Last week, Triumph launched the 2020 Triumph Street Triple R in its international markets, and like the recently updated Street Triple S and RS, it gets a few design tweaks and a Euro5 (BS6)-compliant engine, among other updates. The R has never made it to India, but that’s likely to change with this generation and here’s why.
Currently, Triumph retails the older generation of the Street Triple S and RS in India. However, the new 2020 Street Triple S now gets a downsized 660cc triple that produces just 47.6hp at 9,000rpm and 60Nm of torque at 5,250rpm. This bike is now dedicated towards the learner-appropriate, A2-license segment of the UK market and that’s why it will probably be replaced by the new Street Triple R in India.
The 2020 Street Triple R is powered by the same 765cc inline-triple from the updated RS, but with a lower compression ratio that results in slightly lower output figures – 118hp at 12,000rpm and 77Nm of torque at 9,400rpm – in comparison to the 123hp (at 11,750rpm) and 79Nm of torque (at 9,350rpm) produced by the RS. A bi-directional quickshifter is now standard equipment.
The 2020 Street Triple R comes with the old-style LCD display and not the full-TFT unit seen on the RS. That said, it does offer features like a lap timer, programmable gear change lights and the ability to toggle between the bike’s three riding modes – Road, Rain and Sport.
Hardware includes Brembo M4.32 Monobloc calipers, while the 41mm USD fork and monoshock are both sourced from Showa, like on the outgoing S. Unlike the S, the R offers full adjustability at both ends, while the S’ adjustability is limited to a pre-load adjustable monoshock.
Interestingly, in the UK, the new R also costs £400 (Rs 37,256) less than the outgoing R, despite the updates. With relevance to India, Triumph might just manage to price the new Street Triple R on par with the Street Triple S’ current Rs 9.19 lakh (ex-showroom) cost, because the company has been aggressive with the pricing on its recent products like the Speed Twin, Scrambler 1200 XC, and the Rocket 3. The current Street Triple is one of the few bikes that Triumph still brings to India via CKD, because recent regulation changes have made direct imports from Thailand via the Free Trade Agreement more cost effective. It will be interesting to see what route Triumph takes with this bike.
Azaman Chothia
