Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS (2021+) Maintenance Schedule

This is the maintenance schedule with associated service intervals for the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS announced in 2021.

The Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS took over in 2021 as the highest, most premium motorcycle in the range, though the 1200 RS was sold contemporaneously with the Speed Triple RS with the 1050cc engine.

The Triumph Speed Triple RS is powered by a higher-capacity 1160cc inline three-cylinder (triple) engine. It makes max power of 180 PS (177 bhp, 132 kW), a ~20% power bump over its predecessor, with peak power at 10750 rpm and peak torque of 125 Nm at 9000 rpm.

The Speed Triple 1200 RS is the first time Triumph increased its Speed Triple’s engine capacity since 2005.

Triumph later launched the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR, based on the same engine, but with a more track-focused design, and active suspension.

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Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS Service Intervals

The good news is that the Speed Triple 1200 RS has wider service intervals than its predecessor — a generous 10000 miles / 16000 km (or year) between oil changes.

At each service, change the oil and filter, and do a once-over of the bike checking for the condition of controls, hoses, and moving parts (see the list below).

Major services for the Speed Triple 1200 RS are every second service (20000 miles / 32000 km), in which you check the valve clearances and change the spark plugs. This is quite a wide service interval for a high-power sport bike.

Regularly maintain the chain slack and condition, and replace the brake fluid every two years (under normal use).

Finally, make sure you keep the coolant up to date. Triumph recommends a specific coolant that is hard to find outside dealers, but there are alternatives on the market.

What you need to service the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS

To service the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS, you will need the following parts and consumables.

Part	Speed Triple 1200 RS spec
Engine oil	The manual suggests semi or fully-synthetic 10W/40 or 10W/50 motorcycle engine oil which meets specification API SH (or higher) and JASO MA, such as Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 (fully synthetic) engine oil. Or use another high-grade oil like Motul 7100 10W-40.
Oil filter	Replace the oil filter every time you change the oil. Use Triumph part number T1218001. You can also use Hiflofiltro HF204RC, this has been constant on Triumph motorcycles for years.
Spark plugs	Use NGK spark plugs with code LMAR9E-J per the manual.
Lubricant	Use a quality lithium soap-based grease for external lubrication.
Air filter	The part number is T2205748 for the OEM air filter. You can also use a high-performance DNA air filter with part P-TR12N21-0R.
Coolant	Triumph uses Hybrid Organic Acid Technology coolant with a 50% ethylene glycol mix. It must be silicate-free at a minimum. See here for Triumph HOAT alternatives. In recent years Triumph has updated this guidance to D2053, an OAT coolant, similar to PEAK Orange OAT coolant. (Note that you have to do a full drain of the coolant — you can’t mix the two types.) (See here for more about D2053 alternatives)
Brake pads	The Brembo Stylema callipers on the Speed Triple 1200 RS take two pairs of FA447HH EBC brake pads at the front. The rear brake calliper takes FA214HH brake pads.
Chain maintenance	Maintain the chain of your Speed Triple 1200 RS with a Motul chain care kit or just Motul chain paste.

Maintenance Schedule for the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS

The below maintenance schedule for the Speed Triple 1200 RS is adapted from the manual, but re-formatted, making it easier to read.

Basic service intervals for the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS are every 10000 miles or 16000 km. Major services are every second service, in which you check the valve clearances and change the spark plugs.

Notes:

• Part of the below table includes checks you should do every day. Do these with the annual /regular service too.
• Items marked [T] are for dealers to do (unless you have the tools necessary… or unless you’re a dealer)
• Break in is at 600 mi/1000 km or 6 months, whichever occurs first.

Daily Checks

The following is the list of daily checks for the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS. Essentially it’s to give the bike a once-over and make sure that

• There are no leaks
• The controls work as expected
• The functions (including lights) work as expected
• The tyres and suspension are in working order
• Everything is well-lubricated.

Do these as part of regular maintenance intervals, too.

