Triumph Motorcycles are one of the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers with a long legacy stretching back to the early 1900s.
Throughout its time, Triumph has produced some of the best motorcycles the industry has seen, including some really fast bikes.
Classic styling, quality construction, an interesting heritage, and fast, powerful engines—Triumph has it all.
Let’s take a look at all the fast Triumph motorcycles.
Fastest Production Model Triumph Motorcycles
Total Motorcycle source for power and torque figures—European Spec Only. US power and torque information not readily available. Top speed is calculated through various hands-on reviews of the bike.
Several Triumph models share the same engine and have the same or very similar performance specs. For example, the Speed Triple 1200 RS has the same performance figures as the RR.
The T120, Scrambler 1200, Bobber and Speedmaster all share the same parallel-twin engine with the same performance output.
In some cases, despite sharing the same engine, the two models’ performance can be very different, for example, the Speed Triple RR and Tiger 1200.
Now let’s look at the top five fastest 2023-model Triumph motorcycles in more depth.
Speed Triple 1200 RR
Triumph’s Speed Triple 1200 RR is currently its fastest motorcycle available in the lineup and is advertised as the ultimate sport bike for the road.
The styling makes it one of the best-looking bikes on the market, without a doubt. And it isn’t all style over substance either. The RR has a serious engine and chassis, which means the bike performs as well as it looks.
The triple-cylinder engine produces 177 horsepower and 125 Nm of torque, carrying the rider all the way to a top speed of 165 mph. Power is spread throughout the range and you won’t find the bike getting breathless at any point.
The riding position is engaging and sporty. Clip-on bars have you hunched over the tank behind the small windscreen for ultimate control in the bends.
An Öhlins electronically adjustable suspension gives the rider ultimate control over the ride for comfort and performance. As standard, the bike comes with Pirelli Diablo V3 tires, which are street-legal but to track spec for next level grip.
The bike is speed and track focused so the TFT display shows speed, gear, and tach as the priority data, and you can switch between five different riding modes to suit the roads and conditions.
If you want to take things that bit further, you could opt for the Bond edition, which is limited to just 60 units celebrating the 60-year partnership between 007 and Triumph.
Equally, if you want all the power of the 1200 RR but prefer a more street-focused approach, the Speed Triple 1200 RS might be your preferred option. Performance remains the same, but it lacks a fairing and the riding position is more upright and street focused.
Specs:
- Engine: 1160cc, liquid-cooled, 12-valve, DOHC, in-line 3-cylinder
- Seat height: 32.6”
- Curb weight: 438 lbs
- Current MSRP: $20,950
Street Triple 765
If you like the idea of the Speed Triple but don’t want quite as much power as the 1200 gives you, take a look at the Street Triple 765.
It comes in three model versions: the R, RS, and Moto2.
The RS and Moto2 edition produces around 10 more horsepower than the standard R model.
The Street Triple 765 is more street focused than the Speed Triple. There is no attempt at a fairing—the bike is a naked sports bike with street ergonomics.
The engine produces 118 horsepower, 79 Nm of torque, and a top speed of 150 mph, so despite being significantly smaller than the Speed Triple 1200 the 765 still has impressive performance figures.
Triumph has created the Street Triple to be a monstrous Streetfighter full of attitude airing on the side of aggression. Sharp lines with the nose down, LED twin lights, and carved bodywork all equate to the get-down-and-dirty vibe.
Highlights include Showa and Öhlins suspension, shift assist quickshifter, cornering ABS, traction control, and riding modes.
Despite being a naked street bike, the Street Triple has all the Moto2-derived DNA ingrained in the engine and with the agile, lightweight chassis paired with it, the bike is really ready for the track at any time.
Specs (R Model):
- Engine: 765cc, liquid-cooled, 12-valve, DOHC, in-line 3-cylinder
- Seat height: 32.52”
- Curb weight: 417 lbs
- Current MSRP: $9,995
Rocket 3 R
Triumph’s Rocket 3 is an undisputed icon, a raw, powerful monster that is the definition of excess in all the best ways.
At the bike’s heart is the world’s largest production motorcycle engine capacity of 2500cc. It delivers the highest torque of any production motorcycle at 221 Nm. The torque is actually 71% higher than the closest competition.
The Rocket 3 comes in two models: the R and the GT. There is also currently an R 221 Special Edition, a GT 221 Special Edition, and an R Chrome Edition.
The R models focus solely on being the ultimate roadster, whereas the GT is all about being the ultimate cruiser for long trips.
The massive engine produces an immense amount of power. In any gear you have enough grunt to pull away like a freight train.
In terms of styling, it is all about muscle. A huge tank sits on top with the triple chrome pipes wrapping the motor into the dual exhaust. Huge tires, front and back, solidify the long wheelbase, and the twin headlights finish the classic Rocket look.
The Rocket 3 is loaded with rider aids and features to make controlling the bike easier than ever: cruise control, traction control, ABS, Brembo brakes, hill-hold control, keyless ignition, and My Triumph Connectivity.
