Speed Kings: 30 Years of the Triumph Speed Triple

We may have recently been distracted by the 20th anniversary of Triumph’s humungous Rocket III/3 but 2024 also marks an arguably bigger still birthday for the Hinckley-based British marque – for it’s also the 30th anniversary of the iconic Speed Triple.

Originally launched in 1994 as a slightly quirky, café racer-influenced, unfaired version of the otherwise staid Daytona sportster, that first Speed Triple quickly became a hugely significant bike.

It was the first Hinckley Triumph to have a style and character all its own and to exploit fully its three-cylinder identity; it proved such a hit it became the inspiration, not only for a series of successors that became Triumph best sellers but also, arguably, the whole new ‘super naked’ category. Even Triumph themselves today describe the Speed Triple as “the bike that characterizes Hinckley best”.

Since that first 1994 ‘T309’ (its internal factory designation) 900, the ‘Speedie’, as it’s often affectionately known, has been through myriad reincarnations. The original, being based on reborn Triumph’s modular triple/four engine and spine frame, was, legend has it, created by Italian importer Numero Tre out of a combination of Daytona and Trident parts – the rolling chassis, adjustable suspension, 900 engine and so on are Daytona 900, the clocks (albeit with white faces) and headlight are Trident – before being further developed by the Triumph factory. The name – a modernization of that of the game-changing 1936 Speed Twin – and lush black (or yellow) paint, courtesy of Hinckley’s brand-new on-site paint shop, were all Triumph’s own.

After that – and after becoming a surprise sales hit fuelled further by a televised one-make race series, the Triumph Speed Triple Challenge, which accompanied British championship rounds and included the likes of no less than ‘Rocket’ Ron Haslam – the Speed Triple developed a signature style all its own.

Its first successor was the 1997 T509. Which then became the 955 and 955i. It then grew into the 2005 Speed Triple 1050 which was then fully updated again, most conspicuously with controversial new angular headlights, in 2011. That bike was further updated in 2016 and 2018 before today’s Speed Triple 1200 was launched in 2021.

Over that time, its capacity has increased from 885 to 1160cc and peak power nearly doubled from 98 to 178bhp. The original was very much analogue, the latest utterly digital and, all told, well in excess of 80,000 have been sold.

But which is which and what have they got? Here’s our pick of the most significant Speed Triples over those years, in chronological order…

1994-1997 Speed Triple 900 (T309) 

885cc/98bhp/60ftlb/209kg 

Original may have been something of a Daytona/Trident ‘bitsa’ but was also inspired, invigorating and charismatic and reasonably practical. Today it’s truly collectable, too (as long as it’s not an ex-race bike…)

 

1997-1998 Speed Triple (T509) 

885cc/108bhp/62ftlb/196kg 

All-new bike based on and developed alongside new T595 Daytona complete with new, fuel-injected engine. Upright bars and ‘bug eye- lights were intended to mimic streetfighters of day, early models had polished frames many of which cracked and had to be replaced.

1999-2004 Speed Triple 955 

955cc/118bhp/72ftlb/196kg 

Much improved version of the T509 with a slightly bigger bore improving power and torque, stronger, now painted frame. This was improved again in 2002 with more power, shorter, sharper geometry, more angular seat unit, smaller headlights and new digital clocks.

2005-2010 Speed Triple 1050 

1050cc/131bhp/77ftlb/189kg 

The first ‘stand-alone’ Speed Triple, with no Daytona sports variant, is even more aggressive with a bigger engine and stumpier chassis. This was then updated in 2008 with a 20mm longer pillion seat and new Brembo, not Nissin, front calipers. Fork legs were also now anodized black and the wheels were a new ‘bendy spoke’ design.

2011-2015 Speed Triple 

1050cc/135bhp/82ftlb/189kg

A virtually all-new bike distinguished by controversial new angular headlights along with a brand new frame with sportier geometry, subtle engine and gearbox updates, new bodywork and the option of ABS. An upspecced ‘R’ version with Ohlins, lightweight wheels and more is available from 2012.

2016-2020 Speed Triple 

1050cc/138bhp/82ftlb/192kg

Updates include subtly reshaped bodywork, a narrower tank and different headlights but the biggest change is probably the adoption of ride-by-wire which enables electronics including five modes controlled through a new LCD dash. Again, S and R versions are offered. In 2018 this was further updated with 10 extra bhp, full colour TFT dash and more.

2016-2020 Speed Triple 1200 RS 

1160cc/178bhp/92ftlb/198kg 

An all-new model with a new engine, a full 30bhp extra, less weight, improved electronics, new dash, more compact proportions and more – and if all that isn’t enough there’s also a half-faired café racer version, the 1200 RR. Refined, fast and impressive, but it’s also now less friendly on the road.