Triumph Speed Twin 1200 Café Racer – When a Thruxton Isn’t a Thruxton

Why the New Speed Twin Café Racer Isn’t a Thruxton—But Still Packs Serious Café Racer Punch

Triumph has officially lifted the covers on the Speed Twin 1200 Café Racer Edition, a limited-run model that brings café racer attitude to the most performance-focused Bonneville platform yet, arriving for the 2026 model year.

And yes, there’s an elephant in the room.

Because while this new Speed Twin 1200 Café Racer looks, feels and behaves exactly like what the Thruxton represented for years, Triumph has chosen not to revive the name for the 1200 — despite the soon to arrive Thruxton 400 the Thruxton name for the 1200cc platform was retired after the Thruxton Final Edition in 2024.

Part of that decision likely comes down to intent. The Thruxton Final Edition really was final, and the new Speed Twin Café Racer isn’t positioned as a full-time replacement. Instead, it’s a limited-edition motorcycle, with just 800 units produced worldwide. Of those, only five examples are destined for New Zealand, each priced at $31,300.

Every Speed Twin 1200 Café Racer Edition also comes with its own Certificate of Authenticity, reinforcing its limited-run status and adding a layer of collectability for those quick enough to secure one.

Underneath the styling, this is very much a Speed Twin 1200 RS at heart. The Café Racer Edition builds on the RS platform with clip-on handlebars, deletion of pillion pegs, and a distinctive brown bullet seat with a removable cowl. A carefully curated suite of styling upgrades completes the package, most notably the green and silver paint scheme, which—if past Triumph form is anything to go by—will look even better in the metal.

Speaking on the new model, Triumph Chief Commercial Officer Paul Stroud said the latest Speed Twin 1200 has already resonated strongly with riders in Europe and the US who value performance, style and everyday usability. Building on that momentum, the Café Racer Edition sits at the very top of the Speed Twin range, drawing inspiration from the British café racer scene of the 1960s while blending heritage influence with premium specification and modern performance.

Power comes from Triumph’s familiar high-compression 1200cc Bonneville parallel twin, producing 105 PS at 7,750 rpm and a healthy 112 Nm of torque. The engine’s 270-degree firing order and low-inertia crankshaft deliver immediate throttle response and strong mid-range drive, pulling cleanly all the way to the 8,000 rpm redline.

Chassis hardware mirrors the RS donor bike, with fully adjustable Marzocchi forks up front and Öhlins rear shocks out back, giving the Café Racer Edition a taut, confidence-inspiring ride. Braking is handled by Brembo Stylema calipers biting on twin 320 mm discs, while Metzeler Racetec RR K3 tyres come standard, delivering sharp turn-in and strong grip.

Rider aids are sensibly modern without overwhelming the experience. Road, Rain and Sport riding modes tailor throttle response, while Optimised Cornering ABS and Traction Control operate seamlessly in the background. As any bike wearing the “Café Racer” badge should, Triumph has also fitted a quickshifter, making this only the second Bonneville-based model to feature one, alongside the Speed Twin 1200 RS.

The Triumph Speed Twin 1200 Café Racer Edition will be available to order in New Zealand from $31,300, with the first bikes expected to arrive in dealerships from March 2026. More details can be found at triumphmotorcycles.co.nz.