TRIUMPH SPEED TWIN 1200 (2019 - on) Review

As mentioned, poor suspension lets an otherwise superb bike down.

Amazing engine, incredibly torquey and tractable.

Just what you need and nothing unnecessary.

Bike is a good all rounderI.Bike at it’s best doing bendy country roads using the gearbox and the lovely effortless torque.I found standard seat a bit hard .I changed mine for a thick padded one and can now stay in saddle for hours.-My front brake was prone to intermittent squealing and sometimes used to pulse and be a bit grabby, causing the forks to dive when braking to a stop.After servicing and more use, problems diminished.

Engine is Beautifull for a twin.Just pulls from low down.Sounds lovely , can potter along or go like a scalded cat when required.Fuel consumption is good for a 1200.With so much torque, the engine does not have to be reved that much.I often get over 60 mpg.Fuel light comes on after using about 9 litres leaving a further gallon remaining(a further 55/60 miles!)

I think the design and build of the bike is very good.I think the underside of the rear mudguard fittings are exposed and might be prone to future corrosion.My battery failed when bike was about 1 1/2 years old.Replaced with mobatt yellow battery as they seem to last longer.

Bike is very straight forward.Most maintenance can easily be done by the owner.Engine seems to be less mechanically complicated than others so hopefully is more robust and will last.

Relaxing bike to ride.Modes easy to use and make bike very versatile.The Speed twin looks like a real motorcycle, unlike some of the modern ugly creations which look like giant mutated insects. I love the red and grey paintwork on my fuel tank.Bike is compact so can be put in shed easily.Throttle spacers and booster plug cure snatchy throttle.Mudguard extenders front and rear.I would recommend considering front suspension cartridge kit and rear piggyback shocks if owner feels the need and is going to keep the bike some time.Maybe small seat bag or rack to carry puncture repair kit?When a tyre change is needed, I might try a different brand.My front is still the original.My rear was badly punctured so I had A Pirelli sport/ touring tyre fitted on the rear instead of the sports, as I thought it might be less prone to punctures.(The tyre shop said a lot of riders run a sports tyre on the front and a sport/touring tyre on the rear).

Fantastic handling, really does feel far lighter & more agile than my Thruxton 900 , on par with my Ducati Monster 900. Seat is comfy for 100 miles. Brakes are incredible, but would rather not have the pointless ABS and rider aids, I'm not a MotoGP racer and if you need all those electronics you shouldn't be on a big bike.

Stonking grunt & good top end. Lacks a bit in character, but that's sadly modern legislation making everything more banal.

Top notch, can't fault it except the rear shocks.

Long service intervals so nowt to worry about for a while.

Dislike all the electronic aids, utterly pointless expenses. Equipment is good, tho I only want an engine and stuff to propell me not all the extra stuff.

The only thing that bugs me about the bike is budget rear shocks. Come on Triumph, for these prices you could do better. Brakes are as good as I’ve had on any of the 50 + bikes I’ve had.

TORQUE, TORQUE, TORQUE. As quoted above faster than you might think.

Nothing broken or gone wrong yet.

Normal Triumph service costs that don’t seem to change no matter how many cylinders the bike has. Odd.

Got all it needs. At the end of the day years ago I didn’t need lean sensitive traction control.

Front brake causes the forks to bottom out even though it doesn’t lock or engage the abs

I have had the bike for 5months and I have only done 800 miles as it has spent most of the time being repaired

Standard tyres are not good for British roads

Seat was hard before I modified it, now I can go the full fuel range( 150 miles)

Superb torque and power

The bolts etc. are beginning to show their age, Even after using a protectant.

This bike has 10000 mile service intervals

Got everything you need

Have only had this bike since march.

First service

No need to upgrade suspension just enjoy it I found limit tipping into corner at 80ish hilarious

The grunt is addictive and pulls like a train you find your self wheeling in 2nd gear loads of fun

Definitely recommend to friends

Brilliant tyres

Handling is pretty good but not special. Brakes sometimes squeak at low speed but work well despite this. I tend to ride for several hours and it seems pretty comfortable.

The engine is a strong point pulls really well from about 3500rpm. Throttle is quite snatchy in “Sport” mode, slightly improved with “Throttle Spacer” fitted but still not as effective as good old carbs.

Very well built, no corrosion as yet (Kept in a garage and not allowed out in nasty weather, especially not on salty roads). It’s been reliable so far.

Costs about £250 for an annual service with a Triumph dealer, which I think is high as it's twin.. Pretty good on fuel consumption considering it’s 1200cc.

