The 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS Packs Ultimate Potential

Twist the key on the 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS, and an eye-catching graphic appears on the TFT display: three big, consecutive zeros. Whether you’re an eternal pessimist or a glass-half-full type, the triple zeroes seem like a pointed way of suggesting kinetic potential. This, after all, comes from the British manufacturer that practically invented the hooligan motorcycle when the Speed Triple was launched in 1994. Wanna go fast? Triumph’s right there with you, even though the Street Triple bows to the flagship, which flaunts the word ‘Speed’ right there in the model name.

Editor’s Note: We recently rode the Street Triple RS during the 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS MC Commute Review.

It’s been nearly three decades since the Speed Triple stirred the hooligan bike pot, long enough for the bubble-eyed 1,050cc flagship to spawn its 765cc little sibling, the Street Triple, which launched in 2007. The latest Street Triple benefits from Bluetooth, GPS, and GoPro connectivity via the aforementioned TFT screen— not very hooligan-like features, truth be told, especially when you’re caught fiddling with the thumb-operated joystick on the left switchgear when you’d rather be riding. Hardcore motorcyclists will, on the other hand, appreciate the updated model’s Euro 5-compliant engine upgrade with a 9 percent bump in power, the standard quickshifter, and the freer flowing muffler.

While the range-topping Speed Triple starts at $14,350 (or $16,500 for the high-spec RS version), the Street Triple lands just within that desirable four-digit range: $9,950. This top-spec Street Triple RS commands $12,550, the extra dough going towards Brembo M50 front monoblocs and MCS rears, Showa Big Piston forks, a fully adjustable Öhlins rear shock, 5 riding modes, and a few trim bits like a removable pillion seat cowl for that oh-so-sporty look. There’s a midrange R version as well, which runs $11,250. Street Triples produce between 116 hp and 123 hp; the top RS model produces 121 hp and 57 pound-feet torque.

Climb aboard the Street Triple, and a purposeful mood prevails. This is a somewhat tall, narrow naked bike with a 32.5-inch seat height and arms-forward, but not punishing ergonomic arrangement. Dry weight comes in at 366 lbs, which Triumph claims is lightest in class, but the Street Triple’s most immediate trait is the inline-3 cylinder engine resting just ahead of your legs. Goose the throttle, and the free-revving triple stirs immediately, shooting the tachometer up with a seemingly frictionless boom. The valvetrain whine is shrill and wonderful, and the smoothness of the rapidly reciprocating engine provides an intriguing counterbalance to the rawness of the sound.

The Street Triple’s shifter engages with short, precise kicks, and the clutch is similarly crisp. Short ratio first and second gears produce an urgency that makes the manic engine feel absolutely in its element— shame the tachometer, in every customizable rendition on the TFT screen, is never graphically clear enough to offer a worthy representation of what the glorious powerplant is producing. Back to the 000 mph display at startup on the digital screen, the Street Triple’s digital speedometer seems hell bent on climbing from the slightest provocation of your right wrist. Hooligan bike indeed. But what’s remarkable about this 765cc powerhouse is how well the whole bike works together as a system. It corners light-footedly, with steering responsiveness that doesn’t sacrifice stability. Brake lever feedback is responsive and communicative, and there’s a gratifying thrill to hard acceleration that doesn’t fade with repeated blasts.

Sure, there’s deeper thrust on tap with the Speed Triple, which takes the bad boy theme to the extreme. But in its own right, the Street Triple comes across as a compelling alternative because it’s so committed to its cause. Though less fearsome, this little sibling is still tasty, pugnacious and alert, offering engaging riding dynamics that can be dialed down from Track with more muted riding modes— see Road, Rain, and Sport. Throttle response, ABS, and traction control can also be individually calibrated, as some might prefer to soften the laser sharp throttle for more low-key riding.

Triumph has come a long way since it pioneered the hooligan bike genre in the mid-1990s, and they’ve kept with the times by incorporating a slew of tech into that 5-inch digital display. While we miss the simplicity of a big analog tach and don’t feel the screen’s information overload does justice to the bike’s magnificent powertrain and chassis, the overall effort is to be commended. This is a motorcycle that begs to ridden hard, and the speedometer’s triple digit configuration serves as the ultimate taunt for naughtiness. Your eye may wander towards the $4,000 pricier Speed Triple because— well, more is more, right? But after spending some quality miles aboard the top-line Street Triple RS, you might just find that sometimes the runner-up steals the show.

Helmet: Shoei RF1200

Jacket: Dainese Patina72

Pant: Ugly Bros Motorpool Olive

Boots: Alpinestars Oscar Monty