Speed Twin 1200

[cliffords]

I have been looking at Boneville T120 as my next bike . I noticed there are heaps of Speed Twin 1200 for sale and they seem good value. Used bikes for lower than I expected prices and low mileage.
Often asked on many models perhaps, why so many low mileage, two owner 2022-2024 private sale bikes .
I have done the usual searches on everything to read about them . I have yet to ride one .

Seems like a great package to me . What don't I know.

[Bob_Defly]

No idea, but I love mine.

[Ghs]

cliffords said:

I have been looking at Boneville T120 as my next bike . I noticed there are heaps of Speed Twin 1200 for sale and they seem good value. Used bikes for lower than I expected prices and low mileage.
Often asked on many models perhaps, why so many low mileage, two owner 2022-2024 private sale bikes .
I have done the usual searches on everything to read about them . I have yet to ride one .

Seems like a great package to me . What don't I know.

PCP ,s ? Ive been changing my bikes yearly since I moved to pcp,s , I just pay the standard payment x 3 so it’s payed off in n a year & I can have another new bike , probably not the best thing to do finically but who cares if you can have a new bike every year / two
Maybe there doing the same with these triumphs .

[-Cappo-]

I test rode one and was utterly underwhelmed by it (sorry Bob!). Competent enough but didn’t seem remarkable at anything other than going and stopping. Bought a Tuono instead.

Whether that’s why there are so many for sale, I don’t know.

[Crudeoink]

-Cappo- said:

I test rode one and was utterly underwhelmed by it (sorry Bob!). Competent enough but didn t seem remarkable at anything other than going and stopping. Bought a Tuono instead.

Whether that s why there are so many for sale, I don t know.

They aren't for everyone!
I've a 1200RS and after a few very fast bikes I decided I wanted something a bit more relaxed than didn't make me so daft things when I rode it
I think for a lot of people these are bikes for the odd trip to a cafe or coffee shop. Myself for example, am at a stage in my life ( have a newborn) where I cant be doing week long trips on the bike and going out with my mates for the whole weekend so rides are few and far between nowadays. I suspect people aren't buying the twin 1200 for commuting or long weekend blasts through Wales so milage stays low!

[mobile chicane22]

I have the same engine ( I believe) in my 1200 scrambler.

It bimbles along nicely and will pass stuff but it’s no racing machine by any means

[cliffords]

OP here . Yes I can tell it's not a rocket. My first instinct is to buy a T120. I am not after a fast bike anymore, but something to go arround on locally within 50 miles of my house. I have been off bikes for 4 months now after an injury, not bike related.

It still troubles me there are so many for sale. Low mileage two owner and less than 4 years old and good prices.
I guess I am really just checking it's not a Norton.

[Crudeoink]

cliffords said:

OP here . Yes I can tell it's not a rocket. My first instinct is to buy a T120. I am not after a fast bike anymore, but something to go arround on locally within 50 miles of my house. I have been off bikes for 4 months now after an injury, not bike related.

It still troubles me there are so many for sale. Low mileage two owner and less than 4 years old and good prices.
I guess I am really just checking it's not a Norton.

They do seem very reliable, I joined a few of the owners groups on Facebook etc and most of the chat is around what exhausts to fit, brakes, suspension etc rather than reliability woes. I think the biggest issue I've seen is punctured radiators as they dont seem to come with a rad guard

[Neal H]

I had a Speed Twin 1200 for about 18 months and chopped it in against a Tiger Sport 800 last year as I wanted something more practical. If I'm honest I regret the change as I miss the Speed Twin. It's a great looking bike, sounds great to and plenty fast enough. Mine was 100% reliable.

My only criticism would be that it's actually quite small, so if you're much over 6ft then a T120 is probably a better option.

[Orchardab]

cliffords said:

OP here . Yes I can tell it's not a rocket. My first instinct is to buy a T120. I am not after a fast bike anymore, but something to go arround on locally within 50 miles of my house. I have been off bikes for 4 months now after an injury, not bike related.

It still troubles me there are so many for sale. Low mileage two owner and less than 4 years old and good prices.
I guess I am really just checking it's not a Norton.

I have a Scrambler 1200XE and a Norton.

It’s defo not a Norton!
The triumph is a quality item.
The Norton is not.

