I Just Can’t Decide Between A Street Triple Rs And A Speed Twin

I owned the speed twin for a couple of years and its great bike if you are just taking it smoothly. The engine soon embarrasses the soft suspension and it starts to make funny shapes! Fun at first but gets annoying after a while.I even fitted ohlins shocks and fork kit in order to make the handling better. If you like retro posing go for it but I would go with the triple personally if I did it again. My other bikes are a GSXR1000R and a Ducati Streetfighter V4S so I may be being a little harsh on the Twin as I don’t think you will be disappointed with either. Go with your heart

 

You will not be disappointed. BTW- These newer year models have a bit more top-end power than say the 19's and 20's.

I got mine up to 138mph as per the speedo not long after break-in. Adam Croll on YouTube got his up to 133. Either are enough to kill you quick. I'm at about 4500 miles on mine and still I get jerked back to the rear of the seat in 3rd and 4th gear if I'm not paying attention when I give it spurs. I've had a few higher performance and souped-up cars challenge me around town and I've yet not to school one of them(it's actually a pretty stupid activity, you're better off just letting it go). I get it, you want the best bike you can go for, but you got to ask yourself- how much power do you really want? You will probably never outgrow that bike, and I say this planning to pick up a 1000cc+ V4 sport bike later on this year. I'll never sell my Speed Twin.

I recommend Adam Croll's YouTube channel for Speed Twin research. After I first sat on what became my Speed Twin at the dealership, I spent an evening into the wee hours watching his stuff. At that point it was either a Street Twin or a Speedy for me(I first went in looking for a straight Bonnie). Best decision I've made across the board in years.

Croll's a wealth of info for mods, especially.



His channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/AdamCroll/featured

I kind of wish this site had a dedicated room for Speed Twins.

 

There’s no doubt the power of the big 1200 twin is something to be awed at but the handling is so different between the two. I had a similar question back in December and test rode a Speed Twin and a Speed Triple (1050) back to back.

The Twin power was awesome, setting the TC off in a straight line from 50mph on the damp roads and awesomely punchy out the corners… that side of it was great. The Speed Triple lacked that punch, naturally, and I had to wind the motor up to get the same feeling. Nothing unexpected, just different.

The big swing for me was the handling, I’ve had many bikes over the years, mostly sports bikes and supernakeds, but I’ve also had a couple of Bonneville bikes too. The Twin needed coercing round the corners a tonne more than the Triple and, though I loved the power, I needed it to feel sharper. In contrast, the Triple was like a point and shoot weapon and where I looked I went.
Both bikes were fantastic and both are aimed at different rider styles but for me the Triple geometry and handling stole the show.
That said, it sounds like the Twin might be best for you round town and some twisties. Either way, you’ll be pleasantly rewarded.

 

Only time I've ever wished for more of anything on mine was tighter turns at higher speeds, but this is also in part to my lesser than expert-level riding skills. I've seen footage of dudes pretty much diving into turns on Speed twins.

 

Glad you decided on the Speed Twin! From your description of the riding you do it sounds like a perfect match. Congratulations, and I’m confident you won’t be disappointed. It’s so easy and satisfying to ride, but it has proper pace.

Up to about 100 mph it’s shockingly fast. BIKE magazine UK did a piece on the difference in thrust between a Speed Twin and what on paper is the much more powerful Speed Triple. Given the Speed Twin’s torque and gearing, it out punches the Speed Triple at real world street speeds.

A couple of recommendations for fettling yours: Add crash bungs (I have Sato Racing, but Puig makes a good looking set as well) and the Arton Works gauge faces.

Someone backed into my Speed and knocked it over (imagine my face when I came out of the office and there’s my bike on its side). The crash bung limited the damage to a broken mirror and a broken lever. I simply put it upright and rode it home.

The gauge faces are an improvement on the OEM look. It’s surprising how the gauges are probably the part of your bike you look at the most. Best $100 you will spend on the Speed Twin.

 

Triples and twins are quite different engines. Sound and feeling. It obviously is a matter of taste but if you bought the Triple, you should still manage to find a way to try the 1200 twin (T120, Speed Twin or Thruxton).. Tey're also fine machines

 

You say 99% of your riding is in town So the Speed Twin would make more sense,as it would be a more comfortable position for slow riding