IN
THE
WIND
P40
2018 TRIUMPH SPEED
TRIPLE S & RS FIRST LOOK
T
he streetfighter motorcycle
would arguably not be here
had it not been for Triumph and
the original Speed Triple in 1994.
The British brand hit the nail
on the head with what was es-
sentially a stripped back Daytona
900 (it even had clip-on bars),
but that was over 20 years ago.
Now the category is filled with
superbikes without fairings—such
as the KTM 1290 Super Duke
R, Aprilia Tuono 1100 and BMW
S 1000 R—and Triumph was
left fighting with one hand tied
behind its back.
But for this year, the Hinckley
boys and girls have given the
Speed Triple a new lease of life
by creating two versions of the
machine in the S and high-spec
RS. Both machines share the
same 1050cc three-cylinder
motor that's fitted with 105 new
parts, and pumps out a claimed
148 hp—a seven percent in-
crease—from the crank and 86
lb-ft of torque with five individual
riding mode options.
The new motor is claimed to
be faster revving with a 1000-rpm
higher rev ceiling than the 2017
model, with the RS getting Arrow
silencers as standards fitment.
The RS also gets 43mm Ohlins
forks and an Ohlins shock, while
the S will get Showa versions.
Both machines enjoy Brembo
Monobloc front brake calipers as
standard. The RS is claimed to
be the lightest Speed Triple of all
time, with seven pounds saved
compared to the 2017 machine.
The 2018 Speed Triple will
get all-new electronics with a
Continental Inertial Measurement
Unit fitted, which mitigates the
new Cornering ABS and traction
control as standard, while the RS
also gets the Triumph Shift Assist
(quickshifter) fitted.
Both machines will get daytime
running lights, cruise control and
a USB charging port as stan-
dard.
Like the outstanding Street
Triple 765 of 2017, the new
Speed Triple will be graced
with the excellent five-inch TFT
display dash that allows three
different layouts for the S and an
extra three for the RS, all with a
daytime and nighttime mode.
We will be testing the new
Triumph Speed Triple in the com-
ing weeks and will report back to
you guys with our findings. CN
The Triumph Speed
Triple RS will be
the higher spec of
the 2018 duo with
Ohlins suspension
and a some extra
electronic upgrades.
