Triumph's Speed Triple 1200RR bridges the gap between superbike and super naked | MCN Review 

I see alot of people don't quite understand that Triumph makes bikes that can "do everything well". Once again they hit the nail on the head with this model. It's a perfect cross between a naked Roadster and a pure sport bike. Idk how many times I've heard people ask for a Thruxton with a triple in it, and here it is!! Not only is it completely unique, but its now right up there with the Super Duke in performance. It's funny how half of you complain that it's too cramped and uncomfortable, but the other half complain that it's not a razor-edge Daytona 1200. The rest of you want this to be a sport touring bike, which it wasn't made to be. Mainly because I think they have a future Tiger 1200 Sport up their sleeve, so just be patient. All in all, Triumph better keep it up with these killer bikes. In a world where american cruisers are the salt, and Japanese sport bikes are the pepper.......Triumph is the spicy Adobo packed with flavor 👌 Sorry, but this Triumph is the bike that will attract the crowd and get attention. Only other sport bike dudes are gonna drool at your Japanese 4-cylinder

One of few motor journalists/reviewers I actually belive in. Keep up the good work! :)

Michael never disappoints. Even with fair criticism he still makes you want the bike.

Way to go Triumph! I think they built this thing for me. My biking mostly consists of riding to the canyons, carving all day, riding home. I need something that can get me there without feeling like I've been on the rack, but still loves to be shoved into corners and ridden hard. As an added benefit, I think it is just flat gorgeous.

Guess what. I swapped from a 1050 RS to a 1200 RR. Why? In my opinion, it looks better than the RS with the angry ants eyes, the semi-active suspension is much better on bulky roads and, due to the seating position, you have a better feeling for the front wheel. Compared to real super bikes, the seating position is kind of relaxed. If it‘s too extreme for you, you‘re too old or you should go to the gym. 😉

Great review. I wish Triumph and other manufactures would at least offer some options for comfort ( clip-on risers etc..) for this type of bike to make them more bearable on the street and for touring. I think that keeping this segment of bike from totally dying means making them more road focused.

Perfect review. Haven't ridden one, but sitting on one I had the same impression. It's added everything I wanted added to the RS, but went too far on the aggressive riding position. I don't think it's going to win over any real superbike fans, but will scare away it's actual demographics.

I’ve never owned a sports bike, but I would be tempted to buy this. Love the retro/modern faired look.

I think I'm the target market - in 50's and 30 year history of sports bikes as sole bike used for everything from commuting to track days, which in the last few years have just gone OTT - I've ordered one!!!

👍I'm not in the market for a new bike but i absolutely love watching mcn put bikes through their reviews n give us opinions to what a bike does do and doesn't do, thanks mcn

As a guy who's on his third Speed Triple this new one bums me out. I wish they would have made two bikes from the platform like they used to. A fully fared (big) Daytona and a Speed Triple with two round headlights. But then again maybe I'm old. Great review.

Think you hit the nail on the head with your final summary. That performance in a more road orientated chassis, let's hope they bring out a Tiger 1200 Sport using the Speed Triples engine to compete with the S1000XR and Ducati Pikes Peak.

It’s more comfortable than a supersport, still has clip ons, it looks beautiful and different, it has next gen component’s and it has the most powerful iteration of one of the best engine’s ever made…I want nothing more.

Great, accessible information again - the work you and entire staff put out everyday is much appreciated. And a lovely bike at hand as well, all in all a nice day.

I think Triumph would do well to see bar risers as a factory accesorry.

Fabulous review never ridden one however the way you’ve described the ride & characteristics I can image how it would feel…!!!

I will get mine in March. It will complement my GSXR. I am not ready yet for a sports touring bike. I expect the low screen to be helpful to offload the arms at speed. It is all about that balance to lean on the wind. My GSXR needed a double bubble to get it right. Between 130-180 km/h I can find an angle where my arms are totally off loaded. For this to work you need footpegs in the right place and the RS footpegs are to far forward to help above 100km/h. I also think many confuse a seat position too far back/too long tank with too low bars. When you sit closer to the headstock it is easier to find a balanced riding position and you never struggle to reach down to the handle bars only if you need to reach forward.