The heated grips and being able to change modes on the move. I've fitted several after-market parts. Best of them being Ohlins front spring kit and Ohlins twin rear shocks, it’s transformed the handling and well worth the (high) price. Also fitted: Engine protection bars, all black Instrument faces, U.S. spec Vance & Hines silencers (Baffles out). Sump guard & tail tidy. Triumph brand Tank pad, engine protectors, heated grips, brown seat, black injector covers & accessory socket. Very happy with all of these mods.

Brakes always squeal when have a pillion

Abit of corrosion on the thread of the clutch cable. I do keep the bike in mint condition so i was surprised when i found it.

Want cruise control and keyless

Handling is pretty good but not special. Brakes sometimes squeak at low speed but work well despite this. I tend to ride for several hours and it seems pretty comfortable.

The engine is a strong point pulls really well from about 3500rpm. Throttle is quite snatchy in “Sport” mode, slightly improved with “Throttle Spacer” fitted but still not as effective as good old carbs.

Very well built, no corrosion as yet (Kept in a garage and not allowed out in nasty weather, especially not on salty roads). It’s been reliable so far.

Costs about £250 for an annual service with a Triumph dealer, which I think is high as it's twin.. Pretty good on fuel consumption considering it’s 1200cc.

The heated grips and being able to change modes on the move. I've fitted several after-market parts. Best of them being Ohlins front spring kit and Ohlins twin rear shocks, it’s transformed the handling and well worth the (high) price. Also fitted: Engine protection bars, all black Instrument faces, U.S. spec Vance & Hines silencers (Baffles out). Sump guard & tail tidy. Triumph brand Tank pad, engine protectors, heated grips, brown seat, black injector covers & accessory socket. Very happy with all of these mods.

Lack of adjustable fork makes for a hard ride, seat is bearable for 1 hour, riding position is a bit uncomfortable with muscle spasms occasionally in hips, throttle is very snatchy at slower speed in sport. Brakes are great, probably a bit of overkill.

Plenty of punch in any gear, no need to rev, just ride the torque, makes a great noise.

Looks great, but get a bit closer and the quality is not there on the more hidden parts.

Too early to say with servicing, value, the forks are non-adjustable, meaning it has to work for all sizes of riders, pretty hard ride for me at around 80kg. How much extra would it have been for adjustable suspension.

Basic with just throttle map options.

For general riding the suspension is very good. When you push the bike hard you feel you need a better suspension set up. By pushing the bike hard I mean hard (I'm an ex racer). After about 2 hours in the saddle you will need a break. The seat needs to be a bit more sculpted for this female rider.

Yep the engine is great. It pulls strongly from low revs and is ballistic when you reach the higher revs. I feel that there is more power crying to come out of the engine, even though it performs very well I get the feeling it's a bit strangled. Maybe it's the cat? From day one I've had the bike in "sports" mode. It would be nice to have a "Sport +" mode.

Superb quality, the fit and finish is exceptional. Details like the authentic brushed aluminium front mudguard to the Brembo calipers are all top notch. The paint is a deep glossy finish. It's very reliable no problems to report.

Long major service intervals so only really annual servicing so far. No surprises except the low cost. :)

Great gauges and lights. The tyres are super sticky with good feedback. The tail's a bit ugly.

I’ve got the quilted bench seat & after about 40 miles your butt is mighty numb. Also suspension doesn’t dampen many of our poor road surfaces very well. I do find it a bit ‘snatchy’ at times even though I have throttle spacers fitted. Lastly the preload adjustment is nigh on impossible to use with Vance & Hines end cans.

Great mostly but a tad ‘snatchy’ at low speeds

Had a little minor corrosion on bolts post winter (bike is garaged & not used), but all polished out. May use a corrosion protection next winter

For a 12 month service £254 seemed quite high considering what the service schedule recommended. I’m getting 60 mpg+ so very impressed.

Has enough tech for me as not interested in loads of tech stuff.

I was thinking brakes would be obviously better than my 900 street scrambler, not so just yet but will not doubt improve. no complaints though.

Superb, instant grunt, like sitting on an Apollo Rocket booster. really exciting especially in sport mode. Cant believe they get 98bhp out of this motor, my old Kawasaki Z1 made 82 and I thought that was a powerhouse. Love the way the hi torque comes in at around 3.5K and delivers all the way. No need to hunt revs, fabulous.

too early to be sure but look very good.

too early to respond to this.

again engine is magnificent. I have heated grips (which are a boon on my 900 street scrambler and will be on the speed).

This bike excels on twisty B roads

Superb in every respect

This would cost more than double on the next service, ouch!

