Triumph Speed Triple S 2016 — Specifications

Who said a roadster couldn’t have a long tailpipe and the look of a sportbike? With the 2016 Triumph Speed Triple S, Hinckley has precisely taken up this challenge. It’s no longer just a characterful machine; it’s a technical proposition that tickles hypersports without denying its streetfighter status. Beneath its apparent simplicity, the model has undergone a profound overhaul, with over 104 modifications to its celebrated three-cylinder engine, to meet Euro 4 standards and, above all, to regain its place in the hierarchy of naked bikes.

The engine, still with a displacement of 1050 cm3, has not only been cleaned up. It has been optimized to deliver 140 horsepower at 9500 rpm, with a torque of 112 Nm available relatively low, around 7850 rpm. This evolution is crucial: it allows the 2016 Speed Triple S to offer remarkable responsiveness from the first turns of the crankshaft, without sacrificing the typical smoothness of its three-cylinder architecture. The consumption, announced at approximately 7 liters per 100 kilometers, is a testament to work on efficiency, while the adoption of ride-by-wire and five maps (Road, Rain, Sport, Track and Customizable) gives it a new versatility. ABS is present and can be disabled for those who prefer absolute control.

On the chassis, Triumph remains faithful to its perimeter aluminum frame, lightweight and rigid, derived from the glorious Daytonas. The suspension, entrusted to Showa, offers a 43 mm inverted fork and a mono-shock, both adjustable for preload, rebound and compression. This is serious equipment, which places this 2016 Speed Triple S in the high-end of roadsters, even if the R version, with its Öhlins, remains the option for purists. The braking system, with its four-piston Brembo radial calipers on 320 mm discs, is faultless and offers a clamping power that inspires confidence. A dry weight of 192 kg, combined with a 825 mm seat height, gives an agile machine, but one that requires a certain physical commitment.

Compared to a Ducati Monster 1200 or a Yamaha MT-10, the 2016 Triumph Speed Triple S plays on a different register. It’s not the most brutal, nor the most spectacular in line. It is rather this balanced machine, with an engine of a unique sonic and mechanical richness, which seduces the sporty touring rider or the demanding urban dweller. Its price, around 12,100 euros at the time, placed it in the premium segment, justified by its finish and technical adjustments. Tests of the Triumph Speed Triple S from this period often highlighted this alchemy between aggression and civility, a duality that remains its hallmark.

Ultimately, this generation of Speed Triple S was not a revolution, but a necessary evolution. It allowed the model to remain relevant in the face of competition, which, for its part, continued to innovate. For the rider looking for a naked bike with a true temperament, a charismatic engine and discreet but effective electronics, this 2016 Triumph Speed Triple S, and its variations until the Triumph Speed Triple S 2019, represents a safe choice. It does not compromise on its identity, it refines it. And on the road, this translates to immediate pleasure, a direct connection that is sometimes lacking in overly assisted machines.