Latest Posts:
Asphalt & Rubber
Tag

Speed Triple

Browsing
Bikes

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR – A Modern Café Racer

By 57 Comments

After a fair bit of teasing, the wait is finally over, and we can see the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR for what it is – and what it is, is not that surprising.

Early on, we pegged the new “RR” model as a half-fairing, café racer inspired, variant of the Speed Triple RS – and that is exactly how one suscinctly describes the 2022 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR.

Built off Triumph’s new Speed Triple platform, the RR shares the same engine, chassis, and components as its RS sibling, but with a more retro-modern aesthetic.

Keep Reading
By
Bikes

The All-New Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS Debuts for 2021

By 33 Comments

After teasing some details, and seeing some others leak ahead of today’s debut, we finally get to officially see the all-new Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS.

The original streetfighter, the Triumph Speed Triple is the OG standard when it comes to the naked sport bikes segment, but the British brand has seen this iconic model soften in recent years when compared to the competition.

In fact, our review of the last generation of the Triumph Speed Triple demoted the three-cylinder machine to the “roadster” category, as its teeth had clearly lost their edge over the years, leading it to become a more subdued ride for the street.

The folks in Hinckley must have taken exception to that kind of comparison because their response for the 2021 model year was to build an all-new Speed Triple with a serious focus on performance.

Keep Reading
By
Rumors

Leaked Specs Show 178hp for the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS

By 34 Comments

A purported leaked spec sheet of the 2021 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS has hit the internet (we first spotted it on Belgian site MaxxMoto), and it shows the venerable streetfighter making a whopping 178hp (132.4 kW).

The document would seem to have an extra layer of authenticity as well, as it shows the side profile of the new Speed Triple, and that photo depicts the bike departing significantly from the previous generation of the machine (shown at the bottom of this post).

Keep Reading
By
Recall

3,600+ Triumph Bikes Hit by the Big Brembo Brake Pad Recall

By 4 Comments

Triumph is the second motorcycle company to report a recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concerning Brembo brake pad failures, as a bevy of motorcycle brands are expected to be recall motorcycles that use the Italian firm’s brake pads.

For those who don’t know, this wave of recalls stems from the friction material separating from the metal backing plate, often because of exposure to corrosive conditions.

We won’t rehash the technical details over and over again as the recalls come through (we are expecting several more), but you can read our initial post on Brembo brake pad issue, if you require a primer on the situation.

Keep Reading
By
Reviews

What You Need to Know About the Triumph Speed Triple RS

By No Comments

The original factory streetfighter, the Triumph Speed Triple latched motorcycling’s punk movement in 1994, and never looked back.

Now for the 2018 model year, the British brand is updating its venerable streetfighter – dragging the Speed Triple into the digital age with a bevy of electronic updates. and other technical improvements.

With more power (148 hp), more torque (86 lbs•ft), and less weight (467 lbs wet), it is evolution, not revolution for the 2018 Triumph Speed Triple, which comes in two varieties, the S model and the RS model.

Triumph claims over 100 changes have occurred inside the Speed Triple’s 1050cc three-cylinder engine cases, most of them to help the triple rev-up quicker and to achieve its higher redline of 10,500 rpm (+1,000 rpm higher than the previous model).

Riding the 2018 Triumph Speed Triple RS in Almería, Spain, Asphalt & Rubber got to see first-hand how these updates build upon Triumph’s street-hooligan reputation, and whether the Triumph Speed Triple RS is a worthy alternative to the bevy of robust machines already in this category.

The result? The 2018 Triumph Speed Triple RS is a smart update to the British brand’s streetfighter, and though it falls short of the high-water mark in the space, it offers some strong bang-for-the-buck hooning, which makes it very appealing. Let me explain.

Keep Reading
By
Bikes

2018 Triumph Speed Triple Pricing Revealed

By No Comments

We were supposed to wait another week until we heard pricing for the new Triumph Speed Triple, but the British brand spilled the beans early to the assembled press, at the bike’s international press launch in Almería, Spain.

Revamped for this model year, the new Triumph Speed Triple is really an evolution of the previous model, but adds some important upgrades to the original production streetfighter – namely a robust electronics suite and a more powerful 1050cc engine.

As such, we have prices for the 2018 Triumph Speed Triple S and 2018 Triumph Speed Triple RS for the US market, and Hinckley has done a good job of keeping this venerable streetfighter competitive against the field, both in terms of features and costs.

Keep Reading
By
Reviews

Gone Riding: Triumph Speed Triple RS

By No Comments

I just saw that it is snowing back home in Portland, so a very sunny hello from Spain, where we have flown to ride the new Triumph Speed Triple RS.

An update over the previous model, Triumph is boasting over 100 new pieces for the engine alone (along with a power bump to 148hp), but one quick look at this venerable streetfighter and it is obvious to see that it is evolution over revolution here for the Speed Triple.

