Triumph introduces Speed Twin 1200 ‘Café Racer Edition’
While the Thruxton may be gone from Triumph’s Modern Classics range, its spirit lives on in a new Bonneville variant that is due to reach Australian Triumph dealerships in March.
The Speed Twin 1200 ‘Café Racer Editon’ is defined by signature café racer styling features, unique graphics and an exclusive paint scheme that incorporates a new take on historic British Racing Green.
“The latest Speed Twin 1200 has already struck a chord with riders across Europe and the US who value performance, style and everyday usability,” said Paul Stroud, Chief Commercial Officer. “Building on that success, the Speed Twin 1200 Cafe Racer Edition will sit at the top of the Speed Twin range, taking inspiration from the British cafe racer scene of the 1960s.
“With a global production of just 800 motorcycles, the Cafe Racer Edition will appeal to collectors and regular riders alike, offering more distinction and exclusivity, as well as combining heritage influence with premium specification and engaging performance.”
Café Racer Style
Key features that set the Café Racer Edition apart from the Speed Twin 1200 RS it’s based on start with a pair of clip-on handlebars. In the high-mount style, sitting at almost a right angle to the fork tubes, these are around 70mm lower and a little further forward than the standard handlebars. With the footpeg position and 810mm seat height unchanged from the Speed Twin 1200 RS, this means rider ergonomics aren’t all that different.
Bar-end mirrors, a flip-up fuel filler cap and bullet seat with a sleek cowl keep the café racer aesthetic going. The cowl can be removed, with pillion pegs supplied (but not fitted) for two-up riding.
An exclusive colour scheme combines Competition Green with Aluminium SIlver on the fuel tank and pillion cowl. Coachlines in Empire Gold separate the two colours, with ‘Café Racer Edition’ identification added.
Side covers are finished in Competition Green with a ‘12’ graphic representing the 1200cc powerplant. This deep metallic green finish is also added to the headlight shell, while the 17-inch wheels are painted Aluminium Silver.
Other visual touches include a brown finish and quilted top for the seat, brushed aluminium mudguards, ribbed clutch and alternator covers, rubber knee pads for the 14.5-litre fuel tank, and black bolt heads.
Premium Spec, 1200 Power
Aesthetics aside, the Café Racer Editon is unchanged from the Speed Twin 1200 RS, meaning it gets the Marzocchi forks, Öhlins remote reservoir rear shocks (both fully adjustable) and Brembo Stylema front calipers that the base Speed Twin 1200 misses out on.
The engine is the standard 1200cc parallel twin, producing 77.2kW at 7,750rpm and 112Nm at 4,250rpm. With electronic throttle control and multi-point EFI, this liquid-cooled SOHC twin is matched to a six-speed transmission with a slip/assist clutch and chain drive.
Braking combines twin 320mm floating front discs and the aforementioned Brembo calipers with a 220mm fixed rear disc and Nissin two-piston caliper.
Standard tech follows that of the RS, with Optimised Cornering ABS, traction control, three riding modes (Road, Rain, Sport), Triumph’s Shift Assist up-down quickshifter and an LED headlight all standard. There’s also a USB-C socket, while the LCD/TFT instrumentation allows app-based turn-by-turn navigation.
Options are not listed, but will presumably mirror that of the Speed Twin 1200 RS, so expect cruise control, sequential LED indictors, TPMS and heated grips to be available.
Coming Soon, Strictly Limited
The Triumph Speed Twin 1200 Café Racer Edition will be available from March, 2026, with very limited numbers from the 800-unit total allocated to Australia. Local pricing of $30,490 ride away represents a $3,200 increase over the RS (from $27,290) and $7,200 premium compared to the base Speed Twin 1200 (from $23,290).
Even with this price hike, local allocation of the Speed Twin 1200 Café Racer Editon is expected to sell out quickly. See your Triumph dealer for availability and more details.
