Is This What We Think It Is? Watch This Video To Find Out!
No announcements, no heads up needed. This video told us everything we had to know – a new Speed Triple is coming, which might raise the bar for everything else that might happen this 2018.
Triumph Motorcycles first came out with the ‘Speed Triple’ in 1994, a nod to the 1938 Speed Twin that was powered by a 498cc vertical twin cylinder engine. Triumph has obviously updated the motorbike, the latest of which was in 2016, with 104 changes to the engine.
The Hinckley-based manufacturer has been sufficiently mum about their plans for the Speed Triple until now. And although the video featured two of the world’s greatest motorcycle riders, there is one greater protagonist that stole the show.
“Who is the ultimate hooligan?” asks Triumph, surely a rhetorical question for they cannot fool us. Although it is multiple champions Carl Fogarty and Gary Johnson that were outrightly shown in the videos, the Street Triple was right there under our noses, hidden in the shadows.
Shown only as a silhouette, the text, the revving of the engine and everything else were all signposts that pointed to one thing – a new Speed Triple. The chassis seems relatively similar, as well as the overall design. However, CARB filings show that the engine size will remain 1050cc and that the trim levels will be designated as “R” and “RS”. We can expect more power and other internal changes though, as Triumph chases machines like the KTM 1290 Super Duke R and Aprilia Tuono V4 1100.
It ended with, “A new champion will rise at 8 am on January 29”.
We will be waiting, Triumph.