This is Kenny Sagawa , I am a motorcycle journalist.
The motorcycle I have a test ride this time is Triumph Speed Triple RS.
It is the latest model.
This time, I'm in Almeria race circuit in Spain.
The circuit has a total length of 4,000 meters, and be used for the test of SUPERBIKE world championship.
There are many famous journalists are gathering such as racing rider and British Road race champion etc at this test ride.
It was a very exciting test ride.
This time, this motorcycle has been entirely renewed.
The contents of the engine are completely different things.
There are 105 improvements in total.
To make it short, various parts such as cylinder, piston, crankshaft, camshaft, and oil line etc. have been improved.
The engine turns to higher rotation than ever.
Torque also increased.
The torque has increased to 150 ph that is 10 ph up than the previous model.
Ohlins suspensions are installed in both front and back.
NIX 30 at the front and TTX 30 at the rear are installed. Both of them are known as a standard and high performance model.
Although only this RS model will be released in Japan this time, the standard model S is also available in Europe.
The difference from the standard model S and RS is that the adjustable high performance suspension and the carbon material is used for exterior. It makes the motorcycle look luxurious.
Add on that, Arrow's lightweight silencer is installed.
The display of the meter is made of TFT liquid crystal. You can also change the pattern of the display of the meter.
You can change the mode to 6 patterns and 3 types for RS model. This is more than the standard model.
RS model is installed 5 riding modes that is more than the standard S model that has 4 riding modes.
Another thing you should not forget is electronic control.
The quick shifter is installed for upshift.
You can also add the quick shifter for down shifting.
Even only the quick shifter for upshift, you can accelerate this motorcycle without using the clutch, so that it is easy and fast.
Cornering ABS is also installed.
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Although ABS has used to be installed for the former model, this time it has evolved to work with cornering.
In theory, there is no problem even if you grasp the lever strongly enough during cornering.
Of course, this got traction control as well.
I think that it is hard to ride unless you have a traction controller when opening up the throttle at a low speed corner because this motorcycle got 150 horsepower.
If you run seriously, you will face such a problem.
I think that the quick shifter, traction control, and cornering ABS is a necessary safety equipment for the modern motorcycle.
All of them are installed in the RS model.
I will talk about the riding quality.
At the start, I felt big torque that seems to be a large displacement sports model.
Apart from the long straight portion, there is sufficient torque enough to ride with only 2nd gear.
4 cylinder has a torque curve which is quadratic curve-like,
and a torque output of these three cylinders linearly changes and the power curve is trapezoidal.
Even if I saw the power curve of this new model, the power has increased by about two lines as a whole.
The engine characteristic has become a feeling of acceleration like that power curve.
If I open the throttle at once at the end of the corner, the front side will come up.
I can ride this without a shift change, just like an AT motorcycle.
Also, the unique sounds of the three cylinders are wonderful.
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Modern three cylinder engine turns well until high rotation.
When actually riding, the engine was rotating as high as if it was a 4-cylinder engine.
Characteristics of the engine which grows not only in the middle rotation but also in the high rotation is good enough to be considered as a 4 cylinder engine.
The only difference between 3 and 4 cylinder is the sound.
It is easy to understand if you listen to the sound of 3 cylinder. It has nice sound.
It is 3 kg lighter than former models and handling is light.
But I still can feel an weight sensation as a big motorcycle exceeding 1,000cc from this.
In a good sense, it has a feeling of stability and a calm.
Because the suspension is also good, it absorbs the cornering force.
You can attack corners with confidence.
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It is hard to find demerits since this motorcycle has improved well overall.
This motorcycle promises you a pleasant ride.
I think that it is getting better in all directions compared with the former model.
