The Goodwood Test: Triumph Street Triple RS

Heritage

It’s exactly ten years since Triumph launched the original Street Triple, a pocket-sized piece of genius that is arguably the Hinckley firm’s finest model yet. Essentially a naked version of the superb Daytona 675 middleweight sportster, it was quick, light, sweet-handling, bursting with three-cylinder character, and outrageously good value for under £5500.

A year later Triumph upped the stakes with the Street Triple R, which combined the same 105bhp engine and aluminium frame with uprated suspension and brakes. It was the ultimate naked middleweight (and so good that I even bought one myself). By 2013, when both models gained revamped chassis and stubby single silencers instead of the original under-seat cans, Triumph had sold more than 50,000 units of what had become the firm’s most popular model family.

Design

The Street takes its biggest step forward this year with a trio of new models headed by the RS. All three are powered by a larger, 765cc (up from 675cc) liquid-cooled engine, in differing states of tune. All feature ride-by-wire throttle control and choice of riding modes. The flagship RS makes a maximum of 121bhp at 11,700rpm and has five modes including a dedicated Track setting. (The Street Triple R makes 116bhp, the base-model S 111bhp.)

Electronic updates include new instruments, traction control for the first time and, in the RS’s case, a quick-shifter for the revised six-speed gearbox. The twin-spar main frame is retained but there’s a new aluminium swingarm. The RS gets a stellar cast of cycle parts including Showa’s Big Piston Forks, an Öhlins rear shock and Brembo’s M50 Monobloc callipers.

Performance

Sadly Triumph’s sublime Daytona 675 sports bike has recently been discontinued, but that’s less of a blow because the Street Triple RS is so quick and capable, albeit without a fairing or clip-on handlebars. Its 12-valve engine is gloriously smooth and sweet-revving; occasionally slightly peaky for road use but thrillingly responsive when used hard with the aid of the new quick-shifter, which works only on up-changes.

Top speed is close to 150mph – plenty, with just a fly screen to keep off the wind – and the RS has handling to match, helped by a dry weight of just 161kg. Its taut and well-damped suspension is backed by super-sticky Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tyres, near-infinite ground clearance and that ferocious Brembo front brake. This is one naked middleweight that is as at home on a MotoGP racetrack as on the street.

Passion

The RS might be mid-sized in engine capacity, weight and even power output but it has an air of superbike-level quality from its flyscreen to the tip of its reshaped tailpiece (which comes with a clip-on pillion seat). Its silver or black paintwork is sleek. Its classy new instrument panel gives a choice of displays and allows easy selection of riding mode, via a joystick on the left handlebar.

Perhaps the only thing the RS, and to a lesser extent the other two models, don’t do is replicate the original Street’s status as an unmissable entry-level bargain. Ten years on, this Street Triple is a thoroughly grown-up middleweight – a fast, slightly furious, fine-handling naked sports bike that comes with change from ten grand.

Price of our bike: £9900 (Street Triple R £8900, S £8000)