2020 Triumph Street Triple RS breaks cover

The India bound 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS has been unveiled and the motorcycle gets a few cosmetic tweaks as well as some interesting mechanical updates. Since its launch originally two years ago, the RS has been the top of the line Street Triple and has been appreciated by enthusiasts for various reasons, particularly its performance dynamics. Triumph claims to have upped the game further this time.

Visually, the 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS gets a revised version of its now-popular 'bug face' thanks to a more aggressively sculpted headlamp unit. The LED daytime running lamps now sit above the headlamps, making for an angrier face than before. The rest of the motorcycle is the same as before though, including the fact that the pillion seat can be swapped for a seat cowl for a sportier appearance.

The all-digital, full-colour TFT display has been updated as well and now offers smartphone connectivity, which brings goodies like turn-by-turn navigation, music and notifications. Additionally, the instrument cluster also allows connectivity to action cameras like say, GoPros which should find favour with a lot of riders.

As for the powertrain, the Street Triple RS is now Euro V compliant. More importantly, Triumph has altered the power and torque curves of the motorcycle. Interestingly, the power output is the same at 123PS and peak torque produced is up by just 2Nm at 79Nm, but Triumph claims the performance is far more accessible now. Peak power is now produced at 11,750rpm (as opposed to 11,700rpm earlier), but peak torque is now available from 9,350rpm now, as opposed to 10,800rpm, which is big news.

Triumph claims the change results in a 9 percent bump in midrange performance. Just to remind, this is the very motor that also powers all Moto2 motorcycles currently, though obviously, the engine has been tweaked for better usability in the real world in this guise.

The electronics suite remains unchanged though. Riding modes include Road, Rain, Sport, Track and an individual mode as before which allows customisation as per the rider's preference. Traction control has been carried forward as is from the outgoing version, though Triumph says ABS is now adjustable, meaning you can alter the levels of intrusion.

Also, the outgoing version had a quickshifter that only allowed clutchless upshifts, but the 2020 version has been equipped with a bi-directional quickshifter. Hardware like the Brembo M50 radially mounted calipers and fully-adjustable Ohlins suspension have been carried over, but the 2020 version has been shod with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V3 tyres now in the interest of even higher grip levels.

Given its positioning, the 2020 Street Triple RS will continue to face off against motorcycles like the recently launched KTM 790 Duke and Ducati Monster 821, as also Japanese machines like the Kawasaki Z900 and Suzuki GSX-S750. The current version of the RS retails at Rs 11.13 lakh ex-showroom in India and when launched early next year in India, the 2020 version could command a premium of about Rs 30,000 to 40,000. OVERDRIVE will be riding the 2020 Street Triple RS in Spain this week, so stay tuned for our first ride review!
Also see: 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS | First Ride Review