2025 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS Review

It’s hard to believe it’s been over 30 years since Triumph launched the first Speed Triple in 1994. While many bikes have come and gone, the Speed Triple story continues with the new 180 horsepower Street Triple RS—Triumph’s most powerful and advanced bike yet. With Öhlins Smart EC3 electronic suspension and cutting-edge rider aids, including front wheel lift control and a new engine brake strategy, it’s a true leap forward.

By Adam “Chad” Child |  Photography by Chippy Wood

The Öhlins Smart EC3 system, previously found only on high-end models like the Ducati Panigale V4 S and Honda Fireblade SP, uses Objective Based Tuning Interface (OBTi). This lets riders adjust suspension behavior on the fly, as it constantly adapts compression and rebound damping.

Triumph also tweaked the styling with a new seat cowl, exhaust, and lighter wheels for a more agile look. The one-piece ’bars are wider and higher, and there’s a new adjustable steering damper from Marzocchi. An updated five-inch TFT dash with Bluetooth controls the new rider aids and suspension settings through five riding modes. Standard features include cruise control, backlit switchgear, fully keyless ignition, and Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V3 tires, plus an Emergency Deceleration Warning system that flashes the rear brake light during hard braking.

At first glance, the $19,995 RS looks similar to the previous model, but under the surface, there are many updates. Triumph organized two days of testing for us, with one day on the roads of southern Portugal to test the Smart EC3 suspension and another at the challenging Portimão racetrack to push the new aids to their limits. However, Mother Nature had other plans.

On The Road | 2025 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS Review

Triumph claims 180.5 horsepower for the Speed Triple 1200 RS, making it their most powerful bike to date. With a cold but dry start to day one of the launch test, the plan was to explore the RS’s real-world performance on tricky Portuguese roads before hitting the track to push its limits with wheelie control, track modes, and all those horses.

Right away, the new 10mm wider, 7mm higher one-piece ’bars made the riding position feel roomier yet still aggressive. The Öhlins EC3 suspension, paired with the lighter cast aluminum wheels, delivered a smooth ride over rough roads, a big improvement over the older model’s harsher setup. Though the EC3 system can still be manually adjusted, it’s mostly automatic, continuously adjusting compression and rebound while the preload is mechanical. This is a significant step over the previous model with manual quality Öhlins suspension.

In the standard Road mode, the suspension prioritizes comfort, making city and town riding smooth and forgiving. The fueling is soft, the Shift Assist quickshifter is smooth, and the Brembo brakes are forgiving. Despite the bike’s power, the RS felt relaxed and approachable—so much so I even considered touring with it, as the bike is spacious enough for both tall and short riders. Cruise control and backlit switchgear add comfort for longer rides.

When the roads became more challenging, I switched to Sport mode. The suspension became firmer, and the throttle map sharpened, though power delivery and response remained smooth, with the bike’s easy handling aided by the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V3 tires. Weighing in at 438 pounds, the RS isn’t exactly light, but it’s surprisingly nimble. The wider ’bars and lighter wheels make it easier to flick around and have fun with.

The 2025 Speed Triple 1200 RS brings a level of refinement that makes its sporty performance accessible to more riders. The suspension, in particular, offers confidence even as the pace increases. The new wheelie control and engine braking systems worked well, though I found the wheelie control on its lowest setting a bit too conservative. Option four is needed to impress your mates. As the rain arrived, I switched back to the standard Road mode, and despite the slippery roads, the bike delivered grip and feedback. When traction was lost, the traction control stepped in smoothly to bring power back gently.

While the new ride modes and electronic aids were a lot of fun to experiment with, the five-inch dash was a bit sluggish and unintuitive, like using an old laptop. That said, by the end of the day, I was thoroughly impressed. The Speed Triple RS is easy to ride in all conditions, with the Öhlins Smart EC3 suspension truly standing out for its comfort and performance—it’s the best of both worlds.

To The Track | 2025 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS Review

Cooking in tire warmers in Portimão’s famous pitlane, the new Speed Triple 1200 RS looked ready to race. Triumph had removed the rear number plate and mirrors for track use, and despite its naked styling, it exuded a race-ready vibe. The new design looks great in person, though I wish they hadn’t hidden the gorgeous single-sided swingarm with a bulky exhaust (though an Akrapovic silencer is available). The only other issue was that, instead of the planned Pirelli slicks, we were using race wets due to the weather.

