KICK IN THE RS
‘It’ll keep up with the best super-nakeds’ More grunt plus more refinement
It’s been a case of the Emperor’s New Clothes in the super-naked world over the past few years. It’s all 200bhp this and slide control that, but the truth is you can’t use a 200bhp Ducati Streetfighter V4 S, MV Agusta Brutale 1000RR or Kawasaki Z H2 anywhere near its limit on the road and with so little bodywork to hide behind, you can’t hold them wide open on the track for very long either. In fact, it’s the super-nakeds with the least power up top and the most in the middle that rock our world. Yamaha’s 158bhp MT-10 is one of the craziest, wheelie-toting creations out there, the 177bhp KTM 1290 Super Duke R only needs its front wheel when it’s parked and with ‘just’ 173bhp to play with Aprilia’s Tuono V4 Factory has been an MCN favourite since it became an 1100 in 2015. And then there’s the outgoing 2018 Speed Triple RS. Triumph claimed 148bhp from the 1050cc threecylinder engine, which always put it in super-naked purgatory between the big guns and softer Japanese rivals like the Kawasaki Z1000, Honda CB1000R and Suzuki GSX-S1000. But here’s the thing: it handled beautifully, had solid meat-and-potatoes power and always made you smile, even if on paper, it wasn’t as sexy as its rivals.
It is now… or will be when it arrives in dealers next month. Power shoots up 30bhp to 178bhp, weight is trimmed by 10kg, it sizzles with new electronic rider aids and it’ll only come in RS trim with big Brembos and racy Öhlins. But have Triumph spoiled it by making it too clever? Certainly not in the engine department. The new £15,100 Speed Triple 1200 RS makes the same kind of power as the very best of its rivals and better still the new triple is always smooth and refined without ever being overpowering or intimidating, like a 200bhp monster.
‘The ride is sporty, without being a knee or wrist-crusher’