The Triumph Street Triple 765 S is a well-known motorcycle; it is comfortable and fun to ride on the road yet is really good around a track as well. That’s extremely impressive for a motorcycle at its price point. However, this S model is the lowest-spec Street Triple, there is an R and an RS that sit above it. The R gets a better suspension and a little more bike, but it’s not available in India. However, you can buy the top-spec RS. This variant features more power, premium suspension, brakes and tyres. It also has advanced electronics, all of this at an extra cost, and this raises the question if it is worth it?
Equipment
In terms of pricing, the RS is priced at ₹10.55 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), which makes it ₹1.83 lakh more than the base S model. At first, this may seem like a lot, but wait until you consider everything the RS has to offer. To begin with, you get a fully adjustable suspension – Showa front fork and Ohlins STX40 rear shock. Then there are the brakes – the front gets the top-spec Brembo M50 calipers. Tyres on the RS are the track-ready Pirelli Supercorsas, only seen on the fastest superbikes. Furthermore, the RS also gets nice full-colour display with different modes.
When you pull in the clutch on the bike, you instantly realise that it’s easier than the one on the S variant because of the slipper clutch. To add to that, the RS gets its own satin-matte paint finishes and rear seat cowl. When all of these extras are considered, the RS seems like good value for money.
How does it ride?
The RS is amazing to ride in the city, owing to the effortless ability of the engine. Furthermore, the suspension can easily handle bad road surfaces and even expansion gaps. It rides so well that you can even carry sufficient speed over bad surfaces but be careful about damaging the wheels here. However, when the roads begin to get smooth and twisty, the bike surely impresses. The sharper steering rake on the S makes it turn into corners quickly and on bike managed to stay in control on the same road where the MV Agusta Brutale 800 twitched at the mildest of provocations.
The braking on the RS is impressive as well, one of the best you will experience. It has good bite and power, enough to lift the rear wheel up in Race mode, which deactivates the rear wheel lift system.
How does it perform?
Very well. On its own, we would rate this bike extremely high, it only loses out a little in terms of electronics. It isn’t the smartest system available in the market at the moment. The ABS system doesn’t allow the bike the shortest braking distance it is capable off and the traction control also kicks in randomly. Even though it is one of the best systems from the manufacturer, it’s not up there with competition from Ducati or Aprilia. But, this is a nitpicking at its highest level, the motorcycle otherwise, is extremely good value for money.
Should I buy one?
But that still doesn’t mean you should purchase one. If you do not plan to visit a race track, save the extra cash and get the Street Triple S instead. Nonetheless, if you want a well-priced sportsbike that handles extremely well, there isn’t anything better.