Yes, the Triumph has a Rain mode that limits power to 100 horsepower and ramps up the rider aids, but I know Portimão well, so I opted for the more unrestricted Road mode. Conditions were slippery, but the Triumph’s rider-friendliness and ease of use shone through. Right from the start, I was able to push a bit harder and trust the bike’s rider aids, including cornering ABS, which I couldn’t feel intervening even in the wet.

Portimão is full of huge undulations and steep gradient changes, and in comfort mode, the suspension was a little too soft. After adjusting the settings to Normal and firming up the rear and acceleration support, the bike felt much more in tune with the track. Spring preload is manually adjustable, but the dash gives you recommended settings based on your weight, which is a cool feature. For reference, the default is set for 187 pounds, which was close enough to my weight that I left it alone.

With the new settings dialed in, I felt more confident to push harder, and as the track started to dry, I could fully tap into the 180 horsepower. While it might not hit the 200-horsepower mark of some competitors, it still feels incredibly quick. I was regularly hitting 155–160 mph at the end of the straight, with the bike pushing hard against my neck and arms like any big naked bike would.

The Speed Triple’s massive torque is what makes it so satisfying to ride. Whether short-shifting through the midrange or revving it up, the bike feels incredibly strong. At Portimão, I found myself addicted to short-shifting from fourth to fifth as the RS powered out of the final turn, gearing up for a wheelie over the crest, all while the exhaust barked like only a Hinckley triple can.

Conditions changed lap by lap. Some corners were nearly dry, while others remained soaking wet. It made for one of the most challenging track days I’ve had, but the RS was a reliable companion. With the track conditions being so unpredictable, you need to be perfectly in tune with your chassis and tires—and thanks to the semi-active suspension, I could feel the grip levels through the wet tires. Even in these conditions, the ABS worked smoothly, giving me the confidence to push harder and generate heat in the wet tires.

My only complaint on track, which might be more of an issue with Portimão specifically, is that you can’t turn off the front-wheel-lift (wheelie) control while keeping the traction control (TC) on. To disable the wheelie control, you must turn off TC as well. In wet conditions, I wanted TC active for safety but also wanted to control wheelies over the track’s blind crests and undulations. On other bikes, you can turn off the wheelie control while keeping TC active, but not on the Triumph.

Given that the track never fully dried, I can’t say for certain how the bike’s ground clearance or Brembo brakes will hold up on the limit, or how the suspension will behave in dry conditions. But if a bike feels this confident and stable in the wet, it should perform just as well in the dry.

Verdict | 2025 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS Review

We still have a few unanswered questions since we didn’t get to fully test the Speed Triple 1200 RS’s chassis on track. However, we can confidently say Triumph has made significant improvements over the previous model, with the Smart EC3 Öhlins suspension being the standout upgrade. On the road, the suspension is plush and forgiving, offering a ride as comfortable as a good sports-tourer. When you switch to track mode, though, it transforms the bike into a race-ready streetfighter. It’s like having three bikes in one.

The suspension is so impressive it almost overshadows other advancements, like the excellent front-wheel-lift control, perfect for those still working on their wheelies. The bike also comes with neat features like backlit switchgear, cruise control, keyless ignition, and Triumph’s usual high-quality finish. The Brembo Stylema brakes provide strong stopping power, adding to the overall sharpness of the package. While the slight increase in horsepower is hard to notice, the engine still delivers plenty of character and sounds fantastic, even if the exhaust isn’t the prettiest.

The dash, however, feels a bit outdated and is slow to process and display information. And, while most riders probably won’t care, it’s worth noting that you can’t deactivate the wheelie control and traction control (TC) at the same time—something that’s only an issue for regulars at tracks like Portimão (and me). At $19,995, the price has risen from 2024, but it’s still one of the most affordable super-nakeds on the market with EC3 Öhlins suspension.

Impressive both on the road and on a damp track, the new Speed Triple 1200 RS is more accessible, versatile, and easier to ride than its predecessor, which is a major improvement. But the real test will come in better weather against its high-end competitors. CN

VIDEO | 2025 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS First Ride

 

2025 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS Specifications

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