2012 Triumph Speed Triple R Review

[supecoop]

Nice review. Just reread your 2011 Aprilia Tuono VR4 APRC review and it looks like your test will really be between the Aprilia and the MV. Of course you could throw in a Ducati Streetfighter just to round things out. What you get for the money may be the deciding factor.

[Fangit1]

The extra parts may be worth more than $4300 to buy but don't forget this cost represents only a delta over the cost of the standard parts. It seems a bit over the top to be asking a 37% premium for this bike IMO.

[schizuki]

I just can't warm up to the designed post-crash aesthestic. Factory streetfighters are the pre-ripped jeans of motorcycles.

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by Huss

Sweet bike.

But at $16K, it is just too homely looking, and is up against some seriously exotic rides. Either one of which I'd pick over the Triumph, just because they are more drool inducing.

Glad to see you're doing the comparo!

We actually think the colors, accents and overall design of our S3R makes it quite fetching. In terms of beauty, I think it looks prettier than the new Tuono and is nearly a match for the splendid Brutale.

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by supecoop

Nice review. Just reread your 2011 Aprilia Tuono VR4 APRC review and it looks like your test will really be between the Aprilia and the MV. Of course you could throw in a Ducati Streetfighter just to round things out. What you get for the money may be the deciding factor.

Don't jump to too many conclusions. The Tuono test we posted was written by our Euro correspondent, and he's from Norway. Norway is not America.

We do really like the Tuono (and MV), but the S3R held its head high in that elite company.

Adding the Streetfighter to this shootout would've rounded it out nicely, but Ducati couldn't get us one in time. But to give you an idea of how much we loved our trio, we theorized the cool Duc might've come in last.

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by Fangit1

The extra parts may be worth more than $4300 to buy but don't forget this cost represents only a delta over the cost of the standard parts. It seems a bit over the top to be asking a 37% premium for this bike IMO.

I don't want to throw Triumph under the bus, but the S3R is in no way 37% better than the S3. Yet don't take this the wrong way. The S3R is excellent!

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by The Spaceman

Not to pick nits here, but the X-Y legends on the torque/hp graph are completely illegible, at least on my PC. I know you put the numbers in the text, but I like to read the charts as well.

The font will be slightly larger in the Brutale test we'll publish tomorrow. Where else but the internet can you get a response like that?!!

Also, keep in mind that if you click on the chart, you'll then have the option of viewing a larger image. And if that don't work, save the larger image and enlarge it in your photo viewer.

[sliphorn]

There's a mis-print in the graph. The torque is shown as "hp" not ft-lb or lb-ft, whatever it is.

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by sliphorn

There's a mis-print in the graph. The torque is shown as "hp" not ft-lb or lb-ft, whatever it is.

Where were you when we were looking for a copy editor intern...? We'll fix it up!

[The_AirHawk]

Originally Posted by Kevin_Duke

Where were you when we were looking for a copy editor intern...? We'll fix it up!

The Wife does freelance Editing (she has quite a reasonable rate-schedule, too), has worked on several well-known books, and even knows a bit about motos. I can PM you her email if you like....

(she refuses to Ghostwrite, though she's had offers more than once)