In the past few years, the idea of the hypernaked bike has taken over Europe, and the new Triumph Speed Triple RX is the latest prescription for the rider wanting a fairing-free bike, combined with a need for speed.
In fact, the limited-edition RX model is one of the most plastic-free nakeds on the market, not just because it has more minimal bodywork than much of the competition, but also because much of that bodywork is made of carbon-fiber, not ABS or fiberglass or whatever they’re making standard fairings from these days. The front fender and some other pieces are made of the lightweight material, but take note that Triumph still claims a 439-pound curb weight for the RX, more-or-less the same as other Speed Triple models, which lends credence to our suspicion that most weight figures published are approximations anyway. Even the Akrapovic muffler, certainly lighter than the stock unit, did not turn this into a Skinny Minnie Miller machine.
Photo: Triumph
That new can did not add any muscle, either. The engine is unchanged from the 12-valve 1160cc triple that the standard Speed Triple uses, and it’s rated for the same 180.5 horsepower and 94.4 pound-feet of torque as the RS model. Limiting production to 1,200 units has added no speed.
So what’s so great about the new RX model? Along with the carbon-fiber and the trick-looking, trick-sounding exhaust, there’s a new Ohlins SD EC electronically-adjustable steering damper instead of the RS model’s manual-adjust damper. The Ohlins SmartEC3 electronic semi-active suspension from the RS model is also fitted to the RS model, as well as the same Brembo Stylema brake calipers and MCS radial master cylinder.
Photo: Triumph
The RX also gets clip-on bars, a machined top triple clamp yoke and pegs that are higher and farther-back. Add in a re-shaped seat, and you have a bike that is even better-suited for sporty riding than the RS. The RX’s $21,495 MSRP in the US is $1,500 more than the RS, but for a rider wanting sporty track performance, that price difference is probably well worth it.
