Triumph’s iconic and class-defining Speed Triple has tuned 30 and the British marque has significantly updated its super-naked for 2025.

We spoke to Triumph’s Chief Engineer Stuart Wood and Chief Product Officer Steve Sergeant at the new bike’s launch about what makes their new – and old – Speed Triple so special…

SS: It’s significant to us as something that’s iconic. For me, it’s the model that really said to the world that Triumph is serious about doing something a little bit unique and a little bit different.

I actually started working at Triumph the same year the Speed Triple came out, and it was actually the one bike that convinced me that Triumph was serious about competing with the rest of the world. The early bikes were a bit ‘generic’. They were a modular design. It was a way of getting a range of bikes out, but they didn’t have much distinctive character, and I thought the Speed Triple was the first that had its own unique character and that ethos we’ve tried to continue from that first generation all the way through.

All-New 2025 Triumph Speed Triple

The first one, people considered as the first ‘hooligan’ bike or street fighter or super naked, and it’s always been our ambition with the Speed Triple for it to be the best super naked road bike. Different manufacturers have a different ethos about where they want to take their super naked, some focus an awful lot more on developing them on the track, which to my mind makes them less competent as a road bike, but for us, it’s always been about making the best super naked for the road…

SW: The first, in 1994, was a bike we built because we felt it would be a fun thing to do. It actually started with the first prototype Trident.

That was one of the biggest memories I have of early Triumph and what a revelation it was to have character and torque in a naked bike. The first Tridents were definitely not intended to be sports roadsters. We had built Daytonas with no fairings and were using those bikes and enjoying them and it became a model. It was an engaging bike. It was all about character.

So, it is a favourite from the point of view that it actually defined, as Steve said, what we could do. We were choosing to do something different, and we would never have got that out of market research. It was a step and it was brave, and we’ve made other brave steps, but it really took off.

2024 Triumph Trident 660

SS: I think with all the iconic bikes we’ve done if it’s something we genuinely get excited about ourselves, within our roles, generally when you put them out to the public, they’re really, really well received… The Bobber was like that.

The first time rode a prototype Bobber it was like ‘Wow! How quickly can we get this into production?’ The Scrambler, the Rocket, all of these bikes, we’ve kind of created them, ridden a ‘mule’ bike, and everybody’s gone ‘Wow, that’s something a bit special.’

2025 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS

SS: It’s definitely a flagship bike for us in terms of being something that people recognise as being typically Triumph.

In terms of performance, we’ve had questions this week like ‘Why haven’t you given it 220 horsepower?’ Well, it’s because it’s supposed to be the best super naked for the road. And it’s got 183 horsepower, does anyone genuinely think having an extra 20, 30, 40 horsepower is going to make a better bike on the road? I don’t think so…

SW: … especially if you trade losing some bottom end torque to make the power at the top end.

Ohlins Smart EC3 suspension

SW: I would say – and this is credit to Ohlins as well – the Ohlins Smart EC3 suspension.

They allowed us to tune that system to suit our philosophy and our bike, so we’ve got various settings that we’ve built. I love the fact we can do things with the suspension that were previously impossible. We’ve had semi-active suspension systems before, and had them in production, but this is the best. It is sports-focused, but it also allows us to bring comfort when riding in a straight line, the suspension will adjust itself in real-time to give you exactly what you need. It just makes everything so much easier and a pleasure to ride.

2024 Triumph Speed Triple RR

SS: There won’t be an RR and there won’t be an R.

The RR was obviously a kind of modern take on the café racer if you like. We already knew before we launched that the market size for a bike of that nature was limited. But it’s such a gorgeous bike we wanted to do it anyway, to be limited for a couple of years. People who loved the bike have bought the bike, that’s run its course.

The R versions we’ve had in the past, quite frankly people go into a showroom thinking they’re going to buy the R version ‘cos they like the price point and then they see the extras they get on the RS, and they end up buying the RS. It’s the same reasoning here. The potential for the RS is much bigger than the potential for an R so let’s just focus on doing the best RS that we can do.

SW: We actually did that once before – on the Daytona, back in the late 90s, and it was not successful. It’s part of the looks of this bike which are so important. Everyone asked to bring it back. With the Tiger 1200, we’ve done just that, gone to a two-sided arrangement that is stiffer and lighter… but it’s too important on the Speed Triple. It was never considered, it’s too important a part of its DNA…

SS: It’s similar with the twin headlights too. You could argue we could save weight by going to a single headlight but, again, twin headlights are such an important part of the Speed Triple…

Triumph’s Chief Engineer Stuart Wood and Chief Product Officer Steve Sergeant

SS: We see a lot of people trading up from Street Triples and a lot of people coming back the other way off superbikes, coming down now to super nakeds, because I think superbikes have become so impractical and the price point has gone through the roof.

This bike can give you a great experience on track, but you’ve still got a practical road bike. For me, supersports bikes and superbikes have gone to a level where they’ve focussed too heavily on getting them competitive for race series that for the average punter they’re now irrelevant.

SW: I think it’s important to know your bike has got the capability. You can push this bike to the limit and you can do that with confidence.

This is all about confidence. The aids we have put in are about confidence, they’re there to give you a better ride. It’s exactly the same with the semi-active suspension. It allows you to have a better ride. It’s fantastic on track but it gives you comfort on the road…

Triumph’s Chief Engineer & Chief Product Officer standing in front of the NEW Speed Triple 1200 RS

SS: As a brand we get a lot of filmmakers who come to us requesting to use our bikes in films.

We never ever pay to have our bikes in films. Some manufacturers do, but we don’t. We do it on the basis that a lot of filmmakers genuinely want to have our bikes in their movies. I would not be surprised if we have the Speed Triple in a new movie, but we don’t go chasing that stuff, it generally comes to us…

SS: Not that I’m aware of…

SS: I think it’s something we would all like to see. Obviously, what happens with regulations and all that kind of stuff is completely out of our control. But as a petrol engine, high performance motorcycle, as long as they may live, I would like to think there would be a Speed Triple out there…

SW: … and I’d just love to be riding it on that press launch!