2018 Triumph Speed Triple RS | Review

The Speed Triple has always been one of my bucket list bikes.
Having lived with a Street Triple for a few years now I've always been curious of its bigger brother. Curious of one thing in particular 'Is bigger always better?'
Well in the case of the latest Speed Triple at least the answer is yes.
Alright a lot of my reasoning is based on user preference and taste but objectively speaking it does boast some better equipment to back it up. The only two drawback areas are range and weight.
Taking the bike in isolation though it's nice to see such a significant improvement in the Speed Triple from the outgoing model. There can be no doubt this is the best Speed Triple to date, and when you consider the pedigree of this bike that is saying something.
My Equipment:
Cameras
GoPro Hero Session / amzn.to/2NXQcIC
Panasonic Lumix G7 / amzn.to/2RjfuPH
Sigma 19mm Lens / amzn.to/2xUkTV4
Yi 4K / amzn.to/2DUCqSx
Sound
Sony Digital Recorder / amzn.to/2DSC4vR
Sony Lapel Mic / amzn.to/2DR6LS8
Rhode Videomicro / amzn.to/2RkiUBz
Misc
Samsung Galaxy S7 / amzn.to/2IDmbrW
Zhiyun Smooth-Q / amzn.to/2IDIMEI
Evo SS / amzn.to/2IBcwSm
This video contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links above, I’ll receive a small commission. Thank you in advance.

[@hjwong87]

I don’t think I’ve subscribed so quick to a “new” channel as I have yours. Just a simple and great format. Love the cuts to you talking as it breaks the monotony of the GoPro footage. Video quality is great (especially the GoPro footage don’t know how it’s so much cleaner than MSF’s!), and audio quality is so good! Your voice isn’t muffled in your helmet and you’re not doing weird screaming noises. I don’t skip through your reviews like I do almost everyone else’s. Great job!

[@RarefiedRoad]

Awesome feedback, thank you. I'm still trying to refine it but it's nice to know I'm on the right track.

[@newkurosawa]

Nice review mate. Bought an RS with £1000 of extras a couple of weeks ago. Fantastic bike, looks and feels quality. Would definitely recommend. Breaking it in at the moment so haven’t seen its full potential, so can’t wait. Its a bike you just don’t want to get off as its soo much fun.

[@RarefiedRoad]

Thanks. It's a bike I could see myself living with for more than a few years which is good cuz I tend to get bored quickly. Have fun testing its limits.

[@Barabassx]

Very nice test as usual ! The RS will be mine in early 2019 to avoid the euro 5 version coming in 2020, can't wait for it and i loved the test i made too ! V

[@RarefiedRoad]

Thank you. I am truly jealous, it's something I would love to own myself. Enjoy.

[@deadlyrasberry]

Great vid, keep them coming! I strangely preferred the street rs to the speed rs. It just felt much more nimble and still had plenty of power.

[@Barabassx]

@Rarefield Road Well, i'm older - 41yo (means i probably had a bit more time to spare coz this toy cost an arm as you know...) and i have to change mainly because i'm getting slowly too old for my supersport that i own for 15 years now (cbr 954 rr - bought new in 2003)...my wrists, back, knees, neck wanted something more comfy but my brain didn't want to loose too much power or torque (on the cbr, i had 155hp with a bit less torque than the RS). I'm pretty sure with 15 years less, i'd prefer the street over the speed but you need to ride quite fast to have fun with the street (nearly like an in-line 4) where the speed engine can be fun too at lower speed (thanks to torque) and, being older now, i'd rather have torque and comfort than high speed fun (outside the tracks i mean). Keep coming the great vids ! Greetings from Belgium (and sry about my english mistakes).

[@safeburn]

Motos et Potos can you tell me please why are you going to 2019 model, not the 2020 ? what is the reason to avoid 2020 version ..

[@Barabassx]