I applaud Triumph for this bike, and if I had enough money I'd give that to them as well Maybe I'm just weird, but for me this is the perfect package. Superbikes have become too extreme for me since I don't live close to an Motogp size Euro race track, and I don't have motogp skills, but I also don't like the upright bars and lack of fairings of the supernakeds. I do my daily core exercises, you should try it guys; your lady will thank you and so will your wrists when you take your weight through your core muscles instead of loading your wrists. Anyway, thank you MCN for the great review, and thank you Triumph for building my perfect modern sportsbike

One of the most beautiful bikes I've ever seen. I'm buying one.

wouldn't we all neev! great video, what a beautiful looking performance motorcycle, this design wise embodies something that modern day sports bikes just can't offer. This bike is so attractive to look at!

"A refugee from a Moto GP race." I, laughed out loud! 😆😆 lol

Nice one Neevesy, Great review as usual, I like it. But not at the thick end of £18,000

Love your work m8, No one can tell how old you are with your lid on. Most new bikes are dressed as boring as f..k. I love stickers. Decals....Knee sliders.... 54 years young!

At least triumph are bringing something new to the party, alot of the superbikes today look the same

Lovely machine , nicely summarised neevesy

Triumph seem to be missing a few tricks as of late. This bike simply has too low bars. The naked RS has too hard suspension. The latest Speed Twin still has none adjustable suspension [despite customer feedback saying they would like full adjustment]. They are all nice machines but could and should be better for the price.

A very good RU-vid video. It summarizes well the important things one should know about the bike. I wish and hope that Triumph will make a "Sport touring" version of the bike, with that engine, with that same 180 bhp, with all the electronics, goodies, and bells & whistles. I'm sure a comfortable Sport touring version would be much better sold everywhere around the world. Customers appreciate the combination of performance and comfort. And... Triumph, please don't forget to make an option for a lower seat height. It will make your would-be clients base greater by at least 25% (Not everybody has a basketball player DNA).

💯 Regarding the clip ons and screen. As an ex Australian Superbike racer from the 90’s, I’m now at an age where I can afford one of these however it doesn’t really meet the design brief. I would prefer if the clip ons were raised (like the RS660 or Ducati Supersport), taller screen and the same position for the pegs as it’s naked brother. Other than that it still is an amazing bike to ride. Great review and humble thoughts. Thank you. 👍😎🇦🇺

Thanks, as always, for another honest review.

Nice review and good looking bike. I wonder if that fairing would fit in the street triple

Another great review. Michael is to motorcycle reviews what David Attenborough is to nature documentaries. I really like this bike. Based on the reviews I’ve seen I do wish that the handlebars where ever so slightly higher. I’ll have to take it for a test ride to see if that position is something I can live with. Are there any aftermarket options for raising the bars? I’m only talking about a very slight raise, I would want to keep the sporting aesthetic.

Having not owned a bike with a TFT dash, are companies offering Basic and Advanced screen layouts: a simple or deep-dive display? Love your work Neevsey. Cheers to everyone at MCN :)

I was really hoping the rr to fill the gap in the lineup left by the old Sprint ST, but this is too uncomfortable for my 50yo bum. Chance lost by Triumph. Hope for 2023, maybe they will release a third model based on the Speed architecture, with a fairing but more laid back than this rr. I would buy it immediately

54 years old & had mine 2 weeks now. Bars about an inch higher would have been better. Dash a right fiddle, menus within menus within menus & you have to take your eyes of the road far too long just too look at your trip, fuel status etc. Safety issue in my opinion. Home button on right bar you have to shut the throttle, take you hand off so your thumb can reach it unless you have stretch armstrong digits. Apart from these minor irritations its incredible, well made, complete & utter refinement in every respect & stunning looks & amazing suspension & handling. Just wish it had the dash from my streetfighter V4 with all the important stuff on the home screen

I love my speed triple r , this is a beautiful bike if they had put the bars on top of the yolk rather than under the top yolk , then i think it would be more comfortable. Regards the rs i prefer the suspension firm to hard, so the rs is perfect but it can be backed off.