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS — Daily Checks
Chain lubrication — Lubricate the chain with Motul chain paste or similar every 200 miles (300 km) and after riding in the wet, or if the chain looks dry.
Engine and oil cooler – check for leaks
Fuel system – check for leaks
Cooling system – check for leaks
Coolant level – check/adjust
Clutch — check operation
Clutch cable – check function and adjust as necessary (the Speed Triple 1200 RS has a clutch cable)
Wheels – inspect for damage
Tyre wear/tyre damage – check
Tyre pressures – check/adjust
Steering – check for free operation
Front and rear suspension – check for leaks/smooth operation
Brake system – check operation
Brake pads – check wear levels
Brake fluid levels – check
Drive chain slack – check / adjust
Lights, instruments and electrical systems – check/adjust
Bank angle indicators – check for wear
Side stand/centre stand – check for wear/smooth operation

Maintenance schedule

Below is the maintenance schedule. Do the checks listed under “daily checks” and also the following.

Many of the items below should be done as part of the annual check, too.

mi x 1000	0.6	6	12	18	24
km x 1000	1	10	20	30	40	Every
Engine oil – renew (Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T 10W-40, Motul 7100 10W-40)	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Year
Engine oil filter – renew (HF204RC)	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Year
Exhaust butterfly valve cables – check the cable for chafing, cracks or damage. Adjust as necessary	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Year
Air filter – renew (replace more often if consistently riding in wet or dusty conditions)			✓		✓
Spark plugs – replace (NGK LMAR9E-J)			✓		✓
Cooling system – check hoses for chafing, cracks or damage. Replace if necessary	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Coolant – renew (Triumph HD4X HOAT or an alternative) OR D2053 / PEAK Orange OAT — Do not mix coolant OAT with HOAT.						3 years
Clutch lever pivot – clean/grease		✓	✓	✓	✓	Year
Valve clearances – check/ adjust			✓		✓
Camshaft timing – check/ adjust			✓		✓
Wheel bearings – check for wear/smooth operation			✓		✓	Year
Eccentric rear hub – lubricate			✓		✓
Rear wheel needle roller bearing – lubricate			✓		✓
Cush drive rubbers – renew			✓		✓
Headstock bearings – check/adjust	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Year
Swinging arm spindle – lubricate (Lithium soap-based grease)			✓		✓
Rear suspension unit and linkage – lubricate			✓		✓
Fork oil – renew					✓
Brake fluid – renew (Castrol DOT 4)						2 years
Drive chain – lubricate (Motul chain paste)	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Year
Drive chain – wear check	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Year
Drive chain rubbing strip – check for wear, cracks, or damage	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Year
[T] Instruments, chassis ECM, keyless ECM and engine ECM–check for latest calibration download using the Triumph diagnostic tool	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Year
[T] Autoscan – Carry out a full Autoscan using the Triumph diagnostic tool	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Year
[T] Carry out all outstanding Service Bulletin and warranty work	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Year
Carry out road test	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Year
[T] Complete the service record book and reset the service indicator	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Year

Chain Maintenance and Adjustment

The Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS has a chain final drive, which means that it needs regular attention in the form of

• Cleaning and lubricating it
• Checking for wear, and replacing if necessary, and
• Checking and adjusting tension

Clean and lubricate your final chain with a chain cleaner and lubricant. Triumph recommends lubricating every 200 miles / 300 km or after riding in the wet — or just any time that the chain appears dry. Triumph doesn’t specify a lubricant, so Motul Chain Lubricant is a good and popular choice.

Check for chain wear periodically per the maintenance schedule. Look for cracked or broken teeth, “shark toothing” or just excessive stretch.

To check for chain stretch, remove the chain guard and hang a weight of 10-20 kg (20-40 lb) on the chain. On a straight part of the chain, measure a length of 20 links (from 1 to 21). Measure in several places. The length should be a maximum of 319 mm. If it’s beyond that, you should replace the chain and sprockets.

Finally, check and adjust chain tension. Refer to the following graphic.

