I recently had the pleasure of riding Triumph's 2025 Speed Twin 1200 and Speed Twin 1200 RS in Majorca, Spain. I was hot off the launch of Yamaha's MT-09 SP and trying to wrap my head around why anyone would buy the standard model, unless, of course, they were completely stretched for cash. But this wasn't the case with Triumph's latest modern-retro motorcycles.
After spending the day swapping between both motorcycles, it became clear that the RS model wasn't simply better in every way, as most high-spec variants are. The RS is better in many ways, depending on what you want from your bike or what type of riding you do.
But those who can be totally honest with themselves about what they'll do on their bike might find that the standard Speed Twin 1200 is better for them.
The standard model has a more comfortable riding position, tires that heat up more quickly, and softer suspension. The bike lends itself to being ridden in the way you imagine someone would want to ride a modern retro motorcycle. On the flip side, its RS sibling has much sportier tires in the Metzeler Racetec RR K3s, a sportier riding position that puts you more over the front end, Ohlins rear shocks, Brembo Stylema calipers, and a Sport mode that makes the throttle response more aggressive.
The question is: are you going to ride this modern retro aggressively enough to get the benefit from the sporty features on the RS, or will they detract from your everyday riding and bank account to the sum of $2,500? I'm not sure if I ever truly got those Metzeler Racetec RR K3s up to their ideal working temperatures on the roads around Majorca, but that doesn't mean this bike doesn't have a place in the niche—far from it.
The reality is, the RS has the shiny parts we want and conjures images of the type of riding that we want to do, but whether we'll actually ride like that is another story entirely, and when there's $2,500 on the line, that's a valid concern. But, I need that Baja Orange paint scheme, that much I know.
Watch the video and let us know what Speed Twin you want and what one you need, and if they're the same model.