For me the Tuono bridges the gap. I haven’t heard any mention putting a bigger windscreen on one. But I’m sure it’s been done a bunch of times. I wouldn’t own one because I refuse to go over $15k for a motorcycle ever again. But it is in my top 3 want to take on track bikes.

It's a beautiful bike, and I too would have one if I could. Some of the 'niggles' are easily solved, like an aftermarket windscreen. I'll bet bar risers are already in the works. Sometimes I think we consumers ask for too much: a bike that's great on track, comfy on the road, can tour up and down the continent, and so on. Maybe we expect so much is because we've a little taste of greatness in each segment? Ah anyway, it's fun to think about bikes. :-)

I found the RS to be snatchy off-throttle. Who could do a reflash, without changing cat etc, just to get a smoother low throttle transition?

Looking forward to seeing in person havent seen one on the road

Looking forward to swinging my leg over one soon hopefully!

I wonder why Triumph have not considered going the KTM route, thus building the Speed Triple 1200R like the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT having a touring set-up with higher handle bars, proper screen and possibly a luggage option. That is why I bought the Super Duke GT as I did not want a super naked with huge wind in my chest and I wanted superbike performance with touring comfort.

Shes a pretty wobbly offering from Triumph.

such a gorgeous bike

Thank you.

Looking at the angle of the windscreen and fairing you won’t be able to get much higher or wider with different clip ons should you want it. I’d take a GSXR1000 and toss some higher wider clip-ons on and it would be a much more capable machine. Rearsets to open up the keg room a touch for the street, and it’s done.

You could argue the Tuono is already doing this too... As a supernaked with a small fairing.

looks the evolution of the Truston would be interesting to do a comparison...

ive been looking for my next bike. i think this is it.

Nice review, lovely looking bike; appears their superbike ergonomics hasn't moved on since my Daytona 595, which is equally odd.

I’m digging it!

If I could have 3 bikes and 3 bikes only, I'd have a R1 race bike, Speed Triple RR street bike, and a Honda CRF250F dirt bike.

Thanks for a great review. I am older than you and am looking forward to the new Suzuki GSXS1000GT as I hope it will combine performance, comfort and wind protection. What about the new Aprillia Tuono V4 1100 non factory or the BMW S1000XR? Cheers

Sadly I suspect, many like myself agree Triumph have messed up big time with the handlebar position. It did not need to be so aggressive. I've sat on one (not helped by my short arms) I can tell straight away it's not at all comfy, but it could have been, yeah a faired speed triple is a great idea, but it's riding position is completely un-needed & un-necessary! After looking forward to it's arrival for so long, sadly I've already made up my mind not to even bother with the road test now. what I find strange is a bike like this would have been ripe for adjustable handlebar positioning, then you really could have best of both worlds. I seriously suspect Triumph design engineers don't actually ride bikes!!

I think I mentioned this b4 but, I like this bike. I agree they should have made the bars & screen 1-2 inches higher. Ducati should take notes & give us the Supersport 1200S with about 150-160hp. That would be PERFECT. They already have the monster 1200 so, why not?

I hope more manufactures build bikes with superbike performance and slightly more road usability. 2008 was a good year for superbikes that could do everything.

Its another example of strange decisions by triumph lately. Fast, powerful but uncomfortable.

I just wonder if there's a GT coming?

So pretty much everything he talked about will be fixed with aftermarket parts so that's fixes everything

The Tuono would replace a superbike for me. Currently looking at a S1000R because the Aprilia dealer support near me is non-existent.

