BEST OF BRITISH
Us Brits love an underdog, and maybe that’s the reason we’ve warmed so wholeheartedly to the Speed Triple concept over its 24 years. It’s easy to forget just how long it’s been doing the rounds in Triumph’s ever expanding line-up, occasionally taking a few steps forward with an improved iteration, but never truly being able to willy wave as the most high-tech, lightweight or powerful in its tough sector. And, being honest, it still can’t, but that doesn’t make the RS a second-rate option in any way whatsoever.
Triumph are smart cookies; they don’t play the game of chasing crazy stats just to make a statement. And it’s no change from that approach with the new RS. When they kicked this project off all of three years back the Hinckley-based massive had a very clear vision of how to take what was arguably a great bike and make it even greater. Yes, it needed a bit more power. Yes, it needed a bit more tech. Yes, it needed to go on a bit of a diet (don’t we all?). But Triumph weren’t prepared to compromise integrity for figures; in both the numerical and shapely senses.
The bike still had to be comfortable, characterful and useable; being just as well suited to popping to the shops on as it would be for mullering your
