding suspension. i'd go for nitron front and rear!

Can’t quite understand why you’d think we think you’ve gone mad. Speed Twin is stunning bike. For me, that and the Kawasaki are about the two best looking bikes on the market. A mate has one and loves it. Enjoy!

I own a 2018 Triumph T120. I bought it second hand. I rode it with the aftermarket Progressive rear shocks, for full on 2 years. It handled like dream and was tracking utterly perfect in the twisties. Fool that I am I decided to shell out some big bucks for some Ohlins to see if I could improve upon the handling. I’ve had them for a year now and after trying to dial them in with my mechanic I feel like I wasted my money! It just does not handle as well as it did with the Progressives. I highly recommend the 412 series shocks, very reasonably priced for an excellent quality product. I’m still not sure to this day why I decided to get the Ohlins! Perhaps it was an impulse buy. It’s hard to improve upon perfect! I hope you find this helpful. Cheers from across the pond

Mine is same as yours 2020 grey model it has Tec progressive springs and Tec rear shocks. X-pipe, throttle spacers and booster plug. Dart fly screen, tail tidy, rad guard, sump guard. I find it handles extremely well. I got video of it on here.

Good choice on the Speed Twin. Lovely looking bike. I can see exactly what you mean about the KTM Duke 890 R. I should imagine living in the Channel Islands there aren't that many roads, if any, where you could really use it to it's full potential. Lovely bike though, Just not the one for you. The Speed Twin is great bike more suited as you say to bimbling along small twisty lanes. You are less likely to lose your license on it or your life. One chapter closes, another opens. For your Speed Twin suspension you could consider Maxton or Hagon suspension kits. Not quite as eye wateringly expensive as Ohlins. Plus they can supply units set up for your weight and riding style. I don't think Ohlins do that. I have Ohlins on my Speed Triple RS and I have had to wait just over 2 months for a softer spring to arrive as the OE one supplied is far too firm basically for fat b*****s. I need to get the spring changed over and then suspension set up by suspension specialists BG Motorsport near Silverstone. They used to actually be at the circuit but have since moved. Also Techbikeparts do various performance parts for the Triumph 1200 engine bikes. A stainless steel de cat X pipe £110.00 and also a performance camshaft which apparently makes the engine breath so much more easily but this is £360, but quite straight forward to fit or get fitted. www.tecbikeparts.com/products/models/triumph-water-cooled-2016-models-on/speed-twin-1200/performance-parts-speed-twin-1200/ Apparently Triumph also set the rev limiter on their 1200cc engines quite low. TTS Performance can remove it meaning it can rev say another 1000. There are no ill effects but again letting the engine really sing. They have done some great tuning for the Thornton Hundred Triumph bikes principally Bobbers but also the Speed Twin. The 1200cc is very customisable Yours sounds lovely with the V&H pipes. Like you with your KTM Duke 890R I might well chop my Speed Triple RS in for say a more relaxed Speed Twin or indeed Speedmaster as lit has become a bit of a garage queen and I am so precious of it, not riding in wet conditions and definitely not in winter. My go to bike is my VFR800 6th gen which I ride the most. It's more than quick enough where as my Speed Triple RS is a lot faster so riding it you have resist the temptation to twist the throttle too far ............. which can be hard, but it does have cruise control so I just set that a few mph above the limit to allow for calibration error and enjoy the day, but it's a bit of a waste tbh. So a more relaxed bike like your Speed Twin makes such good sense, although it is not a slow bike either. Enjoy yours. Check out RocketMan's YT channel if you haven't already as he has made suspension and other mods to his. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-S1BKYm6rLk8.html There's also TMF who also has one as you probably know. Shall look forward to updates on your Speed Twin as you get to know it and customise it to how you want it. ATB.

This bike has much more torque low down,just what im interested in.

Great choice, just traded my 2021 T120 for a 2023 Speed Twin for the extra power and better brakes.

Buy a bike for how it makes you feel. Having had two GSs in succession I switched to an R9T for a change and love it. I’ve done more trips, more distance on it and find myself popping out for a ride more often. I did upgrade the suspension though so maybe worth it on the speed twin too. Also I think you need a tail tidy to finish it off

if you are going to do the suspension take a look at IKON progressive front spring. 7610 rear shocks with adjustable rebound and dampner

great choice. the speed twin is such a great all rounder. reminds of what of would of been like when you had one bike to do EVERYTHING. chuck some decent suspension on it, and you'd be surprised how well it can actually handle. love mine.

Good to sell the KTM before the engine paint looks horrendous. I enjoyed the KTM890R just not the paint finish on the engine.

That dash on the triumph looks like the 1950s

I changed the rear shocks on mine. It was that or sell the bike. The standard shocks are so appalling the bike nearly had me off on a bend with a pot hole that both my Fazer1000 and BMW R1200s can handle without throwing me at the kerb. I put fully adj YSS on for £600. Night and day difference and wouldn’t have been able to do my Pyrenees trip without them. I made a video on the swap.

I want credit for the fiddler moniker :)

Sport mode on those little twisty roads?

How hot does the engine running?

YSS suspension & an X-pipe

Managed to find thruxton r ohlins off eBay reasonably priced although had springs powdered coated black .. requires 3 mm spacer washer at top mounting to avoid any possible contact with frame but this is quite common on various shocks..Marzocchi up front which aren't bad but may install k tech internals at some point.. ECU flash good shout👍

How is Triumph Speed Twin 900 Bike? Im planning to buy it.

Stesse mie 2 moto e anch'io avevo ceduto un ktm (790) per la speed twin 2020😅

Get the TEC progressive fork spring kit with preload adjusters for £139.99 There’s a channel called Del Boys Garage, he shows you how to fit them. It’s an easy job with no special tools required. Just take the fork caps off, pull out the spacers and springs, then put the new springs and spacers in and fit the new preload adjusting fork caps. It’s that easy. Then either Nitron or Maxton shocks for the rear. Both of those are English companies and their support is second to none.