(sorry for my english i'll try to explain my reasons as good as possible) 1) i'm in love with the RS (for me, the prettiest Speed ever made) and i think 2019 will be the last year of this design, possibly making it nearly a collector one. 2) I've heard from a youtuber who work in partnership with triumph on many videos there will be a very good news for me in 2019 (probably revealed at Eicma) because that youtuber (that i know well and who knows i want to buy a Speed RS asked me to trust him and wait for that pretty cool surprise for me in 2019 but he isn't allowed by Triumph to say more at the moment...). So i think about a special Edition of course. IF that's true and even there are only 50 built, i'll try to get one for sure (at all cost) ! 3) evrytime the bikes have to respect new EuroX rules, they loose power (Superduke R is a perfect exemple with around 11hp lost with Euro 4) so the manufacturers are "cheating" a bit in the settings of the fueling, what leads you to "have to" tune your ECU on a Dynojet bench to get a decent air/fuel ratio which is BAD on most stock motorcycles nowadays... 4) This Speed RS and its 150 hp are at the limit for the taxes (or fees ? don't know the word) i can afford in Belgium. 1hp more and it would cost me 1250€ just to put in on the road...10hp more and it would be 2500€...for this RS it's around 860€ and i find it already very expensive when you see the price of the RS in the top of that... 5) many pro's said the 1050 engine can't be improved anymore to gain more torque/power so i'm pretty sure a new motor (or model) will come in 2020 (to meet Euro 5) and i don't want an engine that is brand new and i know the 1050 engine is quite reliable seen how many years it's out and has been worked on by Triumph. Seen i want to buy a bike and keep it for many years, i don't want to be a "beta tester" of a brand new engine. Nowadays, every big brands have to go pretty fast to release new models and, like BMW for exemple, the last step of the developpement process is to wait for info and issues returned by their customers to work on reliability...i really hate that "new" way of doing things nowadays... i like the idea to buy something well known and reliable that's all. Hope my poor english level let you understand my very own point of view. V

[@Roger_Ramjet]

Solid work man. Thanks for your efforts.

[@RarefiedRoad]

Thanks man, cheers for the support.

[@Kodreanu23]

Yes, yes, yes! Finally! Great video, as usual. Funny and laid back at the same time. Thanks. Is this your favorite powernaked so far?

[@RarefiedRoad]

Oooh that's a tough one, kind of don't want to say yes in case anyone gets offended but... Yeah, this bike suits me a lot, I tuned into it very quickly.

[@SDevante]

Best RS review yet mate.

[@RarefiedRoad]

Thank you.

[@realMysta]

Man that display is clean.

[@mikemaners4411]

Great review, thanks from Montreal!

[@RarefiedRoad]

Thank you

[@marksmith8663]

My thoughts The street and speed become Closer in power and weight just chose your flavour . Cruise control is more of dealbreaker for me as it not something you can after market add on and touring becoming more popular. Great review

[@RarefiedRoad]

Thanks man, that's a really neat summary and I agree completely. I'd bloody love to have cruise control next time I treck up to Wales.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

Before Motorcycle Manufacturers got on board with the Cruise Control concept, ThrottleMeister existed. Maybe there is a model available for your motorcycle? KZbin video: Throttlemeister Motorcycle Cruise Control Installation on a Yamaha R6

[@ChadJCooper]

Superb video, this made me happy

[@newy2277]

Ive ownd 3 speedies and love them. You can do anything on a speedy tour, blast or just have a chilled ride . Love them my next speedy iwill be 2019 baby

[@RarefiedRoad]

They do come across as very versatile. Bet you can't wait until next year.

[@newy2277]

@@RarefiedRoad certainly cant wait will be trading in my 16 r for the rs :) :) :)

[@karlosh9286]

Yeah, range. Why Triumph put a 15.5 litre tank on the Speed Triple and a 17.4 litre tank on the Street Triple sure beats me. I'm not convinced on keyless ignition. Heated grips or a quick shifter are more useful than keyless. Other than the tank size (minor) and keyless ( a bit annoying , plus insurance companies don't like it too ) the Speed Triple RS is a wonderful bike.

[@Banditmanuk]

Nice review thanks. Owned a 2012 Speed Triple, be interested to see how much better this new bike is. Take allot to tempt me off my current and more powerful MT10 mind.

[@RarefiedRoad]

Yeah on paper the Yamaha is the better machine accepting for brakes. And I don't think this is hugely different feeling from the 2012 model so if the MT10 suits your taste more then there's no way your swapping, and that's no bad thing, the MT10's a peach.

[@rantANDrave1987]

Your mt 10 is not more powerful than the new speed; or if it is it is only a marginal 1-2 Hp. The mt10s being shipped for the US get a neutered down 130 hp, yet Yamaha doesn’t advertise that. You’ll feel faster on speed when street riding given it’s stronger low and mid range. Mt only wins out in peak rpm

[@Banditmanuk]

@@rantANDrave1987 Not a chance that my old Speed Triple was close to the power of my current 2016 full power UK Yamaha MT10, plenty of UK owners getting well over 150bhp on dynos even with transmission losses. The new Speed is a bit more powerful than the old model and spins up quicker but it's basically the same 1050 engine as previous. This doesn't stop the Speed from being a very good bike, better economy than the Yam, better brakes, better finished, better handling and arguably better looking.

[@laurencevanpuyvelde7159]

How it feels compared to the yamaha mt-10, talking about of power and performance. Btw nice video. +1 sub.

[@RarefiedRoad]

Thanks for subscribing. For power it feels a little more immediate but not by a huge amount, the MT10 has the crossplane motor so it's a little punchier than most 4 cylinders but a triple of similar size will more often feel stronger in lower revs. The MT10 SP that I tried was stiffer and more planted but the triumph felt a little lighter to chuck round.

