Featured Triumph Speed Twin Vs Bmw R9t Shoot-out

If I am not mistaken during that comparo one of the testers was hit by a Porsche Boxter while riding the Triumph. He was wearing an air bag vest. Saved his life. Now back on topic. I voted for the speed twin.

 

Nah, that sounds like a forward pass.....

 

https://paultan.org/2019/04/23/retr...scrambler-kawasaki-z900rs-triumph-bonneville/

A came across this interesting article (sorry to complicate things).... back on topic I voted speed twin

 

Smear the que*r was generally known as dodgeball where I grew up, usually 6-8 balls involved played every day. Snowball fights weather permitting..

 

R9t is a fantastic looking bike.

until u see it from the front or back. Then it’s like wtf is that about?

Why do they need a side stand?

Do agree the Speed Twin suspension is a bit erm, “iffy.”

 

Following it with the fascination usually reserved for really horrible plane crash videos - the ones with body parts strewn over the landscape.

 

I’ve owned both, and considering I traded my NineT for a Speed Twin, you can guess which one I prefer. I haven’t read this article yet, I wanted to point out my experience before reading what the reviewers say.

These bikes are very similar in power and handling. So close that without very precise instrumentation, I couldn’t tell you which is faster or handles sharper. So for me, that part is pretty much a draw.

I love that boxer twin motor. It is simply bullet proof, and the center of gravity is so low it inspired confidence from the first time I sat on the RNineT three years ago. The Triumph 1200 twin is also a fantastic powerplant, with lots of character and a beautiful sound. Nearly a draw here. They’re both great in their own unique way.

The deciding factor for me was that the Speed Twin’s riding position and stock suspension suit me far better than the BMW’s. I’m 5’10” and am pretty light, 165lbs, and the Triumph’s suspension seems to hit that sweet spot of being flickable while also being very comfortable to ride for several hours. Also the BMWs ride was just painfully harsh, especially the front forks. Even though the Speed’s aren’t adjustable, they still suit my particular weight and riding style better.

The BMW’s foot position is too far forward for my liking and doesn’t support aggressive riding. The Speed’s pegs are a little more forward than I’d like, but they’re much closer to being ideal for me.

Both stock seats leave a sore butt after several hours, so that’s a draw for me.
A big complaint about the BMW for me was it was very difficult to find compatible bags that actually carry enough to travel. The single sided exhaust made luggage options very minimal. Eventually there will be more baggage options for the Speed Twin once it’s been in circulation for a while. I’ve already got a set of H&B bags on order.

The build quality of the BMW is superb. The Triumph is very close, but I’ve already got an oil leak in my first 1500 miles, so that’s definitely a strike against the Brit. We’ll see how the Triumph holds up over the next few years. Fingers crossed that the oil leak is just a fluke, and not an indication of more “fun” ahead.

In the end, I gave up my RNineT in favor of the Speed Twin and I’m happy I did it. It’s a beautiful, simple motorcycle that is a blast to ride, is comfortable, and does exactly what I want it to do.
Which bike is “better”?? I couldn’t say definitively. The Speed Twin is simply the better one for me.

 

Oh my god, that’s incredible! I noticed they listed “airbag” in the rider equipment for the Speed. I wish him the best for a full recovery

 

He escaped with only bumps and bruise's. Lucky

 

And headshots count extra points. Haha

 

I'd have a speed twin tomorrow if they came with cornering ABS.

Hopefully once the Speed twin RS is released.

 

A triumph forum and the speed twin is winning the pole; who would have thought that

 

Hahaha,I was thinking the same thing. I still have my NineT Forum account, Maybe should see what the numbers look like over there...

 

I reckon we could predict that one . The speedy