By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Retro Classic
Triumph Bonneville T120 (MY2025) vs Speed Twin 1200 (DD50-RS)
Triumph Bonneville T120 vs Speed Twin 1200: which one to buy once you're past the looks.
Turn into a fast bend on the Triumph Bonneville T120 and you're carrying a sixties British silhouette, its deep paint and clean instruments catching the light. The Triumph Speed Twin 1200 folds you down over its lower bars, feet tucked back on rearset pegs. It stays on its line while you're adding lean.
So which one do you buy?
The Speed Twin 1200 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Inches ahead: Speed Twin 1200
Day in, day out, the Speed Twin 1200 nudges ahead in traffic. Put it down to lighter steering. It isn't a big enough gap to plan around.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: Speed Twin 1200
Through a string of corners, the Speed Twin 1200 feels a little more eager. Credit better suspension and stronger brakes. The gap is small, so ride both.
Character, looks and sound
Narrow edge: Speed Twin 1200
On sound and soul, the Speed Twin 1200 comes out a touch ahead. Your own eyes and ears outrank this verdict.
Which one's the smarter buy
No clear advantage
Neither bike is the clear better buy at these used prices. The Bonneville T120 costs less, but that doesn't make it the smarter spend.
What makes each one tick
Bonneville T120
Low in the revs, the Bonneville's twin shoves the bike along on torque, and it doesn't ask you to chase the tach. With upright ergonomics and a 31.1 in (790 mm) seat, you're sitting tall with an easy reach to the pavement. The brake lever hauls real mass. The exhaust's note turns a grocery run into a ride.
Speed Twin 1200
On the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Speed Twin's Öhlins shocks and Marzocchi fork keep the chassis composed from one curve into the next. There's serious bite from the Brembo Stylema calipers when the next curve comes up. The throttle wakes a punchy twin. Its pull swells into a rush up top.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Bonneville T120 has the lower seat: 31.1 in (790 mm) vs 31.9 in (809 mm).
- The Speed Twin 1200 has the lower wet weight: 476 lb (216 kg) vs 520 lb (236 kg).
- The Speed Twin 1200 makes more peak power: 104 hp (77 kW) vs 79 hp (59 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither one fits
For all-day comfort, both fall short. Keep the rides short and you'll get on fine with either.
They come out level on running costs. The better-kept used example is the smarter money.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Bonneville T120
What owners say
Strengths
- Smooth and torquey parallel twin
- Classic British styling with modern touches
- High-quality fit and finish
Speed Twin 1200
What owners say
Strengths
- Torquey and charismatic parallel-twin engine
- Sporty yet accessible ergonomics
Known problems to check before you buy
Bonneville T120
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
Speed Twin 1200
- Rear turn signals too close to tail light (NHTSA Recall 25V-141) Recall 25V141000 Recall: Red rear turn indicators were installed too close to the rear tail/brake light, failing to meet FMVSS 108 separation requirements. This reduces other road users' ability to see the rider's intent, increasing crash risk. Dealers replace with amber signals free of charge.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 1-year-old Bonneville T120 with a 1-year-old Speed Twin 1200.
- Bonneville T120
- $12,300
- Speed Twin 1200
- $12,900
At one year old, the Triumph Bonneville T120 sits around $12,300 while the Triumph Speed Twin 1200 runs about $12,900. That's a $600 gap in the Bonneville T120's favor. These figures come from earlier US market records, not live listings.
What they share
- Displacement
- 1200 cc
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Fuel capacity
- 3.8 US gal (14.5 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
Where the spec sheets split
| Bonneville T120 | Speed Twin 1200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) | 31.9 in (809 mm) |
| Wet weight | 520 lb (236 kg) | 476 lb (216 kg) |
| Bonneville T120 | Speed Twin 1200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 79 hp (59 kW) | 104 hp (77 kW) |
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (105 Nm) | 83 lb-ft (112 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 3,500 rpm | 4,250 rpm |
| Bonneville T120 | Speed Twin 1200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fork | Telescopic | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front tire | 100/90-18 | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 150/70-17 | 160/60-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Bonneville T120 | Speed Twin 1200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Not offered | Option |
| Luggage System | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
