Here’s your 2016 Triumph Speed Triple

Show photos by Alexandra Straub.

Triumph has unveiled their updated Speed Triple, with lots of changes for the bike’s three-cylinder powerplant and electronics systems.

In an age where naked bikes have progressed past raw, brutal, hooligan machines into more sophisticated rides that rely as much on electronics packages as they do on horsepower, Triumph has included electronic wizardry (there’s an updated ride-by-wire throttle and other upgrades to the electronics systems). However, their most significant changes seem to be to the engine.

The Speed Triple gets a new radiator (smaller, yet claimed to be more efficient), a new combustion chamber, cylinder head, and crank, re-designed pistons, a slipper clutch, and a more free-flowing exhaust. On top of that, the whole package (engine and rad) is now 20 mm narrower than the previous generation.

The ride-by-wire throttle we mentioned earlier gives Triumph to also include five riding modes, including Road, Track, Sport, Rain, and a mode for the rider to configure themselves. ABS and traction control are both configurable by the rider; presumably, that allows riders to dial in their preferred settings for their custom riding mode.

The engine and electronics improvements supposedly see an increase in power to 140 hp, and more fuel efficiency.

Other changes include re-designed bodywork, seat, and headlights (which still lack the appeal of the big, googly-eyed lamps the original Speed Triple came with).

Along with the standard Speed Triple S, there’s also an upgraded Speed Triple R. The R model comes with upgraded suspension (Ohlins TTX36 shock and NIX30 forks), some machined billet bits, and of course, plenty of carbon-fibre bodywork.

GALLERY

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The R version gets upgraded bodywork and suspension, as well as tasty billet bits.