Duel Honda CB1000R 2018 Vs Triumph Speed Triple RS: chic duo for shock duel
Two new maxiroadsters land in 2018: the CB1000R, eagerly awaited by Honda and the Speed Triple, a surprise from Triumph. Two motorcycles with similar approaches that clash on MNC: on the way to a duel of beauties and rebels !
CB1000R Vs Speed Triple RS: page 1 – New 2018 roadsters
Site readers – who, as everyone knows, have a little more RAM than others – remember that Honda took its time to replace the Hornet 900 with the CB1000R: for two long years (2006-2007), the winged crest catalog no longer displayed a maxiroadster !
Strangely, the succession of the CB1000R was also long overdue: due to the entry into force of the Euro 4 emissions standard, the Tokyo Reds did not offer any motorcycle last year against the Kawasaki Z1000, GSX-S1000 from Suzuki or MT-10 from Yamaha.
Honda intends to fill this slight setback by taking the opposite view of its compatriots … At least in terms of look! If it remains faithful to the 4-cylinder in-line, the new "Cebe" and its "retro" touch effectively break with the – recent – tradition of Japanese machines that look straight out of manga.
Although the first CB1000R has already been designed "in Europe, by Europe and for Europe", the second adopts much more "western" features. This is how it comes close to another great novelty, much more unexpected this one: the Speed Triple 2018 which, despite the "Brexit", remains a benchmark in terms of roadster on the old continent !
Deeply revised in 2016, the maxiroadster has evolved again this year. His "Tripeul" was at the center of attention of the Hinckley firm: the 1050 cc 3-cylinder now develops 150 horsepower, against 145.5 hp for the 998 cc 4-legged of the CB1000R, derived from the Fireblade engine 2017.
By retaining a relatively reasonable maximum power, the Speed sets itself apart from its own European rivals: the twin-cylinder Tuono V4 from Aprilia and 1290 Super Duke R from KTM spit out 175 and 177 hp respectively, the 4-in-line of BMW’s S1000RR produces 165 hp.
MNC readers – who, as everyone knows, are a little more demanding than others – will regret the absence of the Ducati Monster 1200 S whose motorcycle philosophy with neat looks, a powerful-but-not-scary engine and sharpened cycle part could have joined this duel. But this is not a novelty for 2018! And incidentally, MNC could not try it in 2017…
For Le Journal moto du Net, the confrontation between the new Honda and Triumph seemed therefore unavoidable: on the one hand, the second favorite novelty of MNC readers, on the other, one of the biggest favorites of the editorial staff this year. new Year. A nice duel in anticipation !
Only problem (noted by some informed commentators on our smart-videos), the two roadsters were entrusted to us by their respective importers in different versions: Honda France kindly lent us a CB1000R with quickshifter but without "+", while Triumph France kindly gave us a Speed Triple RS with "shift assist" as well. Site will try to take this into account.
CB1000R 2018: the Honda + you expected
For this unprecedented duel on MNC – as on the whole web – the testers received the keys to a brand new 2018 CB1000R: its odometer only displayed 40 km when we left! Completely original, this machine benefits from the services of a quickshifter (at 695 euros) allowing up and down gears without resorting to the clutch lever….
However, this accessory is the only one which distinguishes the standard model from its "+" version in terms of dynamic behavior. Indeed, the heated grips, aluminum fender inserts, windscreen, seat cowl and radiator grille do not affect the acceleration, braking or handling of the motorcycle..
Site which has as a reminder already tested the real CB1000R + at its press launch, can therefore estimate running on the high-end version of the brand new Honda roadster, invoiced at 14,699 euros, or 1,500 euros more than the CB1000R "period"…
Even without the few "extra" trim, the CB1000R remains a magnificent motorcycle: its engine in particular benefits from an exemplary finish. The finely and partially polished housings are echoed at the rear wheel hub carried by the solid all-aluminum single-arm.
The black color of the beast also goes perfectly with the beautiful brushed aluminum parts of the headlight, the radiator and the air box. Aluminum also, but as cut in the mass, the front footrest plates would perhaps have benefited from being perforated. They are no less admirable.
The frame is made of steel, but its "mono backbone" configuration (in the backbone!) Makes it completely invisible: the engine is all the more in value! Ditto for the rear rim with the design that oscillates between classy and aggressive: the wheel is not too hidden by the compact pot that MNC did not find terrible in the photos … but which ultimately pleases !
The general line of the "Cebe" is also very successful, alternating classic touches and modern tips, avoiding errors of taste. Thus, the round and flat headlight is equipped with modern LED lighting, the night lights of which evoke a horseshoe. There is a second iron at the rear: the Japanese want to put the odds on both sides of their motorcycle !
