Triumph Motorcycles has pulled the covers off the new Speed Triple RR which now takes the crown as the brand's three-cylinder hero.
The new top-of-the-range Speed Triple RR has a host of changes that set it apart from the Speed Triple RS released earlier this year, namely the new ergonomics and cafe racer inspired fairing, but there is more to this bike than just a hot new look.
During the press briefing, Triumph's Head of Brand Management Miles Perkins made pains to point out that the RR is not a Speed Triple with clip ons or a track focussed weapon, with the brief to the design team being to create an interpretation of a classic British Cafe Racer for the 21st Century using the best tech currently available.
This is most obvious in the styling, with the RR gaining a bikini fairing and dropping the signature dual headlights of the Speed Triple in favour of a more traditional circular headlight. This, like all Triumph motorcycles these days, is an LED illuminated unit with a daytime running light built in. The remainder of the lighting is also LED with the RR sharing its LED taillight with the RS model.
The ergonomics are vastly different from the RS, with the RR seeing its footpegs moved higher and slightly rearward while the handlebars are now of the clip on variety and have the controls sitting 135mm lower and 50mm further forward.
It is a sleek design that definitely really hits you in the feels, but I can't help but see a resemblance to another triple-cylinder modern cafe racer, MV Agusta's Superveloce 800...
The Speed Triple RR will be available in two colour options, Red Hopper and Storm Grey or Crystal White and Storm Grey. Both look fantastic with the pearlescent Red really popping in the sunlight with its deep tones.
While Triumph already has a bike sort-of in this modern cafe racer realm in the form of the Thruxton RS, the Speed Triple RR is on a whole different level when it comes to performance.
While the Thruxton RS is no slouch, the Speed Triple RR really does live up to the name with its 180PS (177.6hp/132.4kW) DOHC triple-cylinder powerplant. Plucked straight out of the Speed Triple RS, the RR makes its peak power at 10,750rpm while peak torque of 125Nm is reached at 9,000rpm.
Like the RS model, Triumph says they won't be offering a factory approved replacement pipe for the RR model as the company feels the factory pipe is as good as performance can be with this engine.
Where the RR model really ups the game from the Speed Triple RR, however, is in the chassis and suspension department.
Through the use of lightweight carbon fibre parts, the Speed Triple RR tips the scales at 199kg (kerb), that's only 1kg heavier than the naked RS model despite the added fairing.
Keeping the lightweight alloy wheels and tyres in contact with the ground is a set of premium Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 electronically adjustable semi-active suspension. Currently the best suspension on offer from Öhlins (considered the best in the business when it comes to motorbike suspension) the Smart EC 2.0 system is fully adjustable to suit the rider's preference and can even have its setting changed while riding through the Triumph's TFT dashboard.
Triumph also went all-out in the braking department, with Brembo's Stylema monobloc calipers clamping twin 320mm discs up front while a Brembo 2-piston caliper handles duties at the rear. This is modulated through a Brembo MCS Span and ratio adjustable lever which should give the rider plenty of options in terms of getting their fingers at that sweet spot for perfect braking.
Other great features for the 2022 Speed Triple RR include cruise control, My Triumph connectivity as standard, an up/down quickshifter, five rider modes and an IMU backed suite of electronic aids including cornering ABS, anti-wheelie and cornering traction control.
While the bikes are hoped to arrive in New Zealand in time for Christmas, currently an official date of arrival is dependant on global shipping circumstances which could see the bike delayed until early 2022.
New Zealand pricing for the 2022 Speed Triple RS is also yet to be finalised but we have been told by Triumph Motorcycles New Zealand to expect a pricing increase on the Speed Triple RS's $29,990 due to the upgrades involved in bringing the RR model to life.
