Q Has all that power made it feel too aggressive?
If you buy the 1200 RS expecting it to feel like a 1050, you will be disappointed. The new motor delivers a completely different riding experience that some owners will love and others possibly not enjoy as much. So what’s changed?
The old 1050’s motor was lowerrevving, a bit lazy and full of midrange grunt that was delivered in a meaty, if slightly vibey, fashion. It felt like a muscular naked bike in the traditional sense of the word. In contrast, the 1200’s engine feels far more ‘modern’. It’s smoother, packing less of the previous model’s characterful thump, offering far faster throttle pick-up. Plus it’s considerably more powerful.
If you have a pre-ride-by-wire Speed Triple (introduced in 2016), the new bike’s throttle will feel ultra-light and
even owners of the latest 1050 RS will be surprised at how much more powerful the 1200 engine is. While you can ride it low in the rev range, the 1200 motor has an urgency that makes it far harder to keep to ‘sensible’ speeds — it’s always straining to be let off its lead.
Euro5 rules have made the initial throttle opening a bit snatchy, which isn’t unexpected but the 1200 motor is far removed from the chilled-out 1050 lump. It continually demands your full attention. When you want to work with it, the sheer speed and acceleration on tap is breathtaking but when you’re not in the mood, it’s more needy than the 1050 and lacks the old triple’s charm. Is it a step too far? Possibly — it’s not quite as satisfying to use on rapid, flowing roads as the old bike.