2022 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR Review

One small glance at the 2022 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR and you’ll sense a touch of sophistication and class in the air. It’s the kind of machine that people in formal wear will stand around and admire for its aesthetic beauty while sipping red wine and fancy cocktails.

It is no exaggeration when I say that the 2022 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR is a work of art – not only in looks, but also in mechanical makeup. It wouldn’t look out of place in a James Bond film with its perfect blend of classic British style, modern technology, and fire-breathing performance.

But the 2022 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR isn’t exactly a new bike. Rather, it is an evolution of the award-winning Triumph Speed Triple RS. So, aside from a few extra style points, does the new RR really offer any added value?

Related Reading:
2021 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS Review
Track-friendly Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR revealed for 2022
Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS: 2021 bikesales Bike of the Year Winner

The Speed Triple moniker is nothing short of iconic. First introduced back in 1994, the original was one of the first ‘streetfighter’ motorcycles. It was powered by an 885cc inline three-cylinder engine and, over the next two decades, it received incremental updates that kept in relevant.

In 2016 it received a major update, but it was the 2021 update that really took it to the next level.

An improved and higher-capacity 1160cc triple-cylinder engine and a new and lighter mass-centralised chassis put the 2021 Triumph Speed Triple RS firmly in the top echelon of naked bikes.

Add a wide array of premium running gear, a new optimised clutch and gearbox, and a state-of-the-art suite of electronics, and the Speed Triple RS was a very well-deserving winner of the 2021 bikesales Bike of the Year award.

And while that bike was very close to perfect, Triumph is not a company that likes to rest on its laurels. In September 2021, the British firm revealed a higher-spec version dubbed the Speed Triple RR. We’re not sure if the extra R stands for racing, but the spec sheet certainly suggested it would be a racier machine.

The most obvious difference is the addition of a striking bikini fairing, while the infamous bug-eye headlight has been replaced by a traditional round headlight.

Throw in classy paint schemes and smatterings of carbon, and the Speed Triple RR offers a decidedly more sleek and elegant look compared to its RS sibling.

Look a little closer, however, and the biggest change is the high-spec, electronically-adjustable Ohlins suspension, which greatly improves over the RS model’s bone-jarring firmness.

Elsewhere, the only other notable differences are an altered ride positon for more aggressive and track-focused riding, and a pair of Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V3 tyres.

Engine-wise, there are no changes. The liquid-cooled 1160cc triple-cylinder beast puts out 177.5hp at 10,750rpm, and 125Nm at 9000rpm.

And despite the additional and up-spec equipment, there aren’t too many changes in dimensions and capacities either. The RR only adds 1kg over the RS’s 198kg wet weight, while the seat height and fuel capacity remain the same. The wheelbase has increased slightly – likely to accommodate for the more-aggressive ride position.

Not much to report here other than the RR adopts all the good stuff from the RS model. We’re talking a 5-inch TFT display with My Triumph Connectivity as standard, 5 riding modes, a up and down quickshifter, keyless ignition, cornering ABS, cornering traction control, front wheel lift control, and cruise control.

Of course there is also the aforementioned electronically adjustable suspension, which can be thoroughly customised through the TFT display depending on your riding style, the terrain or potential passengers or luggage.

If you’ve ridden the RS model or read any of the reviews, then we don’t need to tell you that the Speed Triple RR is an absolute beast. The 1160cc three-cylinder engine might just be the best in its class, and it offers thrilling and emotional, but still user-friendly power right across the board.

When I say user-friendly, I mean that it is not unrideable for everyday riders. But you’ll still want to hold on tight, because it can accelerate like a rocket ship.

A quick change of ride modes and the bike opens up into a pure-bred race machine (hence the existence of a ‘Track’ mode). Yep, this is one bloody quick machine.

Perhaps the only downside is that it doesn’t like being ridden slow. When you’re trawling through traffic or through school zones, you have to keep the revs up or the clutch in, and this can sometimes feel like a bit of a chore. But who buys a bike like this to ride in the city anyway?

Of course, all of this can be can be copy and pasted straight into the RS review. Where the RR really separates itself, however, is in its aggressive ride position and suspension setup.

The ride position offers a sporty, race-inspired experience and this allows you to really push the bike to its limits. It does require a fair bit of rider-input and physicality to really get it to work for you, but when you’ve got that dialled in, the bike is an absolute hoot.

And the suspension? Top notch. Where the RS was frustratingly too firm for most Aussie roads, the RR’s electronic gear can be dialled in depending on the circumstances. And it works too. There are suspension settings linked into each ride mode, but it is also possible adjust the settings on a finer scale through the TFT menu.

Here is where decision making comes into play. You can ride away on a 2022 Triumph Speed Triple RR for $32,390, however the RS model checks in nearly $4k cheaper at $28,490 ride away. Depending on your financial situation, that is quite the difference.

So is the larger price tag justified? Well, the electronic Ohlins gear is worth the price of admission, and if the RR’s aesthetic floats your boat, then forking out a few extra bucks isn’t so bad.

Triumph’s rivals include the Yamaha MT-10 ($23,649 ride away), the BMW S 1000 R ($23,075 ride away), the KTM 1290 Super Duke R ($29,420 ride away) and the Ducati Streetfighter V4 ($32,400 ride away). That puts the RR on the upper end of the scale, but it’s important to remember that it is an up-spec version of the RS. When you compare it to the up-spec version of each of its rivals, it is actually quite reasonably priced.

There is no doubts about the Speed Triple RR’s performance, capability, and aesthetic appeal, but is it worth the extra dollars compared to the RS version? In short, yes. But it’s important to note that the machines are very much cut from the same cloth.

If you’ve got the cash and want the up-spec suspension, then the RR is definitely worth it. The classy looks and racier ride position are added bonuses.

But if you want to save the money, then the RS model is certainly still a worthwhile choice. In fact, some might prefer the RS model as it has more of a comfortable, upright, naked bike feel to it.

Either way, whether you’re paying $28k or $32k, it is a lot of money to pay for a bike. But Triumph has created an absolute gem with the Speed Triple platform and it is worth every penny.

ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, 12-valve, in-line three-cylinder
Capacity: 1160cc
Bore x stroke: 90mm x 60.8mm
Compression ratio: 13.2:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 177.5hp (132.4kW) at 10,750rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 125Nm at 9000rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Final drive: X-ring chain
Clutch: Wet

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame type: Aluminium twin-spar
Front suspension: Öhlins 43mm fully adjustable USD forks, 120mm travel, Öhlins S-EC 2.0 OBTi system electronic compression / rebound damping
Rear suspension: Öhlins monoshock RSU with linkage, 120mm rear wheel travel, Öhlins S-EC 2.0 OBTi system electronic compression / rebound damping
Front brakes: Twin 320mm discs with Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers, OC-ABS
Rear brake: 220mm disc, with Brembo twin-piston caliper, OC-ABS
Tyres: Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V3; front 120/70 ZR17, rear 190/55 ZR17

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Rake: 23.9 degrees
Trail: 104.7mm
Claimed dry weight: 199kg
Seat height: 830mm
Wheelbase: 1439mm
Fuel capacity: 15.5 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $32,390 ride away
Colours: Crystal White Storm Grey or Red Hopper Storm Grey
Bike supplied by: Triumph Australia
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometers