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30-Year Arcs / Hyper Naked / Triumph Speed Triple Big Lineage
Triumph United Kingdom

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS. 30 years on.

The Speed Triple lineage runs from 1994 (T509) through 1050 (2005) to 1200 RS (2021). One of the longest-running modern naked lineages — Triumph have been making Speed Triples for 32 years. Same recipe (inline triple, twin round headlights), incremental capacity growth, electronics revolution.

1996
Speed Triple T509
2006
Speed Triple 1050
2016
Speed Triple 1050 (final)
2026
Speed Triple 1200 RS
Continual audits are underway to verify local pricing for every bike in every market. Apologies for any gaps you see while this is in progress.
1996 T509 era · 1996

Speed Triple T509

885cc inline triple
Modern naked benchmark of the 90s

885cc inline triple
108 bhp
82
198
800
ABSFuel injectionTraction controlRide modesTFT dash885cc inlineTwin round
Known issues
  • Speed Triple T509 — carb sync drift — all years
  • Reg/rec failure (Triumph carb-era pattern) — all years
  • Cam chain rattle on cold start — high-mile bikes
$8,999
$18,698
$3–5k
2006 1050 era · 2006

Speed Triple 1050

1050cc inline triple
Speed Triple goes big

1050cc inline triple
128 bhp
105
189
825
ABSFuel injectionTraction controlRide modesLCD only1050cc inlineTwin round
Known issues
  • Speed Triple 1050 — sprag clutch failure — 2005-10
  • Reg/rec failure — 2005-10
  • Throttle body sync drift — 2005-10
$9,999
$16,169
$4–6k
2016 1050 final era · 2016

Speed Triple 1050 R

1050cc inline triple (refined)
Last of the 1050 generation

1050cc inline triple (refined)
138 bhp
112
192
825
Cornering ABSRide-by-wireTraction control5 rideLCD multi-function1050cc inlineTwin round
Known issues
  • Speed Triple 1050 R — sprag clutch carry-over — 2011-17
  • Quickshifter sensor failures (R/RS) — 2014-17
$14,250
$19,356
$8–11k
2026 Current · 2026

Speed Triple 1200 RS

1160cc inline triple (new platform)
The hyper-naked era arrives

1160cc inline triple (new platform)
180 bhp
128
198
830
Cornering ABSRide-by-wireIMU-based traction5 ride5" colourQuickshifterÖhlins NIX-30
Known issues
  • Speed Triple 1200 RS — quickshifter sensor failures — 2021-on
  • Some reports of TFT dash glitches — 2021-on
  • Otherwise well-developed RS platform
$19,495
$19,495
$19.5k new
// 30-Year Delta

What actually changed.

1996 → 2026 · 30 years of "progress"
Engine architecture Inline triple throughout Every Speed Triple has been an inline three. Capacity has grown 885 → 1050 → 1200 in 30 years, but the layout and Triumph signature triple sound have stayed constant.
Power gain +72bhp 108bhp T509 → 180bhp Speed Triple 1200 RS. 67% more power. The 2021 1200 redesign was the biggest jump — 15bhp gain over the 1050 R AND a totally new platform. Triumph entering the proper hyper-naked era.
Real cost change +$4.2k T509 was $9,720 in 1996 ($19,440 today). The 2026 Speed Triple 1200 RS is $23,618 — about 22% more in real terms. Premium reflects the move from 90s naked to flagship hyper-naked with Öhlins suspension and IMU electronics.
Twin round headlights Killed in 2021 For 25+ years, every Speed Triple had twin round headlights — Triumph signature. The 2021 1200 RS killed them, replaced with a single LED stack. Many fans hated it; many others moved on. Visual DNA changed for the first time since 1994.
Weight similar +0kg 198kg dry T509 → 198kg wet 1200 RS. Modern bike basically the same weight as the original despite huge capacity gain (885 → 1160cc) and full electronics. Modern engineering doing the job.
Rider aids count 1 → 9 1996: fuel injection only. 2026: cornering ABS Pro, traction control (5 modes), slide control, wheelie control, ride modes (5), quickshifter, IMU electronics, smartphone, GP-mode track adjustability. Triumph electronics now class-competitive.
Cheapest way in $4.1k A clean Speed Triple T509 from the late 90s. The bike that defined the modern naked category. Hinckley Triumph at its best — characterful triple, twin headlights, no electronics. Becoming sought-after as Triumph history pieces.
// Sources

Where these numbers come from

Prices are real US MSRPs from Triumph North America press releases / Motorcycle.com archives. Used-market from Cycle Trader / KBB, May 2026. Inflation calculated using US BLS CPI-U.

1996 Speed Triple T509 Manufacturer specs · Cycle World · Motorcycle.com
2006 Speed Triple 1050 Manufacturer press · Cycle World · autoevolution
2016 Speed Triple 1050 R Manufacturer US specs · Motorcycle.com · Total Motorcycle
2026 Speed Triple 1200 RS Manufacturer US · Cycle World · RevZilla Common Tread