Motorcycle specifications Triumph 1200 Speed Twin 2026 The other iron lady

A few rays of mist still cling to the edge of the English roads. The pungents of daylight stretch slowly in the rear-view mirrors, themselves highlighting the edges of a very tempting handlebar. For the ride? To feel the cool whistle on your shoulders? To wander along the banks of the Thames or Leicestershire? Just to enjoy the new temptations offered by the Triumph 1200 Speed Twin. The manufacturer's strongest neo-retro roadster is presented in its third generation, with subtle evolutions and a surprise.

Design-wise, the passing of the torch is discreet. The Speed Twin is still identified with an elegant classic machine, more modern in its lines than the Bonneville. At first glance, it's hard to tell the old from the new. It's only by lingering a little that the details reveal themselves.

A keen eye is required to appreciate the redesigned fuel tank, its thinner Monza-type cap, new airbox sides, the arrival of brushed-aluminum throttle body covers, wheels with redesigned spokes, more compact mufflers, new fork tees, a re-profiled seat (it's shallower and narrower at the front), thinner, more angular engine cases and a new front light cluster.

Nothing to disorientate fans of this machine. It's when you climb aboard that you'll feel the difference. The handlebars are raised by 17.8 mm and brought forward towards the rider by 13.4 mm. But before you feel your chest rise, you'll have noticed the Speed Twin's new instrumentation. Gone is the old-fashioned double speedometer. In its place is a single, all-digital dial. The upper half displays priority information (speed, rpm, fuel) via LCD. The other half uses TFT technology to navigate secondary settings, such as traction control, driving modes (Rain or Road), smartphone connectivity or step-by-step road navigation. The little wart on the side is a USB type C socket.

triumph seems to have listened to criticism of the previous Speed's rear end. Its shock absorber duo lacked the appropriate rigor for the overall level of the machine. New amortos (still by Marzocchi) with separate reservoirs take their place. The fork benefits from new settings, and braking also undergoes some changes. ABS is now active when cornering, while the brake calipers retain their radial and 4-piston design, but not their pedigree. The Italian clamps are no longer there to bite the 320 mm discs.

And yet, all is not well with this Phase III Speed Twin. As a more upscale version joins it in the catalog, some features have been scaled back. Gone are the Brembo M50 calipers and the Sport riding mode. But Hinckley should be able to make up for it with the renewed power of the big twin living underneath.

We like this august 270° twin. Deep, a little fat but just right, with a typically British sound and thrilling belch, it's a perfect match for the Speed Twin. The gym made him its guest for a few crankshaft revolutions, and he emerged with 5 extra horses. That's if you can find it in the revs. The reworked engine now produces 105 bhp at 7,750 rpm. Where theold engine reached its 100 hp 500 rpm earlier. In a nod to the fraternal bridge, the power output is the same as that of the late 1200 Thruxton, recently ousted from the range. Torque figures are unchanged. The 1200 HP still delivers a punchy 11.4 mkg at 4,250 rpm.

weight, dimensions, steel frame, aluminum swingarm, accessory policy - these are areas where the new Speed Twin changes nothing. The sporty connotation finds its way in with half handlebars and a seat cover, transforming it into a café-racer imitation. The price has risen significantly, a little too steeply for our liking. Triumph has long since shifted its focus towards the premium segment, and intends to lock its customers into this philosophy.

Where's the surprise? Right next door in the range, with an RS model. Sportier, it features elements of the old 1200 Thruxton, a sportier riding position, Öhlins, Stylema, a shifter and more settings. The countryside and its ears can enjoy every day to come, and it seems that Triumph is keen to punctuate their daily lives with virile, imperious mechanical rhythms...

M.B - Manufacturer's photos