Triumph Speed Triple 1200RS gets semi-active Öhlins suspension for 2025 as RR model cut from range

1 of 14

The 2025 super-naked arms race is hotting up once more, with a new Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS set to arrive in dealerships from April 2025, priced at £17,495 on the road.

The 1160cc 12v inline triple motor has been updated for Euro5+ regulations and pushes out a claimed 180.5bhp at 10,750rpm – around 3bhp up on the outgoing version, first introduced in 2021.

It’s also been given more advanced, semi-active Öhlins Smart EC3 suspension at the front and rear – a cleverer version of the system found on the outgoing Speed Triple 1200RR café racer – and an updated set of electronics, including independently adjustable wheelie control.

A pair of Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS nakeds ridden together

Triumph themselves say these updates make the Speed Trip a direct competitor to the recently updated BMW S1000R and Aprilia Tuono V4 families – plus the KTM 1390 Super Duke R that arrived at the start of last year.

The Hinckley firm don’t consider Ducati’s recently revised Streetfighter V4 as a key competitor, as it comes with a steeper base price of £24,995 in S trim, and produces a far greater 211bhp at 13,500rpm (claimed) from its 1103cc Desmosedici Stradale V4 engine.

“That doesn’t mean we are uncompetitive against the Ducati,” Triumph Chief Product Officer, Steve Sargent said. “For example, if you’re looking at the suspension system, and the Öhlins Smart EC3, that’s what the Ducati has too.”

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS on a paddock stand

In fact, only a handful of production models are currently using the latest Swedish suspension kit, also including Ducati’s latest Panigale V4 S superbike, and the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.

Extra power from Triumph  

“There’s a huge update to the engine tune, but it’s really been helped by having a new exhaust system,” Triumph’s Chief Engineer, Stuart Wood explained. “What we’ve done is made a more compact, shorter, more mass-centralised silencer that helps with handling, but is also freer flowing. That’s given us the opportunity to tune the engine for more power and more torque.”

That new torque figure sits at a claimed 94.5lb.ft and is achieved slightly lower in the rev range – dropping from 9000rpm to 8750rpm for greater punch at road-friendly speeds. Peak power remains at the same 10,750rpm as before, with engine refinement said to have been improved thanks to a new crankshaft balancing strategy.

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS cornering left

The standard, re-worked exhaust can also be upgraded with an official accessory Akrapovič silencer, finished with a titanium outer wrap and carbon fibre end cap.

There’s a service interval of every 10,000 miles or 12 months, with a two-year Triumph warranty chucked in as standard. Fuel economy comes in at a claimed 51.4mpg – giving a theoretical 175.1 miles from its 15.5-litre fuel tank if you’re gentle. Overall weight is up by a kilo, now sitting at 199kg ready to ride.

Smarter Öhlins springs

Elsewhere, Triumph have upgraded the suspension for 2025. Gone is the old Speed Triple’s manually adjustable Öhlins set-up in favour of a new semi-active system that makes tweaks on the fly in response to the road and rider inputs.

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS rear light

Settings can be tweaked via a five-inch colour TFT dash, with the bike continually monitoring and adapting the damping to suit the live riding conditions. The preload remains manually adjustable; however a set-up guide is available in the menus depending on rider weight.

“The preload is separate, but when you put the rider’s weight into the instruments, it then allows for that weight with either an increase or decrease in the damping across every setting that you’ve set,” Stuart Wood continued.

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS on a race track

Elsewhere, you get an adjustable steering damper, plus dual Brembo Stylema monobloc front calipers, 320mm discs, and front master cylinder. These work alongside a set of racy Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa V3 SP tyres wrapped around the new look 17in rims.

Up front, there’s a new five-spoke design, with the rear single sided swingarm exposing an updated seven-spoke curved wheel – said to help reduce gyroscopic forces for faster changes of direction.

There are tweaks to the handlebar position, too. The ‘bars themselves are 20mm wider on both sides for more room, and the mounting angle has been altered for a slightly more upright stance.

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS front end view

Advanced electronics on RS model

Being a modern super-naked, Triumph have unsurprisingly packed the new Speed Triple with five riding modes, cornering ABS, traction control, cruise control, an up/down quickshifter, and engine braking control.

There are back-lit switches to help control the five inch colour TFT dash, and a four-stage front lift (wheelie) control system working with help from the IMU to determine the angle of the bike.

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS engine

When in ‘Track’ mode, riders can unlock ‘Brake Slide Assist’ which allows for less intrusive front ABS, and more rear wheel lift – for heavier braking without push back from the front lever.

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR cut from range

Stunning side on static of the Speed Triple RR

At the same time as announcing a new Speed Triple 1200 RS for 2025, top Triumph bosses confirmed the departure of their half-faired Speed Triple 1200 RR model.

Only launched back in springtime 2022 – around a year after the previous incarnation of the Speed Triple RS naked was revealed – the £17,950 model will not be updated to meet more stringent Euro5+ emissions regulations.

“The RR will be dropping out of the range,” Triumph’s Chief Product Officer, Steve Sargent confirmed. “The café racer style models are very iconic, they’re very unique, and they’re quite different, but they are always relatively niche in terms of volume.”

Triumph Speed Triple RR at Oulton Park

A number of Speed RRs can currently be found in dealers with little miles on the clock and thousands slashed from the asking price – making them an absolute bargain if you’re currently in the market for something like this.

“I think the RR has done a good job and served its purpose and gone out there as an icon, but it’s something that won’t be continuing in the range,” Sargent continued.

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR ridden on the road

The Speed Triple 1200 RR made use of the same 1160cc three-cylinder engine as the naked variant and produced a claimed 178bhp. Alongside it’s riding position and looks, it was set apart from the naked version of the time by the inclusion of Öhlins semi-active suspension.

With the Thruxton 1200 now also gone from Triumph’s range, the Speed RR’s departure means an end to bikes of this style within the Hinckley firm’s range.  

That said, spy shots seen towards the back end of 2023 appeared to show a smaller 400 single on the way instead, based on the Speed 400. Exactly when or if that is still planned remains to be seen.