The tank, which levitates above the mill, carefully hides its welds. Fairly flat, it also seems particularly long … hence the little touch of gray "aluminum" paint just in front of the rider’s seat ?! The rear of the machine is airy: the passenger seat is placed on a rear loop whose perfectly smooth finish makes any plastic cover unnecessary..
is this first review of the Rouge all rosy? No. We can for example regret that Honda has mounted mirrors of pentagonal shape, today quite commonplace. At Site, we find that round retro would have been more in the tone. Not chrome either, just round…
Likewise, if we can congratulate the Reds for adopting an offset license plate holder which accentuates the truncated aspect of the rear loop, we can also wonder about the need to split it. A single arm was not enough to carry the license plate and the tiny fender ?
Inspecting the Honda very, very closely, Site is surprised that the engine’s electronic fuel injection system is so apparent on the left side that a strand of black wire is running under the rider‘s seat and the expansion tank is located under the shock absorber … and above the "pot" of the exhaust !
Finally, the front fender of "our" seems a little basic in its form – retro look, why not – and too much in its raw plastoc finish. However, the CB1000R + only partially corrects this small fault with its aluminum inserts … It is not the same "halu" as on the Speed Triple which benefits from a carbon fender … in its version " RS ", we are just getting there !
Speed Triple 2018: the Triumph surprise
Triumph France gave us the key – contactless! – a Speed Triple RS, the "top" 2018 model tested and approved by Site this winter. Unfortunately for Le Journal moto du Net, for its readers and for Triumph (also, yes!), No standard model was available to compete with the CB1000R "a little +".
It is therefore in its haute couture and major brands outfit that the Speed is aligned for this duel. It therefore leaves with a serious handicap: its price of 15,850 euros, increased by 429 euros for the quickshifter ("up / down", as on the Honda) which does not even appear in the original endowment of the RS. "What The Flute" ?!
However, compared to the additional 1,500 euros that the CB1000R + costs compared to the "straightforward" CB1000R, the 2,050 euros required by Triumph to acquire a Speed Triple RS rather than a Speed Triple S seem perfectly justified..
The "Spideresse" indeed includes a beautiful pair of titanium and carbon Arrow pots (1299 euros in the catalog), Ohlins suspensions (which replace the Showa of the "Spidesse"), adjustable levers (double to the right, in spacing and offset !) signed MCS and Continental electronics with inertial unit (the "famous" IMU of Superbike)…
Added to these electro-mechanical improvements are a painted engine guard, a carbon fender and radiator scoops, small hubcaps on the wheel axle or on the frame … And even without these little tricks , the standard Triumph clearly has nothing to be ashamed of against the sculptural Honda in terms of finish.
Less refined than those of its Japanese competitor, the lines and shapes of the English are generous and curved. The "devastating" look of the Speed is carefully preserved by Triumph over the years, and with good reason: it appeals to the majority of motorcyclists crossed by MNC. It is also unanimous within the editorial staff Site !
Installed on the beautiful beast for 20 years (!), The double headlights which have not been round since 2011 are faithful to the position, just like the two exhausts placed under the saddle, as imposing as they are essential. "What did you expect"? The rims, on the other hand, are redesigned for 2018: the five spokes give them a delectable "ultralight" flavor..
In addition to these new wheels, the S and RS versions of the new Speed triple also share the Brembo front braking (Nissin at the rear) with aviation type hoses, as well as the Pirelli Supercorsa SP tires with super sticky gums, please. !
To summarize: the Speed S is a motorcycle which "marks", the Speed RS is one which "re-marks" itself even more! We note in parallel the multiple inscriptions "Triumph" or "T" disseminated on the maxiroadster produced in Hinckley in England. Classier therefore, than the label "Made in Thailand" worn by the little sisters Street Triple !
Common to the Speed S and RS also, the rear view mirrors at the end of the handlebars give them a cafe racer touch that would perhaps not deny future buyers of CB1000R, spearhead of the new "Neo Sports Cafe" segment at Honda! Stylish, they are very efficient and not too disabling in the city.
Is the new Speed Triple perfect from an aesthetic point of view? "Well, nobody’s perfect!" … Thus, the ABS control unit and its channels (like gas plant …) and the gasoline vapor filter ("ptipoicarote" tin can style) would also have deserved to be well camouflaged as the injection of the Modern Classics range (like carburetors!).
Another detail – but on a motorcycle billed at 16,279 euros, we can quibble! -: the "aluminum" color of the rear buckle is unnecessarily different from the deep gray of the frame and the passenger footrests. Ditto for the Brembo front brake bracket which is not painted black, like the handlebars and the rest of its fittings. "Shocking".
Note to conclude that the passage of the cables around the steering column is a little less clean on the Triumph than on the Honda … More worrying, the left rear indicator of "our" Speed was bathed in water. This did not prevent it from functioning during our two days of driving. Will it last two decades ?
It is high time to get on our maxiroadsters which form a particularly chic duo in static … and a "shock duel" in dynamic? Answer on page 2 of our new MNC duel: in the saddle !
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