NEED for SPEED
Looks familiar? Well, it’s not. This new Speed Triple 1200 RS takes the family name a whole step forward, not just being sharper and more powerful but also being more comfortable and accessible
Flagship streetfighters are evolving so fast alongside their faired siblings, that almost every year we’re rewriting the rule book on the parameters of what gives a motorcycle that flagship tag. A minute ago, the norm was a litre class supersport that came alongside the flagship streetfighter with 130-150bhp on tap. Now with the likes of the Italian’s and the Swedes pushing the envelope of displacement with their almost 1,200cc 200bhp+ streetfighters, the 1,050cc Speed Triple was beginning to look a little bland. The resultant pushback from the boys at Hinckley is this, the new Triumph Speed Triple 1200 that will be sold in a single RS trim. The essence of the formula hasn’t changed much, but underneath, this new 1,200cc Speed is an all-new motorcycle.
There’s so much change under the skin, it’s hard to wrap your head around how Triumph have managed to ensure that the sum of all these new parts add up to create a motorcycle that is instantly recognizable as a Speed Triple. The familiar bug-eyed headlamps are still there but in this generation, they are slimmer and LED, with those sharp boomerang DRLs. The fuel tank too has gained some sinew, and this time around features graphics that run along the knee recesses’. Being an RS badged motorcycle, the new 2021 Speed Triple also gets a carbon fibre mudguard and a body-coloured Slimmer LED headlamps with the new Triumph boomerang DRLs look modern but don’t take away from Speed’s signature bugeyed charm
belly pan. The Sapphire Black paint scheme on our test bike is understatedly beautiful. Material quality too is exceptional all around, even before you touch tarmac with the Speed Triple, it feels flagship. The instruments are displayed via a 5.5-inch TFT screen which also allows riders to interface with their mobile phones and GoPros using the MyTriumph connectivity suite. Triumph’s TFT interface does stand out in terms of UX and harsh light legibility. Another flex for the 2021 Speed Triple is the full keyless system, which includes keyless ignition, an auto-steering lock as well as a fuel filler cap.
It is not until you’re in the saddle do you realise how much has really changed. The old Speed 1050 had a much tighter rider’s triangle and leaned much harder on its track-bred DNA, meaning it wasn’t the most comfortable bike to ride when you’re not on the track. The fifth-generation Triple is just much more comfortable. Wider bars, lower and mid-set footpegs ease up the pressure on your core and back making it much friendlier on your wrist. The longer, wider seat with more cushion has more than enough space even when you want to dial in for the track and it is actually comfortable when you’re out on the road. What makes all these gains all the more significant is the fact that they don’t come at the cost of the Speed’s signature handling and sharpness. We haven’t yet had the opportunity to take the 1200 RS out on the track, but first impressions do indicate that this 1200 RS will be absolutely epic.
These handling gains can be attributed to the new cast-aluminium chassis that is designed to centralise the mass, in addition to being considerably lighter than the outgoing chassis. When you add to that
UNLEASH EVERYTHING AND THE SPEED 1200 RS HOPS INTO HYPERDRIVE. EVERYTHING AROUND YOU TUNNELS AS THE INSTRUMENTS STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP AS THE NOSE KEEPS REACHING FOR THE HORIZON
the top shelf equipment all around, the odds are going to be in your favour. The Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS gets fully adjustable suspension from Ohlins, Brembo Stylema callipers with a brake force distribution system and almost track-spec Metzeler RaceTec RR tyres. With the factory settings on suspension, the Triumph manages a good balance of compression and rebound without really giving up much either in terms of sharpness or comfort. The onboard electronics suite includes a 6-axis IMU that feeds a cornering ABS, the wheelie control and a switchable cornering traction control system. Rider modes include Road, Rain, Sport and Track mode with an additional customizable rider.
Each mode can be tweaked too, adjusting for engine power outputs, traction control, and ABS. At 198kg the Speed Triple is properly light, 10kg less than its smaller displacement predecessor, and makes for easy low-speed handling aided by the fact that the weights are better centralised.
While the engine may share its genet
THE NEW CAST-ALUMINIUM CHASSIS IS DESIGNED TO CENTRALISE THE MASS, IN ADDITION TO BEING CONSIDERABLY LIGHTER THAN THE OUTGOING CHASSIS
ics with the 1,050cc triple that it replaces, it is a ground-up new engine. Better materials and design mean that despite gaining displacement the engine is not only more compact in terms of dimensions it is also 7kg lighter. With a rated output of an incredible 180bhp@10,750rpm and 125Nm of peak torque, the 2021 Speed Triple adds 30bhp and 8Nm of torque on the previous generation’s outputs. Infused with technology from Triumph’s Moto2 programme, Triumph also says the new Speed Triple has better power delivery, thanks to a much flatter torque curve and a higher 11,500rpm redline. The motor is paired with a new 6-speed gearbox with a slip and assist clutch. Triumph says the new stacked 6-speed has better packaging with reworked ratios.
Facts and figures are all very nice, but to truly understand just how quick Triumph’s new flagship streetfighter is you have to get it out on the open road and throw it in Sport. Immediately, I can see why Triumph bank so heavily on their inline three engine layout. For one, the flatter but more consistent torque curve is much easier to get the hang of especially when you’re choosing between a choppy V-configuration and an all-atthe-top in-line four. While I’m sure expert riders can extract more from all three configurations, it’s clear that the Triple’s compromise between the best of both layouts will be easier to get the hang of for a wider spectrum of rider abilities. Especially when you have a 180bhp motorcycle that weighs in at under 200kg. That’s not saying this new Speed Triple is by any means sedate, in fact, if anything it’s brutally fast. Unleash everything and the Speed 1200 RS hops into hyperdrive. Everything around you tunnels as the instruments struggle to keep up as the nose keeps reaching for the horizon. Add to all of the above a slick 6-speed with surgical precision and you have the ingredients for one of the strongest flagship streetfighters out there, both on track and on the road.