Amidst a rash of classics and cruisers, one bike stands out from Triumph’s 2011 pack – the new Speed Triple. Triumph’s most iconic bike gets a massive overhaul to put it right back in the running to be the Emperor with no clothes. With Europe and Japan coming up with ever more radical streetfighters, Triumph had to up its game, and the new Triple proves that it’s not scared of the class bullies, KTM and Ducati.
The most immediate change is the scrapping of the Triple’s bug eyes. Now fitted with a pair of more menacing lights, the bike’s silhouette is similar to the old model, but we can’t help but think that it’s more generic and less distinguishable than before, and looks far more mid-European than British bulldog.
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More power, less weight and new parts are the ingredients to make its rivals quiver. Engine size remains at 1,050cc, but Triumph has pushed the motor harder, extracting a few bhp more through internal revisions. A new chassis, wheels and rear shock are a real boon, especially when a significant amount of weight has been lopped from the formerly chunky Triple. OE Metzeler Racetec tyres prove that Triumph’s intensions for the Speed are most definitely devilish. Expect to pay £8,500.