[@markfallon8466]

Hey RR, I really like your vids! In this one, at 2:14 you said: "God you do get warm quick don't you." Were you referring to the bike, or to you? TIA.

[@RarefiedRoad]

I believe I was talking about the bike. Not that it felt warm it's just that the fan comes on quickly so it must be warm but it manages its self well. If that makes sense.

[@RideAloneVlog]

Top Video 💪

[@bamxuberant]

I can't wait to get my RS! Getting it early 2019. But besides the bike, mate, what jacket is that? It is a lovely piece!

[@RarefiedRoad]

Very jealous. The jacket is a Goldtop Bobber. Link to the website if you need it www.goldtop.co.uk/

[@danilocapellan1316]

Great review

[@richardpearson4248]

Great video fantastic bike 🇬🇧👍

[@karlosh9286]

re 1:30 ROFLMAO. Pedal bike vs Speed Triple. I keep telling pedal cycling colleagues, my bikes have the equivalent of 280 or more "Tour De France" pairs of legs pedalling at the twist of the wrist. I don't seem to have convinced them ...

[@TzeiEm]

Had this bike for 1,5 weeks, then hit a deer and wrecked it :( I absolutely loved it, hands down the best bike I've ever had. Too bad it was the only used one in the entire country, so now I'll have to wait until another hits the market or dig my pockets and get a brand new one...

[@RarefiedRoad]

Gutted for you mate, they're still relatively new, there will be another one for sale at some point I'm sure. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

[@ybliga]

Correction . . . if you're unlucky enough to get bike-jacked, the thief can keep going until they either a. run out of petrol b. switch it off or c. stall it.

[@nikhilpabrekar29]

It sounds punchy, did you remove baffle (DB killer)??

[@RarefiedRoad]

No that's stock from Triumph believe it or not.

[@vrednie]

I think you'll find that the rear brakes are Nissin, not Brembo

[@billy2wheels]

Good review 👍getting one February fulll buna

[@Benjay1975]

i test rode this and the z900rs the other week, granted the 1050 didnt have a QS, I think the z900rs is actually better.... Im going to have to test the Triumph again.... I just cant comprehend it atm

[@RarefiedRoad]

You're not wrong, it's all down to personal taste, if you prefer the Z900rs then that's the better bike.

[@jace2wheel762]

I did test it. Flat out? 260 kmh. I'm 5'10 210lb. She goes like a scared jackrabbit on steroids when you push her! But yes. Potholes. Not friendly to the ol' kanuugens 😂

[@RarefiedRoad]

Yeah the kanuugens take a beating on spring roads and potholes😆

[@mustangGT375]

How does the power delivery come on vs the new street RS? I owned a 16 street RX and loved the power band, looking to get into another triumph but I’m tossing up on the speed RS or street RS.

[@RarefiedRoad]

I think you're going to have to try them out but I got the impression the Speeds power band was a little more accessible on domestic roads so given the choice I'd probably go for the Speed over the Street but it's really close.

[@mustangGT375]

Rarefied Road I went back to the dealer and sat on the speed triple again and I just don’t feel it’s for me, just feels so much more bulky and I felt like I was sitting on top of the bike not in it.... I ended up buying a 2019 street RS in white, just waiting for it to come in November.

[@RarefiedRoad]

@@mustangGT375 thanks for the update, just goes to show that we all have different tastes, there really isn't a lot between them but I take your point, I prefer a slightly lower bike that I can feel more connected to. Enjoy your new bike mate.

[@HJM1974]

You can be lazy on this bike. don't need to wind it up like the street. I am sure if i had tried it with a quick shifter i would own one. Great bike but thought i might kill myself at some point. Changed to an adventure bike after realising how painful it can be riding a naked on UK roads lol. Got to say I do love the speed RS and its X factor :)

[@RarefiedRoad]

Exactly that, You can be a little lazier with the slightly softer throttle and more powerful engine. Really nice bike. Thanks for the comment.

[@karlosh9286]

would you change your Street Triple for one of these ? (Assuming you had the cash hanging around , needing to be spent !)

[@RarefiedRoad]

Assuming I had the cash just lying around I would get the speed triple. I like having that extra bit of power low down in the Rev range.

[@karlosh9286]

@@RarefiedRoad Yeah, I recently had a test ride of the Speed Triple RS and it's low down torque is very addictive. Wished I hadn't test ridden it, now I need to try and find the cash for one ! Some reviews should come with a warning "Don't test ride, unless you can afford it" .

[@tricky159]

Twin piston Nissins on the back

[@RarefiedRoad]

So I'm told, thanks.

[@michelleghoier8959]

i had a nicked one of these last year it was fucking great