It’s a retro but has a high spec for a retro

I've done 100 run as yet

The engine pulls really well and performance is good and fuel consumption seems really good aswell

No problems it brand new and the build quality is very good

I don't know yet what the service costs are

The tyre choice is bang on and the bike is just a great all rounder I think triumph have done a very good job

It's a simple package but all seems work so well. The brakes do squeal though at slow speeds - bit annoying.

Addictively grunt. Overtakes in a heartbeat and pulls like a train from any gear. Seeing a red line at 6500 - 7000 RPM looked a bit strange at first - but the gearing and the gearchange mean you are more than happy to use the box and play. Superb fun.

Superb finish. Haven't had it long enough yet to comment on the reliability- but my last bike was a Triumph and was pretty faultless.

10000 mile service intervals will make a nice change.

This bike does it all, bimbling about, touring, and if you feel like it a bit of scratching and you can ride it all day due to riding position and seat comfort

torque, torque and more torque

This bike looks fantastic as standard but it is improved by fitting a tail tidy, also I would suggest fitting throttle spacers to get over the snatchy action, Vance and Hines exhausts and xpipe to decat and KN filter all of which makes it sound better and gives you a bit better throttle response standard tyres are very good

Great ride -Only minor issue with brakes which bind a little at low speed making the final stop and foot down a bit more of a judgement. Triumph factory Manager says it needs to be ridden harder on the brakes to clear the dust due to sport brake design. Not sure I like the idea of braking hard for no reason and it only lasts a mile or so before it returns. Sill only a minor point.

Love the low down torque and sound V&H fitted as std on mine.

Getting on average 62mpg actual. Can nudge up to 70mpg if I try. Fuel take 0 miles appears on average 35miles before tank is empty. But once you know you can get 200 miles on a tank with out worry.

Its got all I need as was a demo model.

The brakes are very good. I'm used to radial Brembo's, these aren't radials but they are Brembo's and they stop it very quickly indeed. They offer really good feel if you are really pressing on, on some of the shocking roads near me i have had the antilock kick, to the point I'd say its a little on the sensitive side. But other than that they have been excellent overall. Ride quality is a mixed bag, smooth flowing A+ B roads the suspension will be fine and the bike handles everything most people would want, unfortunately a large number of the roads near me are not like that. The chassis copes fine, but the suspension struggles. Mine is now running Maxton Rear shocks and i will be getting the fork internals done soon. The difference on one B road i ride regularly is now about 20mph, if I'd done that before I'd have ended up in a hedge. This is a shame, I do wish they had given it slightly better suspension that was adjustable. But once that is sorted, the bike handles brilliantly everywhere. The Rosso 3 tyres it come on really suite the bike as well, I really like Pirellis and these are brilliant.

Initially the low speed fuelling was the worst I've had on any bike, however a DNA filter and more miles seems to have smoothed it out a lot. Having said that, the engine is the star of the show, it drives from low down really well and when you are moving at normal speeds the pick up is a hoot, I actually prefer riding it as an experience to my MT 10SP. Nearly everything is despatched with a briefest of twists. The gearbox is precise and clutch light and it thuds forward with very little provocation and I absolutely love the sound through the Vance & Hines cans I have on it.

The aluminium everywhere, other than the mudguards, fur up as soon as they get wet for any period of time (An hour in the rain will do it). It came as a bit of a shock, as it's been years since I've seen corrosion form that quickly on a bike. I tend to have to use autosol and elbow grease to keep it looking new (other than dowsing everything in ACF50). Mechanically it's been faultless.

Triumph charge more for their servicing than other manufacturers, however my experience has been excellent so far and the dealership have really impressed me compared to some others I've dealt with over the years (Youles Blackburn).

I actually really like the clocks, they look basic but give me all the information I need. Definitely fit the heated grips, it does make a difference in the middle of winter, and the work well. Accessories wise you can blow a fortune, knock yourself out. Tyre wise, it's running standard Rosso 3's, not some OEM rubbish that looks like them but isn't. The bike was developed for these tyres and I would stick with them, they are excellent and seem to be offering a good compromise of performance and longevity.

Ride quality is awesome. Sadly, front brakes have warped slightly, which doesn’t affect the ride, but Triumph will replace these under warranty.

TORQUE ALL DAY IN ALL CONDITIONS.

A relatively weak battery has been my only complaint. Otherwise it is spot-on.

Haven’t serviced it yet.

Ride by wire is like having 3 different bikes in your garage. Amazing.

Has chronic brake squeal coming to a halt.

Superb spread of power .

Great amount of equipment for a retro, would like a thermometer

Would be 5 out of 5 but for front brake squeel problem, handles very well, comfortable. Stay in the saddle between fill ups.

Brilliant engine, so much torque. Bit glitchy at low speeds unless in rain mode.

As above, squeeling front brake and gear change connecting rod fell off on a ride.

