New Triumph Speed Triple Teased for Jan. 29

Dennis Chung
by Dennis Chung

Triumph released a new video teasing some sort of match-up between four-time World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty and two-time Isle of Man TT winner Gary Johnson. Left unsaid but clearly hinted at in the video is a revised Speed Triple. (UPDATE: New CARB filings confirm a new 2018 Triumph Speed Triple RS.)

From what we can see, the bike looks similar to the current Speed Triple, including the headlight and fly screen design and frame. The video does however show enough detail to show some changes to the Speed Triple.

The first, most obvious clue is the TFT screen shown at the 15-second mark. The 2018 Speed Triple R and Speed Triple S currently use an analog speedometer and an LCD display but the video clearly highlights a new digital color screen that displays vehicle speed, engine speed, gear indicator, fuel level, fuel economy, estimated range, temperature and time.

The digital tach appears to redline at 11,000 rpm, compared to 10,000 rpm on the current Speed Triple’s analog dial, which suggests some changes to the engine.

Other visual differences we noticed include new five-spoke wheels, a new front fender, revised handlebar switches and a different exhaust.

The left switchgear shows a few extra buttons compared to the controls on the current Speed Triple.

What remains to be seen is whether this new bike represents a complete refresh of the Speed Triple line or if it’s a new variant joining the existing R and S models. Most of the changes we’ve found are notable but relatively minor and the bike shown in the video looks very similar to the current models, so it’s possible Triumph is teasing a new RS version to go along with the existing R and S models, bringing the Speed Triple in line with the Street Triple lineup. Triumph has already announced the Speed Triple R and S for the 2018 model year, but we can report that neither model has received certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the California Air Resources Board yet. It’s possible Triumph was waiting to reveal a new variant before getting the model family certified.

We’ll find out soon enough, as Triumph will reveal more information on Jan. 29. Check back here on Motorcycle.com for more details as it becomes available.

Dennis Chung
Dennis Chung

Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.

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