Triple with attitude

Clip-on clad Triumph RS spied with electronic suspension

Triumph look to be gearing up for the launch of a more focused Speed Triple 1200 RS super-naked, with new spy shots showing a development bike sporting a racier riding position, plus semi-active electronic suspension.

Spotted being ridden in Catalonia, the development bike could well be the secondgen Speed Triple 1200 RS, with the first iteration having arrived in 2021 powered by an 1160cc triple producing 178bhp.

The existing bike uses manually adjustable Öhlins suspension as standard, but the photographs show wires protruding from the front and rear springs of the test mule – suggesting there will be a choice of damping settings depending on the riding scenario, without going to jelly when you show it a race track.

These are likely to be controlled through the switchgear and colour TFT dash, which look to be carried over from the existing model.

Triumph’s half-faired £17,950 Speed Triple 1200 RR already employs electronic suspension (and clip-ons) in the form of Öhlins 43mm fully adjustable USD forks and a monoshock at the rear.

Whether these components are now to be shared with the naked RS remains to be seen, but with dealers slashing thousands from new RR models, it’s possible Triumph will axe that version and just produce a more focused naked in an attempt to satisfy all performance customer bases.

With the current £15,795 Speed Triple RS wearing a set of flat bars, the new clip-ons seen here would suggest this bike will feature a more aggressive riding position than before. This looks to be taken further at the rear of the bike, with what look to be revisions to the subframe and rider’s seat. A pillion option remains as before, but the bike is unlikely to be comfy over distance.

The riding position doesn’t appear to be too extreme though, with the Triumph development rider seen here not looking to have too much weight on his wrists.

The rider is at least normal height and build, and there seems to be plenty of room to move around on the new machine, despite the tall pegs fitted for ground clearance.

A new steering damper also sits visible beneath the dual headlight cluster, strapped to the gold coloured forks.

MCN approached Triumph about the bike, but they declined to comment.

1 Familiar frame The existing aluminium twinspar frame looks to have been carried over to this model, with minor chassis changes found at the rear 2 New rims This development bike features a seven-spoke rear and five-spoke from 17in rim set-up, which differs from the current Y-shaped units 3 Fatter rubber The Pirelli Supercorsa rubber looks to be slightly wider at the rear than the existing 190-section unit. The current bikes arrive on Metzeler Racetecs 4 Ready to go? With a homologation number plate bracket, plus reflectors in all the right places, this Speed Triple could be ready to hit showrooms soon 5 Existing engine The engine architecture and familiar exhaust would suggest that the 1160 triple remains. Triumph may have breathed on it slightly for a performance uplift

Footpegs are high for good ground clearance

It has new wheels and electronic suspension

Clip-ons but the stance isn’t too committed