RIDE REVIEW I 2024 TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE 765 R AND RS
P116
R a more relaxed demeanor,
although with a claimed 118
horsepower on tap, it's still no
pussycat. Softer settings in
the fork provide good bump
absorption at low to medium
speed, but if you really start to
pull on the noise tube, you'll find
the limits of the suspension
(at least with Triumph's factory
settings) pretty quickly as the
composure of the chassis starts
to come into question.
With four riding modes, you
get the best throttle connec-
tion in Sport mode (and that
includes
the RS's Track mode).
Sport mode on both the R and
RS offers the smoothest transi-
tion of torque without feeling
like
the bike has been castrated,
and considering this is standard
fitment on the R, that's a win for
the cheaper bike. As is the fact
that the quickshifter is standard
fitment on both bikes, and it
works exceptionally well in up-
and downshifts when you're not
running racetrack levels of revs.
But the RS gets better the
faster you push it. The higher-
quality rear shock and fork, and
the sharper geometry, allow you
to rip through small and fast
corners more easily than on the
R model. This is what you pay
for and where the $2600 differ-
ence really shines through. The
electronics
aside, the ride on the
RS is a touch sportier in every
way, from the braking power and
feel from the MCS master cylin-
der to the suspension and ride
position, and
then you factor in
the electronics control suite with
the five-inch TFT display.
The R still holds its own,
mind you. The RS may have the
performance edge everywhere,
but the R is still a huge amount
of bike for the money at under
$10K. The ride position is more
comfortable thanks to the seat
angle, and I suspect if all you're
after is a nice street bike with no
ambitions of hitting the track or
your twisty canyons, I'd go for
the R and save the money.
ON TRACK WITH THE RS
We didn't get to ride the R on the
track, which is not surprising,
given its designation.
Once laced up to proper
track suspension settings,
the RS was a dream to ride
around Jerez, although
quite tiring with absolutely
zero wind protection.
