Webike News editor-in-chief Kenny Sagawa reports on a test ride of the Speed Triple 1200RS, Triumph's top sports naked motorcycle.
- A fighter with 30 more horsepower and 10 more pounds lost.
- The original Street Fighter has evolved into an even more extreme style!
- More powerful and refined, with the same three-cylinder character
- The aim is a complete track, I can ride with SS.
- The evolution of electrical systems makes the streets safer and easier to ride
A fighter with 30 more horsepower and 10 more pounds lost.
The latest model, the eighth in the series after a three-year hiatus, is literally a full change, with everything from the engine to the chassis redesigned. Triumph's traditional liquid-cooled three-cylinder engine now displaces 1160cc, up from 1050cc, and maximum output has been increased by 30ps to 180ps.
The newly-designed frame reduces the weight and mass of the motorcycle body by 10kg, bringing the weight down to 198kg. It looks like a muscular and toned martial artist. The track-spec suspension and the latest electronic controls make this the strongest road sports model in Triumph's history.
The original Street Fighter has evolved into an even more extreme style!
My first impression is that they've really gone for it. Not just in terms of spec, but in terms of style. Since the original street-fighter's debut in 1994, the Speed Triple has had a muscular, massive image, but the new model has been stripped down to a sharper form.
The headlights and steering wheel position were also lowered, giving the proportions a more pronounced forward leaning style.
Despite the increase in displacement to 1200cc, the body size is more compact. The mass of the body has been condensed around the engine. The center of gravity has also been moved lower and closer to the front for a sportier dimension. The front and rear of the vehicle have been trimmed to further emphasize the "mass" feel.
The seat height (830mm) is a little high, and the suspension is set hard so there is little sinkage at 1G. The handlebar position is lower and wider (30mm wider), and the stepping position is more like a back step, making the European-style street fighter even more extreme.
More powerful and refined, with the same three-cylinder character
From the figures, we can see that the new Street Triple has a lot of fighting power. The power-to-weight ratio, a measure of acceleration and dynamic performance, is a whopping 1.1. This is close to the 1.0 level of the best supersports.
As you can imagine, it's awesome! If I had to describe it in one word, it would be a supersport without a cowl. In a word, it's a supersport without a cowl. If you were to use a Sepahan and install a full cowl, you'd have a superbike. The engine, with its reduced crank mass, is agile and responsive, and turns with ease.
We liked the big naked feel of the previous model, with its massive, rumbling weight, but the new model feels more like a supersport motorcycle that goes round and round.
The output has been refined while the power and torque have been greatly improved, but the three-cylinder's characteristic thick wall of torque from low to mid-range acceleration, which was the hallmark of the previous series, is still present.
The aim is a complete track, I can ride with SS.
The handling has also been further refined. The new model is quicker and more nimble than the previous 1200cc model, which had a more relaxed feel. The front and rear suspensions are top grade Ohlins and specially designed for the motorcycle.
The front and rear brakes are also made by Brembo, and the brake levers use the MCS (Multi-Click System) which allows you to adjust not only the span but also the lever ratio. The Metzler Race Tech RR tires, which have no grooves on the shoulders and are almost like slick tires, are also standard equipment.
Overall, I think the new Speed Triple has been designed with the track in mind, with the aim of delivering performance that can compete with the likes of Supersport. The new model is expected to fill a vacancy in Triumph's current litre-class supersport lineup. What's more, Triumph already has the know-how accumulated through Moto2.
We can even imagine a full cowl model based on the new Speed Triple coming out at any time.
The evolution of electrical systems makes the streets safer and easier to ride
The electronic controls have also evolved: when the 5-inch TFT display is activated, it starts with a dramatic 3D-like effect, and the beautiful graphics give the rider an uplifting feeling. There are five riding mode settings: 'Sport', 'Road', 'Rain', 'Track' and 'User', which can be easily switched between with a left-hand switch while riding.
When you want to take it easy in the city, select "Rain" to reduce the power output and soften the throttle for a smoother ride. At the same time, if we weakened the rear shocks by about 4 notches on both the compression and extension sides, the ride became much more comfortable with less push from the road.
The adjuster is also useful for touring as you can easily change the setting by simply turning the dial by hand. The quickshifter also supports up and down shifting, so the clutch is hardly used except for starting and stopping. Cornering ABS and Traction Control are also standard equipment.
It's got a lot of power, but it's also got a good rider support system that gives me peace of mind and allows me to focus on my riding.
The new Speed Triple is truly a fighter to sport. You can ride it naked style with the SS, and if you want, you can eat it up. If you're looking for that in a three-cylinder, Triumph motorcycle, this is the motorcycle for you. It's also a great choice for anyone who's had enough of its little brother, the Street Triple, and wants to take it to the next level.
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