TVS Factory to Track

A very special ride marking the journey of TVS Motorcycles, from the factory to the track and everything in between

The things that make the Street Triple RS such a critically acclaimed motorcycle are the triple-cylinder motor and its ability to cut through tarmac spaghetti like a hot knife through butter. With Euro 5/BS6 emission norms watering down the performance of motorcycles across the spectrum, worries about this 2020 Triple were far from unfounded. Although Triumph has always surpassed expectations in terms of engine development, this particular 765cc triple is the same one that you see on every single Moto2 motorcycle on the grid, giving it the competitive edge of being continuously developed and tested at the highest level of middle-weight racing.

As a result, while the power remains the same at 123bhp, the motor has been thoroughly improved. For one, in the conversion to BS6 emissions compliance norms the motor has gained two factors of twist, going from 77Nm to 79Nm. Peak torque also kicks in about 500 rpm earlier. It’s not a massive jump and not something that you feel ‘off-the-seat-of-your-pants’. What you do feel instead is the meatier mid-range that has improved by 10 per cent in terms of both power and torque. Earlier iterations of the Street were what you would call “peaky”, with all the power at the very top. While this worked well at the track, city riding could be a little harrowing. The added punch to the mid-range fixes this significantly, not to mention corner exits where having that mid-range grunt helps you to really build confidence.

While an easy fix for more stringent emission norms is to strangle the exhaust, thankfully Triumph has not gone

that way. Instead, they’ve worked on improving the efficiency of the engine overall. The new Street Triple sports a new intake system and a 7 per cent drop in rotational inertia achieved courtesy of a lighter crank, clutch and balancer. The exhaust has been reworked too, with twin cat-cons replacing the single unit to ensure that the exhaust flows freely. There are bi-directional quick-shifters and a slip and assist clutch that makes riding the Street Triple all that more engaging. Interestingly, Triumph has skipped out the 6-axis IMU, which didn’t really affect me on the road, but I’m sure it would have added to confidence on the track. The kit on the Triumph Street Triple RS is still very much top-shelf. The frame is an aluminium twin-spar, and the fully adjustable suspension is divided between Showa forks up front and an Ohlins STX40 at the back. They are set up sharp right out of the box, but it’s not something that you can’t fix with a little know-how. Add to that the Pirelli Diablo SuperCorsa SP tyres for the RS and Brembo M50 Monobloc and the RS handles like a motorcycle that is an extension of yourself, sharp, light and intuitively agile.

THIS PARTICULAR 765CC TRIPLE IS THE SAME ONE THAT YOU SEE ON EVERY SINGLE MOTO2 MOTORCYCLE ON THE GRID

1. The TFT screen is easy to read and uncluttered but still loaded with quite a few features. 2. With improved internals and better overall efficiency, the Triumph Street Triple already potent motor is now the benchmark for the rest of the segment. 3. The adjustable Ohlins STX40 mono-shock has a refreshingly good ride for a track focus spring. 4. Brembo M50 callipers shave speed with confidence, allowing you to brake that much later. 5. The carbon fibre tip on the belly exhaust just reiterates Triumph’s focus on quality. 6. The seat is a little stiff but it’s no dealbreaker

At Rs 11.35 lakh (ex-showroom) the Street Triple RS is expensive. Especially when you compare it on paper to Kawasaki’s Z900. For the extra dime, the Street Triple’s value proposition lies in its agility, lightweight construct and its ability to take to the track without any major modifications. If what you are looking for is a middle-weight track bike for the road, then I don’t believe, that there is anything on sale in India that is better than the Street Triple RS straight out the box.

The sharp but minimal tail section gives away the Triumph’s trackfocused intent