Triumph Speed Triple S

THE 1050CC BIKES get an extra 27bhp compared with the 765cc Street Triple RS. There’s also a hefty increase in torque and peak is delivered at just 7150rpm, compared with 11,000rpm on the Street RS. That’s going to translate as a massive increase in thrust, especially when the bikes need to be short shifted, like at the exit of the hairpin and the chicanes. The critical question is whether the extra 26 kilos (that’s four stone) will make it significantly harder to turn, especially in the two flip-flop chicanes. ‘The power is obviously far stronger,’ says Gary after his session on the bigger bike, ‘and you can really use grunt at Mallory. The rear shock is plush, but it wants to wheelie. The traction control kicked in a couple of times out of Edwina’s and the hairpin where it’s trying to wheelie (which didn’t happen on the Streets). And at Gerards, when you are tipping in, if you are too quick it sits down on the shock and runs wide. You do notice the extra weight through the slow stuff, but it flips through the chicanes easily enough. ‘I have got much more confidence in this than the base set-up of the Street Triple R. ‘Slightly soft brake lever feel where the RS feels really firm, but we’re getting them bloody hot, and they don’t feel as firm when they are hot. Up to this point I’d say it was fastest, but I’d like a quick shifter and better shock. Getting off the Street RS you really notice the absence of a quick shifter on track.’ The data backs up Gary’s view. The Speed Triple S is one second a lap faster overall despite being slower mid-corner at Gerards, slower through the flip-flop chicanes and not able to brake as hard as the Street RS. The power to deliver corner exit drive and straightline speed more than compensates.

‘The power is stronger and you can use the grunt’