That is not to say that Triumph hasn’t brought some meaningful updates to its awkwardly styled – yet beloved – machine, which should help the Speed Triple RS stack up very nicely against the very competitive models in the streetfighter segment.

The inclusion of IMU-powered traction control and brakes (RS model only) is the first major change made to aid that effort. The electronics suite is similarly robust with a ride-by-wire throttle, different power modes, and a 5″ TFT dash – keep things felling modern.

Helping earn the “RS” badge is OEM-spec Öhlins suspension, as well as an Arrow exhaust. Carbon fiber bodywork also comes on the RS model.

To test the new Speed Triple RS, Triumph has a two-fer for us today, riding on the streets of Spain, and then heading to the Circuito de Almería.

I’ve heard good things about Almería, so the day’s riding should be a perfect example of what one does with a dank-whoolie monster, such as the Speed Triple RS.

I was a big fan of the outgoing model, so I have high hopes for the 2018 edition, especially now that it stacks up better against the competition on the spec-sheet. The streetfighter segment is incredibly fierce though, and Triumph has some stiff competition, which means grading will be tough and merciless.

Per our new review format, we will be giving you a live assessment of the new Triumph Speed Triple RS right here in this article (down in the comments section), and there we will try to answer any questions you might have.

So, here is your chance to learn what it’s like to ride the Triumph Speed Triple RS, before even my own proper reviews are posted. As always, if I don’t know an answer, I will try to get a response from the Triumph personnel. So, pepper away.

You can follow our thoughts on the bike live via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and you can see what our colleagues are posting on social media by looking for the hashtags: #Triumph & #SpeedTripleRS

Keep Reading
By
Bikes

Triumph All But Shows Us the New Speed Triple RS

By No Comments

We continue our wait for the updated Triumph Speed Triple, which our sources say will be getting a mild refresh (more power, less weight, electronics, etc), similar to what we’ve seen with the rest of Triumph’s modern sport bike lineup (Street Triple, Tiger 800, and Tiger 1200).

To help tease us into this “new” model, Triumph has enlisted the help of two pretty famous blokes: Carl Fogarty and Gary Johnson.

In their teaser video, the two racers duke it out in some sort of race through an airfield, which is fine and all, but in the process of it, Triumph gives a pretty good glimpse of the 2018 Triumph Speed Triple RS.

The overall design of the new RS model is pretty close to the 2017 edition, though a couple subtle changes are noticeable. We will get full details next week. Until then…

Keep Reading
By
Recall

Recall: Triumph Speed Triple

By No Comments

If you are the proud owner of a 2016-2017 Triumph Speed Triple R or Triumph Speed Triple S, you should take heed of Triumph’s latest recall, which affects 541 motorcycles.

The recall comes about because Triumph noticed a trend with its warranty repairs, that the regulator/rectifier lead for the the charging system may rub against a bracket for the ABS modulator, which could potentially result in an electrical short.

Triumph says that it will notify affected owners, and that Triumph dealers will replace the affected wire, and also reroute it to avoid contact with the bracket, all free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in November 2017.

Keep Reading
By
Bikes

2016 Triumph Speed Triple Models Revealed

By 28 Comments

We already showed you leaked photos of the 2016 Triumph Speed Triple, and now the British marque is ready for you to officially see its streetfighter model.

Though Triumph is speaking too much about technical details, we can see that the now-called Triumph Speed Triple S and Speed Triple R don’t deviate too far from the previous iteration of the venerable street-bike model. They do boast some important improvements though.

As is readily apparent, the two Speed Triple models have an updated look, but a closer inspection of the spec-sheet reveals an updated engine as well.

Triumph says that it has made over 100 changes – 104, to be precise – to its 1,050cc three-cylinder power plant, which include a new combustion chamber, new cylinder head, new machined crank, new piston design, and new ‘ride-by-wire’ throttle bodies.

Keep Reading
By
Bikes

LEAKED: 2016 Triumph Speed Triple R

By 16 Comments

Triumph is set to debut most of its 2016 line on October 28th, but that hasn’t stopped a French dealer from posting photos of the company’s lineup onto the internet. Since we’re not part of the party, and thus handcuffed by an embargo, we thought we would share the photos with you, dear readers.

First up is the 2016 Triumph Speed Triple R, which gets a modest face lift for the new model year. Beyond the reworking of the bodywork, with the most obvious changes done to the face of the machine, the revised Triumph Speed Triple R will be Euro 4 compliant, which means there is likely a reworking to the streetfighter’s three-cylinder engine.

Rumors have the Triumph Speed Triple R coming with 140hp out of the box, with the “R” model getting the obviously higher-spec suspension and wheels over the base model, per usual.

We will have to wait and see what other changes Triumph brings to this fantastic street bike. Hopefully they have updated the Speed Triple enough to keep it relevant in this increasingly competitive segment, but hopefully they have also retained what makes the Speed Triple such a joy to ride. More photos after the jump.

Keep Reading
By