[scorcher]

Found I got uncomfortable quite quickly on mine. And found the heat from the engine quite uncomfortable. As mentioned it won’t set the world alight but it’s ok. Feels more like a 60 bhp bike than 100bhp bike. Standard Metzeler racetec k3 were a poor choice of tyres for the bike.

[the-norseman]

Not sure what the mapping is like on the speed twin etc, but on my Boober (with the HT engine not HP) the mapping is very lean which makes the throttle snatchy on roundabouts etc, I've had mine mapped now and its a lot better.

[Bob_Defly]

-Cappo- said:

I test rode one and was utterly underwhelmed by it (sorry Bob!). Competent enough but didn t seem remarkable at anything other than going and stopping. Bought a Tuono instead.

Whether that s why there are so many for sale, I don t know.

Ha ha, no worries, we all like different things. I love mine for quick weekend blasts, commuting, and long trips too, it does everything well. And 83lbft of torque is good enough for me. Gratuitous pic.

[mikey_b]

cliffords said:

OP here . Yes I can tell it's not a rocket. My first instinct is to buy a T120. I am not after a fast bike anymore, but something to go arround on locally within 50 miles of my house. I have been off bikes for 4 months now after an injury, not bike related.

It still troubles me there are so many for sale. Low mileage two owner and less than 4 years old and good prices.
I guess I am really just checking it's not a Norton.

They are quite a big seller in Triumph's range. There might just be a lot for sale because a lot have been sold - PCP is available for bikes too, so there's always a churn of machines.

[Golgarth]

I had the Thruxton R and adored it. The engine isn't a firecracker, it's torque and no bhp, but that makes it a very relaxing ride, you aren't chasing rpm.

For a "local rides" bike I think the speed twin is bloody perfect. Quick enough, sounds great, looks superb, handles really well.

[cliffords]

OP here I have now sat on both the T120 and the Speed Twin . It's a size thing I think for me . I am 6'3" and not small and love the look of the Speed Twin but it's too small for me .
T120 seems a better fit and more comfortable. Test ride booked for Friday.

Having seen the two bikes next to each other the size difference is apparent.

[Bob_Defly]

cliffords said:

OP here I have now sat on both the T120 and the Speed Twin . It's a size thing I think for me . I am 6'3" and not small and love the look of the Speed Twin but it's too small for me .
T120 seems a better fit and more comfortable. Test ride booked for Friday.

Having seen the two bikes next to each other the size difference is apparent.

When I was bike shopping I was lucky enough to have the Bonnie, Speed Twin, and Thruxton all next to each other in the showroom. It was really easy to compare the seating position on all three. The ST worked for me as the Bonnie was too upright, and the Thruxton too wristy.

After buying it I still found the ST seat to be a tiny bit too upright, it was hurting my tailbone after long rides, so I put on slightly lower bars (still nowhere near as low as the Thruxton) which solved the issue.

[oxnop]

I ve just gone through a bit of this. Demoed a few bikes over past couple of weeks including a new 1200 ST (which I loved) alongside a R12 nine T. The ST was comfy (I m 5.11 with 31 inseam) so the low seat and a bike with bags of low down torque meant it gave me loads of confidence . When I was riding the bike I caught myself in my helmet saying I love this, I love this, I love this) :-)

Ultimately I then tried a 2022 R nine T, that I wanted to hate as I had not got on with R12 (boring), but fell in love (brakes, suspension and slightly sportier positioning) as was more to suited what I wanted. (I sold a Gs as with 2 young kids I wasn’t using that bike for what it does best, so the req for this bike was a 2 ish hour fun machine that also looks nice)

[Birky_41]

-Cappo- said:

I test rode one and was utterly underwhelmed by it (sorry Bob!). Competent enough but didn t seem remarkable at anything other than going and stopping. Bought a Tuono instead.

Whether that s why there are so many for sale, I don t know.

I rode one of these and found exactly same. Wanted to have alongside my Tuono. Didnt bother and just kept the Tuono

[cliffords]

OP here . I have ridden the T120 now and it's exactly what I want. Comfortable, enough power, half the bhp of my current bike . Lovely power delivery. Looks good. Plenty of room and enough technology without being overkill.
I will go about buying one over the next couple of months.