Specs:
- Engine: 2458cc, in-line 3-cylinder, water-cooled, DOHC
- Seat height: 30.4”
- Curb weight: 641.5 lbs
- Current MSRP: $23,895
Thruxton RS
The Thruxton RS is part of the Modern Classic lineup. However, it is anything but classic when it comes to performance.
With 103 horsepower, 112 Nm of torque, and a top speed of around 137 mph, this modern Cafe Racer will see off pretty much all the competition.
The Thruxton bloodline is thick with racing DNA. It could be said Triumph’s 50s and 60s racers are the very reason why motorcycle racing is where it is today.
For that reason, the latest Thruxton RS takes the classic look and loads it with modern performance and spec.
Three riding modes—road, rain, and sport—allow you to tailor your riding experience by adjusting the traction control. The LED lights add modern functionality to a classic package. There is even a USB charging port that really brings this classic bike into the 21st century.
It screams “go faster” in the styling, with classic paint schemes and clip-on bars.
The Thruxton RS urges you to go and grab your Bell open-face helmet and a pair of vintage goggles, wrap a scarf around your neck and head out into the wind.
Specs:
- Engine: 1200cc, liquid-cooled, 8-valve, SOHC, 270° crank-angle parallel-twin
- Seat height: 31.8”
- Curb weight: 434 lbs
- Current MSRP: $16,995
Tiger 1200
Another string in the bow for Triumph is its Adventure lineup, and the Tiger 1200 leads the pack.
The Tiger 1200 range consists of the Tiger GT, GT Pro, and GT Explorer. Each of these focuses on touring, with more features as you move up the line to make long-distance adventure touring easy and comfortable.
The range is also made up of the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro and Rally Explorer, both of which are built for the ultimate all-terrain adventures with more useful off-road features.
Linking all the models together is the 1160cc triple-cylinder engine producing an output of 148 horsepower, 130 Nm of torque, and a top speed of around 135 mph.
With performance like that, you really could consider a Tiger 1200 as the ultimate adventure bike. It has enough power for both on and off road adventures.
Triumph has upped the ante with the specs in the latest Tiger range. For example, both Explorer models are equipped with the Triumph Blind Spot Radar system.
Some features, like ABS, traction control, and hill-hold control, come as standard across the range, whereas other features, such as heated grips and a quickshifter, are standard only on certain models.
Specs (GT Model):
- Engine: 1160cc, liquid-cooled, 12-valve, DOHC, in-line 3-cylinder
- Seat height: 33.4”
- Curb weight: 529 lbs
- Current MSRP: $19,595
Other Notable Fast Triumph Motorcycles
It isn’t just modern Triumphs that are fast. Triumph has been producing powerful bikes for as long as it’s been manufacturing motorcycles.
In fact, to understand Triumph’s fast bike legacy, we need to go back to 1968 and look at the Trident 750.
Triumph Trident T150
The Triumph Trident 750 should have been the “World’s First Superbike,” but internal issues between Triumph and BSA meant that production was delayed and Honda beat Triumph to the post with the 1968 CB750.
The Trident produced 58 horsepower and had a top speed of around 117 mph. The triple-cylinder engine was the first of its kind.
Unfortunately, poor styling decisions for the Trident meant that it wasn’t a huge sales success.
Where it did succeed, however, was on the track. At its very first Daytona race, it took first, second, and third place. During the race, it reached a top speed of around 165 mph.
The Trident also went on to win five consecutive Isle of Man TT races from 1971.
In 2008, Tom Mellor took his 1969 Trident to the Bonneville Salt Flats and set four new world speed records, including hitting 180 mph on the flying mile.
Racing and Speed Legacy
Triumph has a 110-year racing history and all that knowledge filters down into its bikes today.
- In 1966, Buddy Elmore won from the back in arguably the most famous and best Daytona 200 race.
- In 1969, a T120 Thruxton was the first production motorcycle to exceed 100 mph.
- Guy Martin famously rode a streamlined Triumph to 274.2 mph in 2016.
- The Daytona 675 is often referred to as the “Best British Sportbike” of all time, with several Supersport titles under its belt.
- Triumph has developed a partnership with FIM Moto2 World Championships to supply all the teams with race-tuned 765cc triples. Triumph is showing no sign of slowing down.
The Fastest Triumph of All Time
In terms of production motorcycles, the 2023 Speed Triple 1200 RR and the Daytona 675 both have a top speed of 165 mph, so they share the title of fastest Triumphs of all time.
However, the Rocket 3 deserves a special mention. It is an incredibly impressive motorcycle with a 0–60 mph time of 2.73 seconds, which shattered Triumph’s previous records.
Not to be forgotten, the turbo-charged, modified TTS Performance Rocket 3 has a recorded top speed of 177 mph.
Image Credits
Yesterdays Antique Motorcycles, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Triumph motorcycles