Only had 1st service, included in purchase.

Everything I need

The brakes are superb though I'm getting some squeal, probably just need a thorough clean. Strong and progressive. Th handling set up out if the box is really good and the Pirelli Rosso III tyres inspire confidence wet or dry.

It sounds good has lovely mid range torque and flies if you open it up. Riding it the sense is of a strong, well engineered motor. It combines a relaxed easy ride when you are just enjoying the roads with a sense of power and urgency when you want it.

Only completed 2500 miles so far as I've had the bike for less than three months - the build and finish seem excellent, we shall see.

Has used no oil and has only cost me a replacement tyre - can't blame Triumph for the nail!

Tricky as its the simplicity that appeals. I only ride in sport mode, I know how to be more subtle in the wet. Ive added a small dart screen which is of some use but looks so good it could be mistaken for an official part. Also added a Hepco Becker rack for practicality.

The stock suspension is just fine. I weigh 180 and flog the bike on nice Saturday mornings. Even with a pillion at ABS threshold braking it doesn't bottom out. The front brakes are an odd duck. Generally they work great but have occasional groans at low speeds and sometime seem like they need a few stops to warm up. The longer you look at the bike the more you realize it's a hodge-podge of other Bonneville's parts with a better Thruxton R motor. It is the best streetbike you can buy for any amount of money. After 4 hours I need a 10 minute break. On Sunday rides to a favorite breakfast place 2-up there are no complaints. It accommodates a passenger with ease and still has enough beans in it's pockets to lift the front wheel in 2nd.

I wanted to give the engine 5 of 5 but frankly it doesn't have the frenetic top end hit of large displacement 4 cyls. R1's at go-to-jail speeds will leave you on the freeway. 135mph is not 170mph but frankly I don't suffer from a lack of power on the street and the way the motor makes power makes it so much more usable than a 4cyl. The engine is a sweety and not many reviews have done justice to the fact that it delivers all that grunt RIGHT NOW. Any gear, any speed, if the engine is turning it is producing enough power to settle the chassis on corner exit or beat that Acura for lane choice. Not a lot of shifting required. If you can see a hole in traffic it is yours. The bike has the grunt and brakes to make it a very capable streetbike.

Don't know about the 10K service as I only have 2k miles on it but budgeting for LOF's, tires, and chains is just part of riding. I do my own maintenance and so far the bike has been a real peach to work on. When the sun is out I am riding.

This bike has the best tires you can get. So glad Triumph put a 160mm rear tire on it because it makes the bike turn so much better than a fatter rear. Modern 17 inch sportbike tires are light years better than tires from 20 years ago and the stock ones on this bike are not only VERY good but are sized appropriately.

The bike is great around town on most roads and super on faster roads. Changing direction is soooo easy, as is leaning it over for fun. Both brakes are very good with plenty of feel front and rear. They scrape a score of 5 in my opinion, The suspension manages a 3, hence 4 average. I’ve done a couple of 100 - 150 mile trips (up to 75 mph plus:) ) and the comfort is good - seat firm but OK, riding position excellent, no buffeting, 60 year old wrists and neck have no issues. Controls are easy to use. Reports of slightly snatchy road and race modes worried me a little, but I now use race mode around town with no reason to worry.

Nice noise as standard, with some popping, but a little more volume from the aftermarket options worked for me. Power delivery is linear - determined hand gives really determined acceleration. Fast enough to be exciting and speed limits arrive too soon. Open road overtakes happen perhaps more than they should. More fun than Tiger Sport or T120...

I’ve had four previous Triumphs - Tiger Sport, T120 Black, Street Triple 675, Sprint ST - and done some winter riding on all of them. The finish on this looks to be slightly better. No problem from the last few weeks of rain and slightly salty roads!

Purchase price is at the upper end of what I felt able to pay, I’d give it 5/5 if the suspension was softer and I didn’t feel the need to upgrade it! Can’t complain about the 10,000 mile service interval. Dealer hourly rates are reasonable.

It’s a modern Bonneville - ABS, traction control. The agile handling, low weight and smallish size for a 1200 form my favourite feature. It’s a great package. Handlebar and bar end mirrors are excellent. Mode button and electrics fall easily to hand. I use rain mode in the wet. I’ve used Triumphs own heated grips and their new 2in1 goretex gloves. These have worked much bettter than my two year old ( Ride magazine) winter warmth award winning gloves. I’ve ordered midrange adjustable KYB shocks (about £350) as I prefer a more compliant ride. Weslake cones are good value at under £300 and not too loud with the baffles in or out. I prefer the baffles in. These slipons are under half the price of Vance and Hines and a bit cruder to look at.