Put the motorcycle on a level surface and hold it upright with no weight on it. Find the loosest point of the chain by rolling it around and watching the chain slacken. Check the free vertical movement of the chain at its loosest point. Again, roll the bike around until you find it.

Target chain slack on the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS: 32-42 mm (1.25-1.65 inches)

If it’s beyond that, you need to adjust the chain.

Adjust the chain in this manner. This is specific to the Speed Triple, though it’s similar to other motorcycles with a single sided swingarm.

1. Put the motorcycle on a level surface and hold it upright with no weight on it.
2. Loosen the pinch bolts on the eccentric hub.
3. Use the C-spanner to adjust chain tension. Turn it clockwise to slacken the chain, and anti-clockwise to tighten the chain.
4. Once you’re at the right slack level, tighten the pinch bolts again to 28 Nm / 21 lb-ft. Alternate between them, tightening until they both reach that torque.

If you’re unable to get the chain to the correct tension, it’s likely that it’s too worn.

Wheels and Tire (Tyre) Pressures

The Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS has the below tire sizes and recommended tire pressures as a baseline.

Wheel	Tire size	Tire pressure (cold)
Front	120/70 R 17	2.34 bar / 34 psi
Rear	190/55 R 17	2.90 bar / 42 psi

Tightening Torques

Below are the tightening torques for a range of items on the Speed Triple 1200 RS. You can refer to this when doing the annual service.

Item	Torque (Nm)	Torque (lb-ft)
Battery Terminals	4.5 Nm	3.3
Eccentric Adjuster Pinch Bolts (for adjusting the chain)	28 Nm	21
Chain Guard	6 Nm	4.4
Clutch Lever Nut	3.5 Nm	2.6
Headlight Bracket Fixing	4 Nm	3
Oil Filter	10 Nm	7
Passenger Seat/Seat Cowl Fixing	5 Nm	3.7
Spark Plug	12 Nm	9
Sump Plug	25 Nm	18
Rear Wheel Spindle Nut	230 Nm	170

About the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS

The Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS is all new in every way — but embodies much of the spirit of the Speed Triple from many years gone past.

A long time ago, the Speed Triple was the “naked” alternative to the Daytona. Those days are long-gone, and the Speed Triple has for over a decade been the flagship sport bike that Triumph has produced.

The difference is, of course, that since the Speed Triple is the class-leading sport bike, and not a de-tuned stablemate of the “real” sport bike, the Speed Triple has always had the latest components. This has always been true even in “base” models like the last-generation 2018-model Triumph Speed Triple S, which had fully-adjustable Showa suspension front and rear, bested only by the RS which had the same but in Öhlins.

The Speed Triple 1200 RS is even more premium, with a bigger engine for the first time in 16 years (since 2005, when the engine went up from 955 cc to 1050 cc).

The 1160cc inline triple makes 180 PS of peak power (177 hp, 132 kW), with power peaking at 10750 rpm. That’s sporty, but not superbike territory like you’d see in a Ducati Panigale V4 for example, whose power peaks at 13000 rpm.

The redline is higher though, raised by 650 rpm to 11150 rpm, thanks to lighter and faster-moving components.

The new engine is not only bigger and more powerful, it’s somehow more compact and a whopping 7kg (15 lb) lighter. The whole motorcycle is light — with a full tank of fuel it weighs only 198 kg, less than nearly every superbike in standard trim. (Putting the non-standard M package on the 2021+ BMW S 1000 R will make that lighter, for example.)

Brakes and suspension on the new 1200 RS are still top-notch — twin 320mm floating discs, with an update to the calipers — Brembo Stylema now. Front and rear suspension is still Öhlins 43mm but higher spec from a newer model.

Even though the latest Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS now conforms to Euro 5 emissions standards, the engine and exhaust produce such a sweet note that Triumph hasn’t opted to provide an optional after-market muffler… yet. (The actual after-market will step in, I’m sure.)

Manual for the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS

The above maintenance schedule comes directly from the user’s manual for the 2021 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS, which is available on the Triumph website.