The 2020 Speed Triple 1160 - Yes Or No?

Granted keyless is unnecessary and something else to go wrong! But my experience with it has been good.

 

I could have done without keyless, had issues with mine twice now that resulted in a new key the last time. The stock for the replacement key took 2 months to arrive.

 

I think it looks great, at least from the photos.
Probably will look even better in reality.
I cannot wait to test ride one in the spring!

So what have they done? Engine new, ok, 30hp and 8nm more, on par with some current supernakeds and exceeding others.
Suspension - the same.
Brakes - Stylema on 320mm discs.
Weight - lost 10kg (potentially 20kg, as 1050RS was weighed at 217kg in a German magazine).
Lost 10kg from the underseat pipes and mufflers, so lower center of mass and faster handling.

Price is on par with the late 1050RS.
Only needs a flyscreen and heated grips as additions.
The stock exhaust looks good, no need to change.

I bought 1050RS last summer as I knew it was to be discontinued, and the new one would look more like everything else on the market and at the same time like Street RS (the front), and I like the classic look with underseat pipes.

We are always drawn to shiny new things!
BUT, you have to ask yourself, will the new bike make you a better rider?

I am not looking to change:

10kg lighter?
I do not notice the weight of 1050RS, and I have a lighter bike so I can compare.

+30hp @ 11000rpm?
I never reach these rpms on the road.

+8Nm?
The 117-119Nm currently available (@ low 7000rpm) are pulling me up any mountain just fine.
If I need more forward propulsion I lose a few more kilos from my body instead.

Handles better due to mass centralization and lower center of mass?
I cannot exhaust the handling capabilities of 1050RS, what do I need "more" handling for?
Besides, I liked the solidity and stability of RS compared to Street RS that I rode back-to-back, I prefer the less lively handling of RS, it is a road bike for me after all.

Stylema calipers?
I really cannot complain about the brakes on 1050RS, and they look nice as well.


So the only interesting point for me is whether they improved the gearbox and quickshifter integration on the new 1160RS, because that is a true weak point on 1050RS.
Also I wonder if the instrumentation shows lean angles a-la-BMW, that function would be worth 500 bucks for me.

So, yes, shiny and attractive bike, and strong and fast. Looking for a test ride, not looking to change though. At least not until 2022.

But if I were in the market for a new naked now, 1160RS would be the bike I would go for. I tried TUono, BMW, Suzuki, Ducati and MV. Only SuperDuke left to try, will do that in the spring (my Triumph seller is also KTM seller!)....I would go for Speed RS 100%.

 

Ah, but there is an official extra option to replace the pegs to make the bike single-seater.
Triumph did it on purpose!

Also, bolted on is great! Easier to replace/remove. Same with the number plate holder. I have to give kudos to Triumph for that.

 

More important, imho, 1050RS rides more solidly, more, like, stately, due to higher weight, feels more like a proper road bike.
For a small naked I would prefer KTM 890R, rode it back-to-back with Street RS and 890R is a much funnier toy.

 

You are just the victim of marketing, like all of us!
It is shiny, it is new, it is, they say, the best Speed Triple ever! More power! More torque! Less weight! Yada yada yada!

Think about it, what is really worth upgrading for, objectively speaking? Was 1050RS lacking power? Not really, not on the road. Torque? Noway. Weight?

OK, but it did not feel heavy on the move, which all reviews confirmed as well.

Did it handle well? Yes, in fact, I saw a US comparison test from the track and 1050RS came to finish line first, before S1000R, KTM 1290R, Tuono 1100R.

Is 30hp @ 11000rpm worth upgrading for?
Well, it is for each of us to decide, but if you ride on the roads, legally (or mostly legally) this extra is very low importance, you reel in the faster bikes on the next curve, so it is just for bragging rights.

Maybe the new engine is a bit more zingy, 1050RS was more like a train in acceleration.

The one you have is losing value, you get on the new one - it will start losing value just the same.

The marketing guys really know how to work the minds!

At least in motorized vehicles they can offer a bit more power a bit more electronics. In cycling world it is even worse!

Take Specialized, discontinued Tarmac SL6 and Venge and replaced them with Tarmac SL7 with the words "it is 45 seconds faster over 40km". How about that one! That's probably at like 50kmh and for a professional rider, but people go through psychological pain and sleepless nights thinking whether to buy the new bicycle for 12-13000 (!) bucks, because it is potentially 200 grams(!) lighter and 45 seconds faster over 40km than the old bike.

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another thing - sell yours privately, if you partex at the dealer you are another "sucker born every minute"

 

That's an extra option as well. Two, in fact, if you want clear screen - it is one price, if you want matching black screen - well, it is twice the price.
Do you think there are idiots working at Triumph?

On the other hand, you only need to add a screen and heated grips and the bike is complete, which is not bad.
The price is on par with the 1050RS with grips, QS and screen installed.

 

SO....have I convinced anyone NOT to buy the new Speed Triple RS?

 

Apparently it has linked brakes?? Not for me if it has.

 

Unless the dealer's offering some hefty discounts I'll stick with my 2020 RS for now.

 

Oh dear. Memories of Honda.

 

I wouldn't bother with the fly screen personally, looks fine without it and it does nothing

 

I have the 2018 RS It has a lithium battery and low Carbon can + lowered gearing . So it is lighter than than stock and still has Brembo brakes and Ohlins shocks.
I was hoping for more grunt on the new bike but they just added top end
and lost a bit low down. I find high power at top end results in excessive speed if you use the power (hence selling my sportsbike..) . New bike likely to be higher geared to cover the higher top end too . To me yes its more fun but not what I want in a road bike.

 

Thinking about it for a day or 2 now and seeing the power curve... I'd say I'll likely go ktm again when the time comes to change. I'll still test the triumph but as most people say, its the low down grunt you want for the roads and the ktm has any amount of it!

 

Triumph did say gearing is longer, but they also indicated 0-60 is a second faster, and claimed that that's now traction limited. I wonder when independent reviews will drop.

 

They'll do a big press launch somewhere hot and thats when you get the reviews. I dont heed them any more though because they are always the same thing... this is the best bike yet blah blah blah. Better than the previous gen which was the best bike yet blah blah... you could watch the launch of the previous gen and it would be the same

 

I've swapped the pipe for a sc project (speed rs) and I could feel the difference. Definitely in weight but not power as I don't thrap it around anyway and have no interest above 8k tbh.
I'm very interested in the fact it's now got a lithium ion battery which will obviously shed weight too but does it also come with the added "not starting when cold" problems?
I'll give it a try but i'll be lucky for 8k for mine from a dealer as a deposit and i'd still have to add 8k to get the grips/screen etc added on it.
Nah.
And, as i needed to lower mine by 25mm, I don’t think you can do that now without the shock being changed as it's now a direct shock and no dog bones present. A fortune to get the ohlins changed.
Sure, not everyone’s problem but still relevant!

 

Sorry for off topic but which battery do you have?
Mine's due soon and I'm heading for the lithium route!
Not bothered about cold starting as I probably can't start my own body soon when it's cold so i'm unlikely to head out when it is!

 

I had my superduke Lowered by about 10mm, no shock linkage. The dealer was able to have the shock rebult to accommodate so its doable

 

It's certainly do-able as I went to ktm in Coventry and asked about lowering a superduke a year ago (which is what he suggested and you have done). At 5'5", it wasn't to be!
But, it's certainty more expensive than the £40 i paid for second hand lust lowering plates!