I rather miss the garish race replica colours, refugee status from the 90s cuts both ways - not everyone in their fifties is into quite so many shades of grey... heck, a brash Fireblade is a breath of fresh air

it's a shame that MV f3/800 - having +$3k price than ST 1200RR, but haven't e-Suspension adjustments...

Don’t you think that a Tuono V4 Factory would tick all the boxes?

Why wouldn't Triumph offer bar risers and a taller windscreen as options?

Can we have more videos like this please

your comments remind me of having a BMW K1200R loaner for a day while my K1200GT was being serviced. I hated it. Later on during another service I borrowed a K1300S and it left me wondering what the point of the K1200R was. Just an aggressive hypernaked styling exercise with no thought for the buyer?

Well done Triumph

Reminds me a lot the... Honda CB4 Interceptor; or not ? ;)

It has a face for radio.

Lovely looking bike (in my opinion) but the price!!?? 😮

I'm confused with the front end, that big headlight? it looks like an old American locomotive!!! it just doesn't go with the rest of the bike especially for a 2022 bike!! why oh why did they not go with the look similar to the Panigale at the front its modern? The triple has an old fashion look.

I didn't know Flea did motorcycle reviews...

Will it break down like"all" other Trumpets in long term testers. The Truxton, Street triple , Daytona 675 and so on... Reliability is a reali issue forTriumph!

“If I could afford it “ ….. bro what ?!

If you look at the demographics of the people who buy $20k bikes it’s guys like me who are 50 and older and financially established as well as wore out shoulder joints etc. We hardly ever do track days but want the looks and power. So, I agree, they missed a perfect opportunity here. It should be more of a comfortable geometry so we can ride it places.

👍🏻

I think they’ve been confused with the 1200RS as well. Overly firm with a revvy engine, when it should have been aimed at road riders.

Why did they discontinue the Daytona only to make this?.. confused

The RS model is probably much more comfortable. I don't see why you would want clip-ons on naked bike anyway.

The rs needs a similar bikini fairing and that'd probably be great

It's the "forty-plus" goto Superbike! LoL!

Dear MCN, My wife overheard “mode control” mentioned and wondered if such a feature was available for husbands. My question to you is, how should I respond? Thanks.

So it doesn’t quite bridge it.

It looks a bit Frankenstein. Maybe it will grow on me.

get a VFR1200 or a good old 750 😉

2022 1200cc. 2023 1500cc. 2024 1800cc. when will it stop ???

No doubt you are a ducati fan.

greatest roadbike = diavel

I had the SC82SP, my next is a Speed Triple RR. If you did`t see the 7:23 BTG on the Nordschleife, watch this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-i7ynoX3gF00.html

Wondering who owns Triumph today? Japan or China?

Exactly right. Twenty years riding Japanese nakeds, so I'm their demographic and wouldn't consider this beautiful bike because of the clip-ons and rear set pegs. I have the money just not the rubber teenage bones to ride this thing.

Made in Thailand for made in Germany price 😐

The real question is though... Who the F would buy this thing? And wtf were the people at Triumph thinking?

Sadly Triumph have lost me as a customer. There's so much better value to be found elsewhere. And this is coming from a guy that owns a Triumph

Is it worth 18000?? Mmmmmm ….

I absolutely love when reviewers talk about fully adjustable Suspension as "being to stiff" 🤣 I have an RS and a few clicks and the Suspension is perfect. MCN is tripping. Look elsewhere for reviews. This is an absolutely trash review IMO.

always see this guy crying about the speed triple hahaha, just say you're old homie. There are tons of guys ripping it.

That's a 'fairing'!??? Ummm, no that's a bikini fairing with a single headlight with clip ons, and for that non innovation you will be charged $15k more than the the RS???? Triumph smoking too much. This bike will be forgotten about by the end of 2022.

This bike is a mistake by Triumph. I own a 1200RS and a BMW S1000RR so why would I buy something that isn't a true Super Naked or true Superbike?

Overpriced, poor reliability, poor customer aftercare...