Back in 1994, Triumph created the streetfighter segment with the Speed Triple. But, the bike of 20 years ago is very different from the one debuting today, however the basic ethos remains: an aggressive sport bike for the city streets.
In this time span though, the streetfighter segment has changed. Brands like KTM and Aprilia rule the roost, with high-horsepower bikes that come competently packed with high-tech electronics.
Hoping to stay relevant with the same basic 1050cc platform, the British marque shows us now the 2018 Triumph Speed Triple RS – which boasts over 100 “new” parts just in the engine alone.
The changes are subtle to the outgoing model though, but the highlights do stand out.
The first change is the extra 10hp under the hood, with the Speed Triple RS now claiming 148hp at the crank, with 86 lbs•ft of peak torque also on tap.
This power is modulated by five riding modes (four riding modes for the “S” model, which is sans Track mode), and a safety net is created by an IMU-powered traction control system.
That IMU also powers the cornering ABS, which means that the new Speed Triple is finally in line with its rival machines, in terms of computer brain power.
Like on the recently revamped Triumph Street Triple, the bigger Speed Triple gets an all-new 5″ TFT dash, and the hand controls have also been upgraded.
The RS comes with Brembo brakes, Öhlins suspension, and dual Arrow exhausts, while owners of the “S” version will have learn to live without. Otherwise, the differences between the two machines isn’t too large.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet for the new Speed Triple, but we would expect Triumph to get aggressive with the S and RS models against similarly spec’d European bikes.
Source: Triumph
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