2020 STREET TRIPLE RS REVIEW: TRIUMPH'ANT AS EVER!

We put the 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS through its paces to see how it builds and improves on an already-impressive predecessor.

KARAN SINGH BANSATTA

THERE are a few names in the motorcycling world that can make the heart of a motorcyclist skip a beat. Triumph Daytona is one of the names. It was followed by the Triumph Street Triple. And now, we have our hands on the 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS. Is it still the formidable machine that it always was? Time to find out.

Let’s start with the things that made the Daytona special because after all, it was the first one that got it right and is the spiritual predecessor of the Street Triple. Daytona, powered by Triumph’s famous 675cc triple, had its hands full with the competition from Japan. But the Daytona was touted to have a brilliant engine and more than that, a fantastic chassis which when combined with the compact and lithe dimensions and lesser weight, often gave it the upper hand against the competition.

In the motorcycling world, it is usually the case that something like the Daytona, which nailed the engine and chassis, becomes a platform. A platform for something more. More accessibility. More approachability. More fun. In simple terms, Street Triple. Motorcyclists the world over were smitten and in love with the Street Triple, a streetfighter with track cred to match Daytona but it was more street focussed than the track-missile Daytona. It was a proper racket.

After the 2006 introduction of Daytona, the Street Triple burst onto the scene in 2007. It was a very refined package but in the end, it was also a streetfighter that was not afraid of getting the gloves off in a jiffy and fight! The end of production for the Daytona 675 was quite a scare in terms of what the future held for the Street Triple but the arrival of the Street Triple 765 came with relief. This one was a rioter too but 90 cubic centimetres more intense!

Just like the Daytona took the inline-4s from Japan by surprise, their 765cc triple also took the old 600cc inline-4 in Moto2 by surprise. Moto2 now features the 765cc triple which led to further enhancements and refinements in the Street Triple package.

Outside the world of Moto2, Triumph had two variants of the Street Triple- the R and the RS. The R, more street-friendly and the RS, more track focussed. As it turned out, the RS was a tad too focussed. The 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS has seemingly remedied that along with some more changes all around.

Starting with the looks, the bug eyes have always been the signature of the Street Triple. On the 2020 Street Triple RS, the bug seems to be a little pissed off. The LED DRLs or the brows are furrowed. It reminds one of anime characters, especially the goofy leads who undergo a transformation.