To some, the old cliche “like Marmite” might sum up Triumph Motorcycles’ Speed Triple. You either love or hate it, depending on what you’re used to riding and how you like to ride.

Me? I’ve always been a huge fan. Since my early riding days back in the 1990s, when the Speed Triple 750cc model was alive and kicking, I have been fascinated with this bike’s quirks and distinctive looks, and have owned two Speed Triples over the years. My ’08 plate – a 1050cc iteration – is still going strong with some café racer mods to boot.

So, when Triumph offered a loan of its new 1200cc Speed Triple RR, I jumped at the chance to test this latest – and possibly sexiest ever – model. Those looks! The front end’s half-fairing gives it the character of a 1960s racer, and combined with a rear that incorporates modern sports café racer elements, you have a motorcycle that looks like it has been designed from the ground up, rather than just another special edition with a few tweaks here and there. 

By chance, during the week I spent with the bike, I had a photography assignment at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in West Sussex. What better way to stretch the legs of the RR than by getting out of London and heading down to a place with such an illustrious racing heritage?

So, early one morning, I pack my cameras into my assistant’s car and set off on the Speed Triple RR.

Riding out through London’s speed restrictions feels pretty frustrating on this bike (and, in fact, on most motorcycles that are designed for going fast). At low speeds, the RR feels incredibly stable, but it grumbles and pulls like a terrier on a lead. It has quite a long first gear, and you’re barely out of second before you’re looking for the next speed camera.   

Eventually getting out onto the A3 road towards the South Downs, I can finally cycle up through the gears and open the throttle. The quick shifter is seamless when moving both up and down – so good, in fact, that I don’t think the bike even wants you to use the clutch lever. As always, the Speed Triple’s superb engine pulls right through each gear and truly comes alive after about 6,000 revs. You really start feeling the benefits of the fairing at speeds over 70mph, too.

Turning off the A3 and taking the twisty roads all the way to Goodwood is where the RR feels the most thrilling – the clip-on bars and sporty riding position make you feel connected to the bike, and I have so much confidence in the front end through every corner. The Öhlins front and rear suspension (which is electronically adjustable) makes the machine so sure and planted that you never feel like you’ll miss a bend, no matter what speed you go into them. And to tie it all together, the new Brembo brakes are as strong and responsive as you’d expect from such a bike. Yes, the RR will give most sports bikes a run for their money, with a lot more style and character!

As I mentioned, making a few mods here and there has always been my thing, so I couldn’t help dreaming up some extras for the RR. Personally, I’d love to see (and hear) this bike with an exhaust system from Italian expert Arrow. I’d also add a few millimetres of foam into the seat to make it that little bit more cushy on longer rides. 

But hey, these are pretty small tweaks for a bike that I absolutely loved and didn’t want to give back. Like Marmite? Not the RR. I think you would be hard-pressed to find anything to dislike about this Speed Triple. 

triumphmotorcycles.co.uk; adamwhiteheadmoto.com