Triumph Speed Twin 900 (2025) – Technical Review

Triumph’s Speed Twin 900 is the best seller of the company’s ‘Modern Classics’ range of retro machines and for 2025 it takes a big step in a sportier direction with completely new suspension, updated styling and a substantial tech upgrade.

The cheapest twin-cylinder model in Triumph’s range, the Speed Twin evolved from its predecessor, the Street Twin 900, in 2022 to fall closer into line with the larger Speed Twin 1200 model. This year it’s been relieved from its duty as the entry point to the Modern Classics range thanks to the debut of the single-cylinder Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X, and as a result Triumph has gained the freedom to grace it with a sportier setup including much-improved suspension and a new look.

Pros & Cons

2025 Triumph Speed Twin 900 - Price

Despite the extensive upgrades to both the suspension and the electronics Triumph says it’s committed to keeping the Speed Twin 900’s price down to near the level of its predecessor, and that represents just a £400 increase from £8795 of the 2024 model to £9195 (on the road) for this 2025 Speed Twin 900 model.

It’s positioned a little higher on the price scale than some Japanese rivals – the Yamaha XSR700 and Kawasaki Z650RS come closest – but it’s also a much more ‘authentic’ machine, as well as sporting a larger, torquier engine than either. But it’s also much more affordable than the larger Speed Twin 1200, which starts at £12,495, and a grand cheaper than perhaps its closest competitor in terms of positioning and performance, Ducati’s Scrambler Icon.

The bikes are due in dealers in February 2025, just in time for next year’s riding season.

2025 Triumph Speed Twin 900 - Engine & Performance

You probably don’t need much introduction to Triumph’s current generation of liquid-cooled twin-cylinder engines – they’ve been the backbone of the Modern Classics range for years and power everything from the Bonneville Bobber to the Thruxton RS in various forms. The Speed Twin 900’s version is Triumph’s ‘High Torque’ spec and the smaller 900cc capacity, which translates to  the least powerful variant of the twin.

But that’s fine. Customers who prioritise power above all else aren’t likely to be looking at a retro-style twin in the first place, and the Speed Twin 900’s 64hp at 7500rpm is less important than the 59lbft at only 3800rpm that means it’s got instant punch when you need it. Sure there are bikes with half the capacity claiming more outright power, but by the time you’ve dropped three gears and wrung their necks to get into the sweet spot, the opportunity to use it might have already gone.

Engine changes for the 2025 model are largely cosmetic. Yes, the motor is updated to the latest Euro5+ requirements, but that has no impact on its performance, but you’ll notice that the cases and covers are new, giving a slimmer, less bulbous appearance to the motor’s bottom end, while the covers over the throttle bodies are reshaped for a less overtly retro style than before. If you want to relive the past, the Bonneville will cater for that; the Speed Twin 900 is a more up-to-date take on the idea.

What’s less up to date is the number of gears in the transmission. The Speed Twin 900 still makes do with five of them where the larger 1200 enjoys a sixth ratio.  Unlike the latest Speed Twin 1200RS, there’s also no quickshifter – even as an option – because the positioning of the pegs doesn’t leave space for one.

2025 Triumph Speed Twin 900 - Handling & Suspension (inc. Weight)

Here’s where the really big changes get started for the 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 900, as the suspension is all-new for the latest generation.

Starting at the front, the forks are now upside-down, 43mm Marzocchis rather than the old model’s right-way-up 41mm setup. There’s still no adjustability, but it’s a strong upgrade nonetheless. Moving back, Marzocchi also provides the rear shocks, which are now piggyback remote reservoir designs, with adjustable preload, and importantly they act on a new aluminium swingarm instead of the old steel design.

The rethink extends to the brakes, too, with a Triumph-branded four-pot radial caliper at the front, acting on a single 320mm disc. On paper, that’s a substantial step up from the 310mm disc and axial-mounted Brembo four-pot used on the previous model, but in the real world the bigger change is the braking electronics, which gain cornering ABS that stands a better chance of saving your skin than older, straight-line-only antilock.

The changes might all shift the Speed Twin 900 in a sportier direction than before, but the bike isn’t going too far down that route. The chassis setup still pairs an 18-inch front wheel to the 17-inch rear, for example, with the aim of maintaining both the bike’s stance and its easy-going character. Rake is steepened slightly from 25.1 degrees to 24.9 degrees, while there’s a more substantial change to the wheelbase thanks to the new swingarm, reducing it from 1450mm to 1435mm.

The frame itself is new, too, with a narrower rear section than before, paired to a slimmer seat and rear mudguard, as part of a restyle that also encompasses a new, more heavily sculpted tank, headlight and side panels.

Despite all the changes and new kit, the bike’s weight remains the same as the previous model, coming in at 216kg wet.

2025 Triumph Speed Twin 900 - Comfort & Economy

The new bike’s seat might be narrower than the old one but Triumph claims it’s no less comfortable, and that its shape improves rider support during cornering. The seat height rises a fraction, from 765mm to 780mm, for 2025 – largely offset by its narrower design, and there’s an accessory low seat available that cuts the height back to 760mm while, according to Triumph, maintaining the same comfort as the taller version.

The height and width of the bars are within a couple of millimetres of the old model, so don’t expect a radically different feel once on board – the Speed Twin 900 has already more than proved its popularity, so there’s no need for big changes to the formula here.

While the fuel tank is completely new, it’s capacity is unchanged at 12 litres. Meanwhile, economy is slightly improved from 68.9mpg to 70.6mpg. That equates to a range of 186 miles from brimmed to dry.

2025 Triumph Speed Twin 900 - Equipment

The electronic kit of the Speed Twin 900 is boosted by the new cornering antilock brakes and the lean-sensitive traction control, both huge boons on a bike that’s clearly going to appeal to less experienced riders. Not long ago, that was high-end kit, but today it’s becoming increasingly widespread, and from a safety point of view could well be the deciding factor between one machine and another.

The engine offers two riding modes – road and rain – each influencing the throttle response, and there’s a new single-clock instrument panel that’s similar to the unit seen on the Trident 660. While some customers might bemoan the loss of the traditional twin-dial arrangement, the single, circular display combines a monochrome LCD in its upper section and a small TFT panel below. A USB-C socket in the side of the instrument pack adds a touch of convenience, but you’ll have to fork out for the optional Bluetooth connectivity module if you want to have the sort of turn-by-turn navigation and control over music and calls that comes as standard on the cheaper 2025 Trident 660. The same applies to cruise control, also an optional extra, as are heated grips and more than 120 other things.

One of the key optional extras is the A2 restrictor kit, which will enable the bike to be used by riders on a restricted licence until they’ve upgraded to a full entitlement, at which point the bike can be easily derestricted again.

2025 Triumph Speed Twin 900- Rivals

The Speed Twin 900’s success lies in part in the fact it doesn’t have many direct competitors in its particular niche – combining a strong brand and a mix of modern and retro appeal at a price that’s relatively affordable.

Perhaps the most compelling alternative would be Ducati’s Scrambler Icon, which offers similar modern tech including cornering ABS and traction control, as well as fractionally more power, less weight and a funkier style but at a higher price. Yamaha’s XSR700 and Kawasaki’s Z650RS offer a bit less in terms of electronics but have similar performance and less weight than the Speed Twin 900.

Ducati Scrambler Icon | Price: £9995

Read more

Power/Torque

73bhp / 48.1lb-ft

Weight

176kg

Yamaha XSR700 | Price: £8266

Read more

Power/Torque

72.4bhp / 49.4lb-ft

Weight

188kg

Kawasaki Z650RS | Price: £7839

Read more

Power/Torque

67.3bhp / 47.2lb-ft

Weight

187kg

2025 Triumph Speed Twin 900 - Verdict

We’ll give a verdict once we’ve ridden it

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Do you own a current Speed Twin 900? Tell us what it’s like, or ask us questions about it at bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk.

2025 Triumph Speed Twin 900 - Technical Specification

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