Triumph Speed Twin 900
Triumph's lighter modern-classic — formerly the Street Twin, renamed Speed Twin 900 in 2023 to align with the larger Speed Twin 1200. The 900cc parallel-twin (270° crank) delivers the classic Triumph thump in a friendly, A2-restrictable package. Low 765mm seat suits shorter riders, and the chassis is balanced enough that experienced riders can still extract a smile from it. The trade-off is power — 65 PS feels modest next to its 1200cc sibling. Triumph residuals are excellent, theft risk is moderate.
Default variant: Speed Twin 900
- Engine
- 900cc
- Power
- 65 PS
- Torque
- 80 Nm
- Weight
- 220 kg
- Seat
- 765 mm
- Economy
- 55 mpg
medium
low
Holding value
Bikes hold value far better than cars — typical motorcycle 3-year depreciation is 25–32%, against cars' 40–50%. Some bikes (Hayabusa, Gold Wing, classic Z1000) actually appreciate in the 7–15 year zone as cult demand outstrips supply.
Value loss by phase
Each band shows the share of original value lost during that window — not cumulative. Appreciation (green, marked +X% gained) is real for bikes that develop cult status.
How we estimate this
Phase depreciation derived from observed UK used-bike pricing — classified ads, dealer asking prices, and end-of-auction figures. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count, and crash-damage signatures. The figures here are indicative for clean, fully-stamped examples.
What it costs to own
Indicative running costs at 8,000 miles a year — the UK rider average. Chain-drive bikes carry a chain/sprocket consumable line; tax (typically £25–£100/yr) and depreciation are excluded — see the section above for value retention.
3-year total
£3,691
Per year
£1,230
Per mile
£0.15
Service costs assume independent specialist labour and OE parts. Tyre intervals reflect typical UK road riding — track-day usage burns through rear tyres in <2,000 miles. Fuel uses the variant MPG at £1.45/L. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.
Estimated insurance
Group 10/17 · ABI motorcycle scheme · Annual policy
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this bike. Bikes use the ABI motorcycle group scheme (1–17, not the 1–50 used for cars) — Group 1 is cheapest to insure. Pick the risk profile closest to your circumstances.
Estimated annual premium · typical
£680/ year
Roughly £57 per month
Typical
Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.| Profile | Annual premium |
|---|---|
| Lower risk | £500 |
| TypicalSelected | £680 |
| Higher risk | £1,050 |
How we estimate this
Typical premium reflects . Lower/higher risk profiles synthesised from the observed underwriting range. Motorcycle premiums are far more sensitive to licence tier (CBT / A1 / A2 / A) and rider age than car insurance — younger riders or those on a CBT pay considerably more than this baseline. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Theft risk
Bike-specific · Met Police + insurance reporting
UK bike theft rates are an order of magnitude higher than car theft. Nakeds and supersports lose more to professional gangs; large adventure bikes and tourers are statistically much safer.
Theft risk score · 1 to 4
2/4Medium risk
Medium risk
Some theft pattern, particularly in urban postcodes. Thatcham-approved chain plus disc lock recommended; secure overnight parking helps premiums.Theft hotspot postcodes
Postcode prefixes only; full London hot zone runs across E, N, NW, SE, SW, W boroughs depending on the model.
How we set this band
Bands derived from Met Police bike-theft reporting (most-stolen lists) cross-referenced with insurance industry underwriting data. Model + postcode are the two biggest factors in motorcycle theft risk in the UK, materially more than vehicle value.
What goes wrong
5 known issues · sorted by severity
Documented failure modes from UK owner forums, dealer service bulletins, and aggregated mechanic feedback. Mileages are approximate — different riders see different intervals depending on use and maintenance. Always address "high"-severity items before resale.
High severity
0
Medium
1
Low / cosmetic
4
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| medium | Stator 35k-50k mi | £280 |
| low | Throttle body sync drift 15k-25k mi | £90 |
| low | Cam chain tensioner 25k-35k mi | £180 |
| low | Wheel bearings 25k+ mi | £60 per wheel |
| low | Fork seal leaks 25k-30k mi | £100 |
How we score severity
High — strands the bike or causes consequential damage if left. Medium — service item that affects ride quality or risks failure. Low — cosmetic or minor inconvenience. Costs are independent-specialist UK rates for parts and labour together; main dealer prices typically run 30–50% higher.
Variant comparison
The default — sole variant. The bike to buy in this segment if low seat height matters; if you're taller and want sharper chassis, look at the Bonneville T100 or Yamaha XSR700.
Known issues
- Throttle body sync drift (15-25k mi)
- Cam chain tensioner rattle (30k mi)
- Stator failure long-term (35-50k mi)
Strengths
- +Lowest seat in modern-classic class (765mm) — short rider friendly
- +Triumph build quality and dealer network in the UK
- +Strong residuals — among the best in segment
- +A2-restrictable (47kW) for new riders
- +Classic Triumph parallel-twin character without 1200's price/insurance
Watch-outs
- −65 PS modest for confident riders on motorway
- −Limited carrying capacity — small tank, no panniers from factory
- −Premium pricing vs Japanese rivals (Yamaha XSR700)