Finally, the big boy has arrived. For 2018, the legendary British manufacturer is spinning a new edition of their iconic Speed Triple motorcycle that has had its glory days starting way back with the ’94 Speed Triple T309. The original ‘factory streetfighter’.

Like old wine in a new bottle, the new Speed Triple is a 24-year-old model. It has already been updated half a dozen times with the last one being in 2016. But with the competition spearing ahead, Triumph decided to refresh the Speed Triple with a few of its latest gimmicks and is giving us their sophisticated hooligans, the ‘2018 Speed Triple S & RS’.

Unveiled at the exclusive factory launch yesterday, the new Speed Triple S & RS are the most powerful, smartest and best-handling Speed Triples... ever.

STYLING

Designed to be an addictive and intuitive performance street motorcycle, Triumph’s attempt here is authentic. Keeping the character and the looks of the Speed Triple alive, this new edition retains the overall silhouette but gets a fresh new attitude. Said to have been inspired by the ‘nose-down’ focused attitude, the Speed Triple showcases significant styling evolution over its previous generation.

It retains the aggressive bodywork, flyscreen, radiator, cowls, integrated air intake, aluminum bar end mirrors, sleek fuel tank, narrow radiator and slim two-piece seat design with embossed Triumph logo. The RS version gets a few new pieces of stuff like the carbon-fiber bodywork, matte aluminum rear sub-frames, color-coded belly pan, pillion seat cowl with interchangeable pillion seat and lower chain guard.

Triumph is one of those who understands and respects the fact that the little finishing touches, detailing and craftsmanship give the bike a panache in its own way. The level of finish across the entire motorcycle is tremendous and comes with many high-quality details, rider heel guards, forged pillion footrests, quality switchgear, pinstriping and more. The 10-spoke alloys gets swapped with new high-gloss 5-spoke wheels for a more premium and contemporary look.

The twin-pod headlamp unit is tweaked to get a more aggressive stance and now also features new distinctive LED Daytime Running Lights. Then there is the 5”full-color TFT instrument cluster first seen on the Street Triple having adjustable angle panel allows the rider to have customized styles and access to the new onboard computer that gives all the information in an intuitive and fun way. There are three different screen display styles to choose from, pre-set to the riding modes and changeable easily on the move via the illuminated switch cubes.

Overall Dimension

POWERTRAIN

Designed to be an addictive and intuitive performance street motorcycle, Triumph has updated the 1050cc engine with a healthy number of updates to make it lighter and more frugal. Just like how the new Tigers’ and the Street Triples’ received around 105 new changes under the hood, the Speed Triple also followed suit. New improvements include lighter crank gear, lighter Nikasil-plated aluminum cylinder liners, a smaller starter motor, and lighter battery and alternator.

Thanks to the new profiled pistons and a new cylinder head design, the engine can be run at a higher compression ratio that ultimately gives the explosion of more power. The new motor has a more responsive throttle with a higher revving engine that makes a mighty 150 hp (10 hp more than the previous one) and 86.3 lb.ft of peak torque (5 lb.ft more than the previous one).

This new Speed Triple focusses on state of the art rider-centric technology giving everyone maximum control and safety. Triumph has equipped the Speed Triple with ride-by-wire for precise throttle response and improved on/off throttle transition. A slip-assist clutch tethered to the 6-speed drive keeps things running smooth.

Triumph has sweated it out to keep things fresh with the new Speed Triples. Take the new Arrow exhaust on the RS for example. This free flow kit gives this hooligan the best-sounding soundtrack ever on a British and looks much more lethal than the ugly bulbous ones on the previous one. The exhaust canisters on the ‘S’ is also a free-flowing exhaust that is sleeker when compared to the 2016 one.

Engine Specification

RIDE AND HANDLING

Making the bike ride like a breeze, Triumph has updated the machine to be the lightest amongst its peers in the class. Having one of the best power-to-weight ratios has its perks, and one can feel it by the easy rideability this thing has to offer to anyone throwing a leg around. Giving it a precise and stiff chassis setup, the Brits have delivered a truly explosive and agile tool for your road and track use.

