I have rarely ever paid much attention to Triumph's odd-ball 1050cc streetfighter, the Speed Triple, but since somebody that I know has been looking at one I decided to look into the bike a bit just out of curiosity.
The Speed Triple sits atop Triumph's SPORT offerings and does so with tremendous comfort.
Triumph Daytona 675
Triumph Daytona 675R
Triumph Street Triple
Triumph Street Triple R
Triumph Speed Triple
Triumoh Speed Triple R
In its most familiar form, the bike was released in 2005, with two pronounced round headlights (though the bike originally hit the market way back in 1994).
In 2011 - the bike received a fairly substantial make-over including an all-new chassis, frame and swingarm, new headlights, and some extra horsepower and torque... many people were concerned that by abandoning the traditional round headlights that Triumph might be hurting the Speed Triple brand but the new oval headlights have done well. The engine was moved forward and downward to improve the handling and the battery was shifted to move the rider closer to the steering head. The bike also received the updated dash layout that also landed with the Daytona and Street Triple.
Just look at that frame!
Here is a great video that talks to the differences between the 2010 and 2011.
The media loved the 2011 as well, though most wondered how Triumph could even improve the bike!
With the onslaught of power-mad super-nakeds like the S100R, 1290 Super Duke R and Tuono V4 R... Triumph had to respond and they did so in the form of the Triumph Speed Triple R.
The super-version of the Speed Triple included Ohlins suspension (NIX30 fork and TTX36 shock), ABS-assisted Brembo brakes and a host of other features.