Part of me hates giving my Editor’s Choice award. Running through all the ridiculous vehicles and experiences that’ve helped me grow on my powersports journey—shoutout to the Stark Varg EX—and casting them aside to pick just one. Alas, this is the very difficult job of a ‘motorcycle journalist’, but thankfully, Triumph has made it somewhat easy for me by creating the Speed Triple 1200 RS.
The way Triumph’s engineers set up the geometry of the Speed Triple in combination with Öhlins’ latest EC3 semi-active suspension is nothing short of a giant step forward for motorcycling.
On my second day riding the bike, I hit 155+ mph, tearing down the Algarve International Circuit, also known as the Portimão Circuit, ripped wheelies over its famous blind hill section, and got my knee down a few times, all in the pissing rain. It was the wettest launch I’d ever attended, but arguably the most fun—that’s half the story behind why this bike is so good.
The first day I rode the Speed Triple encompassed some of the most beautiful roads around the Algarve, but there was just one problem: the weather. The plentiful rain and wind had blown debris all over the road, making the already bumpy roads now slick too. My gear was soaked through, and, normally, this would be a nightmare on a hyper naked, but this model’s super smart suspension setup and ergos changed everything.
As I braced for the first big bump I was about to hit, with my body already tense, soaked, and cold, the Speed Triple wafted over it, as though I was in a Bentley. Initially, I thought I misjudged the size of the bump until it happened again, and I realized that this was the trickery of Comfort Mode. The compression and rebound settings were just perfect to make it seem as though I was gliding over potholes and speed bumps.
The only bike I tested that was comfier this year, compared to the Speed Triple in Comfort Mode, was a Honda Goldwing. But don’t forget, just one day later I was knee down rounding Portimão Circuit, and that’s not thanks to my skill.
Triumph’s engineers walked a tightrope on a razor’s edge when designing the ergonomics. They gave the Speed Triple just enough of a sporty riding position that you’d be happy to rail it around a track, but with the suspension in the right setting on a long road trip, you wouldn’t need more time off the bike than it takes to fill up the gas tank between refills. So, you’ll be more tempted to ride that canyon road that you’ve often thought about, but thought the discomfort of the long ride is too much, and when you get there, the bike becomes a hard-nosed apex hunter with the touch of a button.
It’s not just the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the Speed Triple that has me enthralled; it’s the nuclear-like power it produces. I say “nuclear” because it’s everywhere, always, and seemingly bottomless due to the linear power delivery of its 1160cc inline-three cylinder engine and the 183 HP on tap, along with the 94.4 lb-ft of front tyre-saving torque. Linear power sounds boring to some; however, when it’s this relentless, it’s anything but dull. It’s all this power that makes using the Front Wheel Lift Control system so much fun.
Let’s just call this a wheelie system because it certainly doesn’t feel like an anti-wheelie system. If you stick this rider aid into its least-intrusive setting, it’ll let the front wheel loft just below the balance point, meaning you can chase a wheelie from first to sixth gear, looking like a pro, and experiencing a sensation many riders never get to. You can also put the system into a far more intrusive setting, so when you’re chasing tenths on track, you won’t pull a massive wheelie and hurt your time.
I’m sure some will call the Front Wheel Lift Control system a 'gimmick', but for those who never learned to wheelie and want to experience the feeling of having the front sky high, it’s not a gimmick. Sure, they haven’t put the time in that all you one-wheeled legends have, but motorcycling is about having fun, not gatekeeping. I know so many riders will use this system more than once when they want to plant a smile on their faces—Just another reason this bike takes my vote. Then, there’s the price.
The Speed Triple 1200 RS isn’t cheap, and yet, it’s really good value when positioned against its competitors. It’ll set you back $19,995, but for plenty of folks, like me, it could be your ultimate one-bike garage, or even make you feel like you have a two-bike garage. Even as I write this, my 'moto math' brain is firing to rationalize buying one as a good financial decision, so I’ll end it here.
