Triumph Thruxton RS 2022 — Specifications

So, let's cut to the chase: in the neo-retro landscape, where style often outweighs substance, where does a machine like the Triumph Thruxton RS fit in? Is it simply a two-wheeled fashion accessory, or a genuine modern café racer capable of biting at your wrists? At nearly €17,200, the price of a Triumph Thruxton RS is not insignificant, and it demands a commensurate experience in return. What Triumph delivers here is far more than a simple aesthetic evolution. It's the most accomplished, the most hardcore version of its café racer lineage, a muscular response to those who thought the genre could only be a pleasant memory.

Beneath this iconic silhouette, inherited from the thoroughbreds that raced on the eponymous circuit in the 1960s, lies a deeply reworked heart. The 1200 cm3 parallel-twin has not only been made compatible with Euro5 emissions standards. It has been given an aggressive rejuvenation: increased compression ratio, high-compression pistons, revised camshafts, and a crankshaft 20% lighter in terms of inertia. The result is tangible: 105 horsepower at 7500 rpm and a massive torque of 112 Nm available from 4250 rpm. This surge, more pronounced and lively than before, brings the Thruxton RS noticeably closer to the BMW R nineT Racer in terms of character, while retaining that typically British elegance. That’s the whole point of this motorcycle: it offers you the manners of a gentleman with the appetite of a competitor.

This newfound vigor is framed by an already excellent chassis, inherited from the Thruxton R, and now equipped with top-of-the-line components. The 43 mm Showa fork and Öhlins rear shocks are fully adjustable, providing a solid foundation for precise handling. The brakes, now Brembo M50 calipers clamping on 320 mm discs at the front, inspire absolute confidence. The whole rolls on Metzeler Racetec RR tires, sporty tires that speak volumes about the machine's true intentions. The dry weight of 197 kg is well managed, making the motorcycle agile despite its wheelbase of 1415 mm. For those seeking a 2021 or newer Triumph Thruxton RS test ride, it is this coherence between the engine and the chassis that immediately strikes.

However, don't be fooled. The 2022 Triumph Thruxton RS is not a sports bike in disguise. The riding position, with its low clip-on handlebars and rear-set footpegs, is engaging but demanding for long distances. The 14.5-liter fuel tank and a claimed fuel consumption of 4.6 L/100 km limit range. It is a motorcycle for pure pleasure, for winding roads where its character can express itself. The electronics, discreetly integrated, offer three riding modes and a switchable traction control system, modern concessions necessary without altering the retro soul. Reviews of the Triumph Thruxton RS often agree on this point: it manages to be both a beautiful object, with its impeccable finish and carefully considered details like the Monza-style fuel filler cap, and a genuine riding machine.

So, who is it for? For the demanding enthusiast who refuses compromise. For those seeking a motorcycle with authentic character, capable of serious performance without looking like a race machine. It sits at the top of the Thruxton range, justifying its price compared to a Thruxton 900 or even an R by the level of equipment and extensive mechanical revisions. Finding a used Triumph Thruxton RS can be a good deal to access this unique experience, provided you carefully check its history. Because beyond the numbers, it mainly sells a dream, that of riding a reincarnated legend, where each outing becomes a tribute to the history of British motorcycling. It's a bold and successful gamble.