Engine: 1050cc liquid-cooled, Inline 3 cylinder
Transmission: 6 speed final drive chain
Power: 110kW
Torque: 117Nm @7150rpm
Curb weight: 189 kg
Fuel Capacity: 15.5 litres
Seat: 825 mm
Price: $22,700
Twenty years and counting and a cult following bigger than the Sharknado franchise – the Triumph’s Speed Triple staple has to be doing something right.
To learn the beginnings of this beast you have to go back to the noughties when it was known as the smaller, tamer T309. Back then it only possessed 100 horsepower (74kW), so it’s unfair to compare it to today’s big-bore bikes, where 140 horses (104kW) don’t even make the cut.
Forward to 2019 and there are new, tougher valve springs, and the engine now redlines 1000rpm higher than the previous model, with 110kW under its belt. All this with an assist from the drive gear which makes the engine spin up quicker than before.
Tech updates of note include the TFT dash display and the five riding modes including the new Track and Rider modes. Rider Mode allows you to custom the ride to your liking, Rain Mode puts a dampener on power (74kW), while all other modes have the full juice on tap.
The brakes of course are top-notch; Radial Brembos up front, and the single Nissin out back. These are common amongst these type of bikes so no need for back flips just yet.
Anyone who’s shopped around knows there’s many great nakeds available today – with the 2018 Speed Triple RS being one of our picks. There are over 50 accessories available, from luggage to bling, and being an RS, Aussie-spec Speed Triples are highly equipped and ready to go – so there’s no more excuses.
For the full article grab the February 2019 issue of MAXIM Australia from newsagents and convenience locations. Subscribe here.