The new models retain the distinctive single-sided swinging arm and twin-spar aluminum frame of the previous generation, optimized for stiffness for the perfect blend of rigidity and feel. Slim two-piece seat design gives enough support to both rider and pillion with the riding position being neutral.

Electronic rider aids will include ride-by-wire, cruise control, switchable ABS, switchable traction control and five different rider modes as standard on both variants. The ‘RS’ gets special treatments with the addition of the switchable cornering ABS and optimized traction control system supported by a brand new IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), improving both straight line riding and cornering. A ‘Track mode’ and keyless ignition reserves only with the RS. The RS even weighs 7 pounds lighter than the S.

Top-of-the-line components on this new Triples make them the best handling liter-class naked roadsters coming out of the British factory. Mechanically the Triple S is fitted with a fully adjustable Showa USD forks and monoshock whereas the RS receives the Ohlins USD and twin-tube rear monoshock. Premium Brembo M4.34 brake setup and Pirelli Diablo SuperCorsa tires do their bit.

Chassis Specifications

PRICE

Triumph will officially reveal the pricing and availability of the Speed Triple on the Monday, 26th February. The previous edition had a price tag of $13,200 for the ‘S’ variant and $14,900 for the ‘R’. For 2018, we reckon the ‘S’ variant will be priced at around $15,300 and the ‘RS’ for $16,500.

The Speed Triple S will be available in Jet Black or Crystal White, both with a titanium rear subframe, graphite wheel pinstripes, silver seat stitching and graphite decals. The ‘RS’ will be available in Crystal White or Matt Jet Black, both with a matte aluminum rear subframe, red wheel pinstripes, red seat stitching, and more premium RS decals.

Triumph confidence provides you with a two-year unlimited mileage warranty on your new Triumph and Genuine Accessories. Alongside the knowledge that Triumph gives you a 12-month unlimited mileage warranty on replacement parts.

COMPETITION

KTM 1290 Super Duke R

Depending on who you talk to, the KTM Super Duke R is the best of the bunch when it comes to crunching the apex. KTM has always walked along the edge of extreme looks and has equipped the flagship with major visual updates to make it look like a lethal weapon. Bodywork is more aggressive and mental than the outgoing model and includes sharp design language with tank spoilers, and the new air intakes all made to cut just through anything. LED headlights, TFT instrumentation and 17” orange rims keep things fresh.

Power mill on this is the same 1,301cc, 75-degree V-twin running since 2014 but gets a host of upgrades just like the Speed Triple does. The updated LC8 engine will now be able to churn a 179.45 hp and 104 pound-feet of peak torque. This is the most powerful motor ever muscled into a street bike by KTM. This makes it a monster compared to the Speed Triple. It is mated to a six-speed gearbox through a hydraulically-operated PASC slipper clutch. It reaches 0-200 kph mark in just 7.2 seconds.

The Duke R is bolstered with three riding modes and a "performance pack" gives it a quick-shifter, wheelie control, traction control slip adjust and launch control. Upside down WP USD 48mm with steering damper does the job at the front and a mono-shock at the rear for better handling. Brembo monoblock does the stopping, and tailor-made Metzeler M7RR tires give fantastic grip and stability on the asphalt.

VERDICT

For a company that has been making iconic motorcycles that offer a blend of authentic design, character, charisma, and performance for over two decades, Triumph can finally take pride in knowing that they have made their most exquisite, and intuitive performance street motorcycle for a long time to come now. Including the Street Triple mid-weight.

With the super-naked category running as hot as ever, without a doubt, has become the most competitive and crowded class in the motorcycling arena. And with the release of this hooligan, Triumph has positioned themselves as a fierce competitor. Given the equipment list, fit and finish of the Speed Triple, Triumph has managed to give the bike enough pull to take the competition head-on.

To make things even more interesting, Triumph has also released over 50 accessories to take their Speed Triples to an even higher level of specification with official accessories, covering style, performance, and practicality. They include black anodized CNC-machined brake reservoirs, machined wheel finishers, slim LED indicators, and contemporary lightweight carbon fiber fuel tank infills. For more practicality there’s also a low seat, frame and fork protectors, radiator guard, fly screen visor, passenger grab rail, luggage options and heated grips.