Shopping the Triumph Speed Twin 1200 and want to know how it really compares to the Kawasaki Z900RS, BMW R 12 nineT and Ducati Scrambler 1100? Here’s an honest, sourced side-by-side — specs, horsepower, price and the places the competition wins — from Empire Cycle & Powersports in Spokane Valley, WA. The modern-classic that rides like a naked sportbike: 104 hp from the 1200 twin, Marzocchi USD forks and Brembo brakes, for $13,795. Here’s the honest look against the retro roadster competition.
2026 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 vs. the retro roadsters
The modern-classic that rides like a naked sportbike: 104 hp from the 1200 twin, Marzocchi USD forks and Brembo brakes, for $13,795. Here’s the honest look against the retro roadster competition.
TriumphSpeed Twin 1200 Our pick | KawasakiZ900RS | BMWR 12 nineT | DucatiScrambler 1100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1200cc twin | 948cc inline-4 | 1170cc boxer | 1079cc L-twin |
| Horsepower | 104 hp | 111 hp | 109 hp | 86 hp |
| Torque | 83 lb-ft | 72 lb-ft | 85 lb-ft | 65 lb-ft |
| Brembo front brakes | ✓ | radial | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight wet | 476 lb | ~474 lb | ~485 lb | ~454 lb |
| Price starting MSRP | $13,795 | ~$12,299 | ~$16,290 | ~$13,995 |
Why buy the Speed Twin 1200 from Empire
Modern-classic looks with genuinely sporty handling — a roadster you can hustle, not just pose on.
- ✓Sporty where it counts. For 2025 the Speed Twin gained Marzocchi upside-down forks, Brembo brakes and sharper geometry — it steers and stops like a proper naked, wrapped in timeless style.
- ✓Torque-rich 1200 twin. 104 hp and 83 lb-ft with the classic British-twin pulse and sound — strong midrange for real-road overtakes, not a screaming four you have to wring out.
- ✓A lot of bike for the money. Premium suspension, Brembo brakes and Triumph finish for $13,795 — priced right against the retro competition.
- ●Straight talk. The Kawasaki Z900RS costs less and its inline-four makes more peak power (111 hp) with legendary smoothness; the BMW R 12 nineT makes a touch more torque and carries the boxer cachet (for ~$2,500 more); the Ducati Scrambler 1100 is lighter. The Speed Twin’s pitch is the balance — style, sporty handling and torque together.
And the price is the price. Our advertised number already includes freight, setup and our documentation fee — only sales tax and title/registration are added.
Watch before you buy — top Speed Twin 1200 videos
▶First Ride ReviewIndependent YouTube review
▶Better Than a Thruxton?Independent YouTube review
▶First Ride Review — Cycle NewsIndependent YouTube review
▶2025 Speed Twin 1200 ReviewIndependent YouTube review
Frequently asked questions
Is the Triumph Speed Twin 1200 a good choice?
Modern-classic looks with genuinely sporty handling — a roadster you can hustle, not just pose on. For 2025 the Speed Twin gained Marzocchi upside-down forks, Brembo brakes and sharper geometry — it steers and stops like a proper naked, wrapped in timeless style.
How does the Triumph Speed Twin 1200 compare to the competition?
The Kawasaki Z900RS costs less and its inline-four makes more peak power (111 hp) with legendary smoothness; the BMW R 12 nineT makes a touch more torque and carries the boxer cachet (for ~$2,500 more); the Ducati Scrambler 1100 is lighter. The Speed Twin’s pitch is the balance — style, sporty handling and torque together.
Where can I see the Triumph Speed Twin 1200 near Spokane?
Empire Cycle & Powersports in Spokane Valley, WA stocks the Triumph Speed Twin 1200 with Up Front Pricing — freight, setup and our documentation fee are already in the advertised price. Text us at 509-498-3541 or browse the inventory online.
Figures are 2026 model-year from manufacturer and published sources; competitor specs and prices are approximate, vary by trim and market, and should be verified before purchase. MSRPs exclude tax and title/registration. Video links are independent third-party YouTube reviews for research; Empire Cycle & Powersports is not affiliated with the creators. Comparison by Empire Cycle & Powersports, Spokane Valley, WA.
Keep exploring
New to the category? Read our buying guides, see how Up Front Research works, or browse the inventory. Prefer to talk it through? Text us at 509-498-3541.
Reviewed & updated by the team at Empire Cycle & Powersports, Spokane Valley.