Triumph Street Triple RS: Top 5 Facts

The much anticipated variant of the Street Triple, the Triumph Street Triple RS, has finally been launched in India at a price tag of Rs 10.55 lakh (ex-showroom pan-India). But is the top-spec variant of the Street Triple line-up worth it? If you’re someone who’s planning to get this British beauty for Diwali, here are five important facts you should know!

Engine -

At the heart of the newly launched Triumph Street Triple RS lies the the same motor that powers the Triumph Daytona 675. However, along with 80 new parts, it also gets a few modifications like a new crank, pistons, con rods and a balancer shaft. To make the motor more powerful than before, the engineers at Triumph have increased the length of the bore and stroke. This has resulted in a higher displacement and increased torque. 

The Euro IV-compliant 765cc, 3-cylinder engine now delivers 123PS of power at 11700rpm and 77Nm of peak torque at 10800rpm. In comparison, the base version makes 111PS and 73Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. Starting from 2019, Triumph will be providing the same engine for Moto2 racing. That should tell you a little about the fun and zing this bike promises to offer.

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Electronics -

Among the biggest criticism faced by the old Street Triple was its lack of electronic wizardry. Triumph has addressed those issues as the Street Triple RS now gets a host of new features like the ride-by-wire technology for better and precise throttle control, a bi-directional quickshifter, and a total of 5 different riding modes - Rain, Sport, Track, Race and a fully programmable Rider mode.

The traction control settings can now be adjusted into four different modes - Road, Rain, Track and Off, and allows the rider to customise their riding experience. In terms of safety nets, the RS comes with ABS with three different modes - Road, Track and an option to turn it completely off.  

Mechanicals -

The Street Triple RS utilises the same twin-spar frame as its predecessor, albeit with a new gullwing swingarm which offers better torsional rigidity. In addition to that, the rake angle has now been decreased to 23.9 degrees when compared to the older generation’s 24.1 degrees. This should improve the bike’s handling characteristics by a huge margin.  Suspension duties are handled by 41mm USD Showa Big Piston Forks  at the front and a Ohlins STX40 monoshock unit at the rear.

The RS now sports softer compound Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP which should offer leech-like grip levels when you go corner carving. To bring the bike to a standstill, the Street Triple RS utilises top-shelf Brembo twin 310mm discs with M50 4-piston callipers at the front and a 220mm Brembo single disc unit at the rear. 

The Street Triple RS has a seat height of 825mm, which is 25mm more than the older bike. Despite all the additional features, the new bike is lighter by than its predecessor by 2kg at 166kg (dry weight). 

Features -

The (in)famous bug-eyed headlamps still remain the same. However, they get subtle-looking LED DRLs which give the bike a sharper look. You also get self-canceling indicators. When you hop onto the bike, the first thing that will capture your attention is the all new 5-inch TFT multifunction colour display which is filled to the brim with different information and details. The menu is controlled by new switchgear which features a 5-way joystick mounted conveniently on the left hand side which lets you scroll through different riding modes, engage the lap timer, change riding modes, etc.

In addition to this, the display also swivels, allowing riders to change the angle of the screen according to their needs. It also gets three switchable themes and an auto-contrast function which helps adjust the brightness of the screen according to the ambient light. In terms of additional accessories, you can opt for heated grips and a rear cowl.

Pricing and competitions - 

The Triumph Street Triple RS comes at a price of Rs 10.55 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). This makes its significantly cheaper than its rivals despite being loaded to the brim with features and premium cycle parts. The secret to Triumph’s cut-throat pricing is the fact that the bike is locally assembled in India as it comes via the CKD route.

At this price point, it goes up against the likes of the upcoming Aprilia Shiver 900, which is estimated to be priced at Rs 12.29 lakh (ex-showroom, India), and the Ducati Monster 821 priced at Rs 10.25 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). If you stretch your budget a little, you could also lay your hands on the the beautiful MV Agusta Brutale 800 priced at Rs 15.59 lakh (ex-showroom India).