Triumph Motorcycles has released the 2018 Triumph Speed Triple in ‘RS’ and ‘S’ formats. Taking the previous generation Speed Triple, peak engine power has gone up by 7% to 150 PS at 10,500 rpm, and torque has been increased by 4% to 117 Nm at 7,150 rpm.

Continuing with the changes made to its smaller displacement sibling, the Street Triple 765, the Speed Triple now comes with a full suite of electronics and riding aids, plus a full-colour TFT LCD screen. Using ride-by-wire, the Street Triple comes with five riding modes, traction control, switchable ABS and the user has a choice of three display themes for the ‘S’, and six in the ‘RS’.


Where the Speed Triple deviates from the Street Triple is the inclusion of cruise control and cornering ABS, developed in collaboration with Continental. Also new for the Speed Triple is keyless start for the RS and illuminated switches for the handlebar pods.

Inside the engine room, the 1,050 cc inline-triple has been reworked with over 105 new components, with redline 1,000 rpm higher than the previous Speed Triple. Upgrades include a lighter crank gear, aluminium cylinder liners, smaller starter and lighter battery and alternator.


The gearbox and slip assist clutch have also been reworked to improve riding comfort and for the RS version, Arrow silencers are standard fitment. Brembo does the braking in front for the Speed Triple, with four-piston Monobloc radial-mount callipers, and a Nissin calliper is fitted out back.

Showa suspension is fitted to the Street Triple S, with a 43 mm diameter upside-down fork in front and Showa monoshock at the back, both fully-adjustable. For the RS, it comes standard with an Ohlins NIX30 fork in front, and a TTX36 twin-tube monoshock at the back, fully adjustable, naturally.


As for dry weights, the Speed Triple S weighs in at 192 kg, while the RS comes in at 189 kg, due to the use of carbon-fibre compoments, lightweight aluminium sub-frame and Arrow exhausts. Fuel is carried in a 15.5-litre tank and seat height for both the S and RS Speed Triples is 825 mm.

The 2018 Triumph Speed Triple comes in two colour options, with bellypan and key-release pillion seat cowl. The Speed Triple S comes in Jet Black or Crystal White, while the RS is available in Crystal White or Matte Jet Black with red accents on the wheels.