Triumph intros next-gen 2025 Speed Twin 1200 and Speed Twin 1200 RS

From a distance the new Triumphs resemble 1960s models, and that's a good thing

By Bruce Brown September 26, 2024

2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 and Speed Twin 1200 RS tucked in riding on a curved road through farm land. — Triumph

Two new Triumph Speed Twin 1200 motorcycles will hit the streets in December 2004. They will have chassis upgrades, refreshed styling, and more power than the previous generation. Triumph continues to balance classical style that doesn’t drift far from earlier models in appearance with the latest performance and safety technology.

Why the Speed Twins are important in the Triumph line-up

Next generation 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 on highway with forested land the background. — 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 Triumph

Triumph produces various motorcycle styles, but the Speed Twin belongs to the brand’s Modern Classics line. Like the Bonnevilles, Scramblers, and Thruxtons, the Modern Classics resemble the iconic Triumph models from the late 1950s through the 1970s. These bikes tap into the nostalgia and heritage that make motorcycles a passion-driven purchase, with the classic Triumph legacy still having a powerful influence.

Recommended Videos

What’s new and notable about the 2025 Speed Twins?

2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS tucked in riding on a curved road through farm land. — 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS Triumph

The 2025 Speed Twins look like cruisers, but the revised platform has more sporting elements. For example, the bars are straighter and are moved forward, while the footpegs are incrementally further back, sportbike-style.

The 1200 cc parallel twin, liquid-cooled engine produces 5 hp more than the 2024 model. Higher-performance front and rear suspensions and brakes improve handling. The Speed Twins also have standard traction control and Optimized Cornering ABS to keep the rider rubber side down. The Speed Twin 1200 starts at $13,595.

2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 and Speed Twin 1200 RS inside a building with a concrete floor. — Triumph

The Speed Twin 1200 RS has a $15,995 starting price, a $2,400 from the standard version. The RS is tweaked for even greater performance, with the bars even further forward and the peg further back. More aggressive front and rear suspension, brakes, and tires add to the bike’s go-fast capabilities. The Speed Twin 1200 RS is also the first Triumph Modern Classic with Triumph Shift Assist, an up-and-down quickshifter.

“The new Speed Twin 1200 RS is more focused, more engaging, and with even sharper responses. It’s designed for riders who want the absolute best in dynamic performance, with classic sporty looks,” Triumph Chief Product Officer Steve Sargeant said in the product announcement.

Topics

A Digital Trends Contributing Editor and Contributor for TheManual.com, Bruce Brown writes e-mobility reviews and covers…

Auto

The 2025 Porsche GT3 sits atop the company’s most prestigious lineage

992.2 Porsche GT3 debuts for 2025

porsche gt3 models

In the world of the autoverse, few vehicles command a loyal following like the Porsche 911. It is one of the longest-running nameplates in automotive history and the second-longest continuous sports car nameplate sold in the U.S., behind only the Chevy Corvette. Over nearly six decades, the iconic 911 has had a plethora of derivatives and variants over the years. Arguably, the purest of those sub-models is the GT3.

Introduced as part of the 996 lineup in 1999 and taking cues from the incredible 1973 Carrera 2.7 RS, the GT3 was created as a homologation model to allow Porsche to compete in FIA GT3 cup racing. Porsche has just announced the newest iteration of the GT3, internally designated 992.2. With a quarter of a century of history behind it, we decided to ride down memory lane and get you up to speed on this sensational radical racecar for the street.
Porsche GT3 996.1

Auto

Suzuki Hayabusa 25th Anniversary model celebrates the ultimate sportbike

It's not just the Hayabusa's speed that make it great

2025 Suzuki Hayabusa 25th Anniversary model dring on a highway our of a city left front three-quarter view.

There are many sportbikes, but very few can compete with the Suzuki Hayabusa. When the first generation Hayabusa launched in 1999, it was acclaimed as the fastest production motorcycle in the world, with a top speed of 188 miles per hour. Still one of three or four production bikes with top speeds approaching 200 mph, the 2024 Hayabusa is available in a special 25th Anniversary Edition.
What makes the Hayabusa so special?

Top speed is the hot topic with supersport bikes, but when you think of zooming at 194 mph, the current model's maximum, power isn't the only concern. Sure, durability and reliability are important, and sometimes costly, considerations with high-speed vehicles of any category, but unless you only want to go for one ride, braking, handling, and stability are right at the top of the list.

Auto

2025 Honda Grom: refreshed style, same fun with Honda’s smile machine

The Grom is a smile-magnet motorcycle for less the cost of some e-bikes

2025 Honda Grom three abreast in a city street.

Honda Motorsports introduced the fourth-generation Honda Grom for 2025. The biggest change in the new generation Grom is styling, leaning toward a sportier look. Honda also created a selection of new accessories for the bike often included in lists of the most beginner-friendly motorcycles.
Why make a big deal out of a small motorcycle?

Honda single-handedly took the threat out of motorcycling for millions of Americans in the 1960s with its "You meet the nicest people on a Honda campaign." When Honda introduced the original Grom in 2014, the motorcycle giant may have been following the same game plan by offering an innocuous small bike that put smiles on observers and riders alike. But then something happened. The Honda Grom has become one of the top-selling models not just for Honda but for the entire motorcycle industry.