Month in bikes

New, bigger Street Triple

AFTER YEARS OF shying away from the headline power figures of the latest super-nakeds, Triumph has gone back to the drawing board and produced its most powerful Speed Triple so far, the 1200RS, with 30bhp gained over the previous model. A new revvier 1160cc motor with a bigger bore and shorter stroke makes 178bhp at 10,750rpm with peak torque of 92lb·ft at 9000rpm.

Real effort has been made to improve the handling, so the bike is 10kg lighter than the previous model, with the frame itself 17% lighter. The wheelbase remains the same, although a new stacked gearbox allows a longer swingarm to promote more stability.

As you might expect from a top-of-the range super-naked, the 1200RS comes with Öhlins suspension, top-notch Brembo brakes and a host of electronic aids. There’s also helpful creature comforts like backlight switches, cruise control and phone connectivity as standard. It’s also the first Triumph that’s completely keyless, so no need for a key to turn on the ignition, open the fuel cap or set the steering lock as long as you have your transponder.

The Speed Triple 1200RS will arrive in dealers in March, priced at £15,100, which is a significant increase from the old model but it is still comparable with the big-power competition. There isn’t the option of a lower-spec version like before though.