Looks familiar? I’ll admit that on face value the2020 Street Triple RS appears near identical to the765 models that came before it, but take a step closer and the differences hit you thick and fast. For starters, it’s sharper. Not just from a spec point of view, but in terms of the looks. The bike’s cowling has been given the Gok Wan treatment, with bolder, sharper lines punching at your retinas, while its all-new, whiter, brighter LED headlamps are set to burn them. The menacing looking daytime running lights are also worthy of a mention, along with the second generation TFT dash that now embodies all the colours of the rainbow, and there’s no way you’ll skim past the sexier silencer that comes capped with carbon for that added ‘je ne sais quoi’. From a pure aesthetics point of view, the Street Triple has certainly moved the game on but, thankfully in Boothy’s case, there’s more to life than just looks, and the RS is no exception. The main talking point during the model’s presentation at Cartagena in Spain was the motor with the key buzzword being Moto2, and how the same team that shaped the race bike’s engine was drafted in to optimise the street naked’s. Peak power has remained at 121bhp, but thanks to a new inlets, a new exhaust cam, a lighter crank, featherweight clutch and a freer flowing exhaust system, the guts of the Triple have been given some additional welly with peak torque flying high at 79Nm, with a 9% increase in the midrange and 7% reduction in engine inertia.
This story is from the December 2019 edition of Fast Bikes.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2019 edition of Fast Bikes.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Steve Parrish
I'm fresh back from the South African Classic TT races and Christ, it's still bloody raining over here.
Christian Iddon
Well, my last column was all about just how I'm going to be the most prepared I could ever be for the season ahead.
SHOEI X-SPR PRO
I'll cut to it... when it comes to my kit, I don't mess around - especially when it comes to helmets.
THE FRAME GAME
When it comes to chassis development, few folks know more than the legends at Harris Performance. We went to town, questioning them on all there is to know about this pivotal, mind-blowing subject.
TEN MINUTES WITH...RIAAN NEVELING
Ever wondered what gives KTM and its marketing messages an edge? Well, it comes down to this man and his team of no-bull bike lovers.
DUCATI HYPERMOTARD 698 MONO SINGLEMINDED
Few could have predicted Ducati's decision to build a feisty, featherweight supermoto, but we're superglad the top brass took the decision to roll the dice in this this direction.
THE BEST EVOLUZIONE
Old-school looks with modern performance, the Ducati 1098 and 1198 models offer the best of both worlds.
RED BULL GASGAS TECH3 RC16 MOTOGP
We check out the weapon ridden by Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez...
DESERT BY NAME, DESERT BY NATURE...
We hit the deep, sandy stuff to see whether Ducati’s latest adventure bike should be on your wish list.
KTM 1390 SUPER DUKE DUKING IT OUT!
Regular viewers of our Naked Sportsbike of the Year videos will know that the outgoing 1290 Super Duke is one of our favourite bikes, and for good reason.