Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR | full specs, images, details

TRIUMPH has only gone and bloody done it, they have finally – after much nagging from the universe – given us a 1,000cc plus motorcycle, with a fairing. Well, kind of. Whatever, the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR is here, and we are a little bit in love.

How the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR was created

Built around the latest generation Speed Triple 1200 RS, the engine of the bike is unchanged meaning the all-new for 2021 design churns out 177bhp and 92lb-ft of torque, more than enough for fast road and track work. The bike also shares the same frame, subframe and fuel tank as the 1200 RS – but from there, it all starts to get a bit different.

The biggest and most exciting change to the bike is the introduction of top-spec Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 electronically adjustable suspension. The hardware is used on some of the best sports bikes ever made, and simply put, it’s world-class. To help get the most out of it, the zeroes and ones within the Öhlins control unit have been optimised for the revised machine. With a bespoke riding position and new, nose-down attitude, the new Speed Triple 1200 is part modern-day café racer, part sports bike for the road and track.

Within the new svelte cockpit sits the latest generation optically bonded TFT dash with all the Bluetooth connectivity you’d expect from a modern sports bike. There are four riding modes to choose from, Rain, Road, Sport, Track, and a user-configurable mode. Each features distinctly different throttle maps, ABS and traction control settings and suspension maps.

Crowning the nose of the bike is an all-new round headlight with its own distinctive built-in LED DRL. The new café racer fairing is one of the most visually striking features of the bike, although look a little closer and there are also some pretty little easter eggs to be found elsewhere. The RR features a smattering of new trinkets to be found, like carbon fibre infill panels and detailing to the tank, fairing and cockpit. There are also new carbon fibre side panels as well as the obligatory carbon fibre front mudguard.

One of the first things you’ll feel when climbing aboard the bike is how much more focussed the riding position is. The clip-ons are 135mm lower and 50mm further forward than the Speed Triple 1200 RS, and obviously much narrower than before. The pegs too are higher and set further back for a sportier feel that doesn’t seem like it is at the expense of normal day-to-day use.

Next to the Speed Triple RS, the RR's more focussed ergonimics really come to life

Sporty stance aside, the bike still shares the same accessible re-contoured 830mm seat height and re-profiled, slim-line tank of the current Speed Triple 1200 RS.

Red Hopper & Storm Grey, and Crystal While & Storm Grey are the two colours available 

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR price, colours and availability

The new Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR is available in just two colour schemes, Red Hopper & Storm Grey, and Crystal While & Storm Grey. Bikes will be landing in Triumph dealerships in January 2022 and it has an OTR price of £17,950.

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR vs the rivals

It’s pretty hard to pick out some rivals for the new Speed Triple RR as retro café racer sports bikes with over 150bhp are pretty hard to come by. The most obvious rival is probably the MV Agusta Superveloce, although dig a little deeper and it's not clear cut. The MV loses to the out to the Triumph in terms of capacity, power and speed, although its £17,390 price tag puts it right in the mix. You could argue that the Honda CB1000R is a slightly closer rival in terms of spec and speed, although the cut-price (by comparison) price tag of the CB and lack of bikini fairing don’t make it a true neo-retro sports bike.

Class of one it is then!

For more information on the new Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR, head to: www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR specs