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 3 – The Speed lives up to its name
As stuffed by the gaping air intake in the middle of the screen – fitted as standard on the S and RS -, the Hinckley engine has a very fat torque: 117 Nm just above 7000 rev / min, against 105 for the Honda a thousand laps higher. On the Speed, the acceleration is convincing from 3500 rpm. And the higher the pitch and the sound, the faster the machine accelerates. It’s not linear, rather exponential…
More powerful and much more character than before, the CB1000R does not take long to reach a new limit. By dint of whipping his angry engine to follow the Triumph, the Honda rider imposes too great a strain on his rear suspension…
The shock absorber is struggling when the whole cavalry tumbles: 145.5 hp as a reminder. By accelerating fully in the first three reports, the motorcycle has an annoying tendency to relieve its front wheel, or even to kick on the rear wheel. To tame the beast, it therefore becomes necessary to step on it and cling to its handlebars..
On small roads, going fast with the Honda becomes resolutely sporty! The pilot is particularly in demand: he must often change position to maintain the best balance of his mount. Beneath its fiercer looks, the Triumph is incredibly more docile !
Thanks to its very accessible and practical knobs, the Ohlins shock absorber of the Speed Triple RS further encourages its pilot to play with the settings. After a few tests, Site ends up opening the hydraulics of its rear suspension almost fully: "our" Speed then continues to tap on the cobbles and retarders but offers extraordinary handling and feel for the road (s)..
On the road, even badly dented, the traction of the Triumph is never faulted despite the formidable tone of the engine and its maximum power of 150 hp. Traction control virtually never intervenes! On the Honda, the rebounds of the rear axle trigger at times fine interventions of the TCS. The comrade of the trip takes the opportunity to slip away at on the English, once again.
Of course, the Japanese Showa suspensions (standard and "+") have the advantage of being a little more comfortable at reduced speed in the city center. But they do not absorb, however, better than the Ohlins of the RS, small bumps or big defects on the road. The Honda is clearly too on the move and ends up kicking the acceleration, as if to warn its user that he is becoming a little too playful..
Constantly riveted to the bitumen, the front wheel of the "Spideresse" enables the trajectories to be traced with more care and serenity than the "Cebe". The Triumph is much more stable, especially when you intervene strongly on the throttle or brake controls. Squeezing the tank better between the legs also improves motorcycle control..
The Speed pilot does not need to be as mobile as on the CB and therefore acts more with the upper body. In the winding, register the Speed Triple RS on the angle, pass from one turn to another or correct its traj ‘in full curve, requires more effort than on the CB1000R. But the arms and shoulders don’t struggle.
Whatever the type of road and its condition, the Speed Triple RS masters all subjects. The royal bike also masters its Japanese rival! At the controls of the Triumph, we drive fast. Very quickly. Too fast ? As stated in our first test, traveling at less than 80 (mph ?!) is not always easy…
The sportier Japanese girl, really ?
We must admit that in the dry, the hyper sporty shoes of the Englishwoman do not really encourage the ride: quick to heat up, the rear Pirelli is like glue … which sticks so well to the tarmac that it leaves beautiful black marks at the end of the curve.
If the Honda rider cannot stay in the rear wheel of his fellow Triumph, he can always follow him! But this is likely to happen, because you have to spit in the gloves to stay in the pace naturally imposed by the Speed Triple RS…
On braking too, the CB1000R tilts, figuratively as well as literally! It therefore requires backing up on the pilot saddle and locking the arms properly because the leaky profile of the tank does not allow it to be wedged. We therefore lose precision when entering bends.
The power of the Tokico calipers of the Honda is excellent, their touch is very appreciable. Unfortunately for them, the Brembos that equip the Speed Triple (S like RS) offer a bit more bite and an even finer feel: the sensation of pinching the discs with your own fingers, but with a sacred grip, is as confusing as it is pleasing !
The rear brake of the CB is beaten more widely due to its shyness. It is necessary to insist with the tip of the foot to slow down, so that the dosage is not obvious: on hard braking, the ABS is triggered more quickly on the rear of the Honda.
The Triumph is more convincing on this point too, impeccable even for those who wish to brake carefully from the rear in a curve during a little too generous arsouille, or in couple during a mop in love..
No time to frolic for Site: the storm is brewing and a few drops of rain are slowing down the ardor of the testers. This is the opportunity or never to engage the "Rain" modes of our two maxiroadsters! On the CB, the engine is smoother in the first half of the tachometer … As if the wise character of the mill in "Sport" mode (a little more effaced in "Road") and the traction control were not enough not ?!
On the Speed, the difference between the "Rain" and "Road" programs is slim: the 3-cylinder always shows incredible health! Fortunately, the injection of the Triumph makes it possible to manage acceleration and go-around very precisely. A little more than on the Honda by the way.
Cooled by the rain and pressed for time, the Journal moto du Net returns as quickly as possible to importers: via the motorway! To stall at 140 km / h meter, you have to make the 4-legged trot at 6000 rpm, that is to say one or two hundred revolutions faster than the 3-cylinder.
Approaching Paris, the maximum speed is reduced to 110 km / h. The vibrations then bearable of the Honda become much less: the tank and the footrests numb the pilot. At 90 km / h, the crackling migrates towards the handlebars: it’s the turn of the hands to have a few ants … red !
vibrations are sensitive in the handlebars of the Triumph, but they do not bother. It’s more the lack of protection – logical on a roadster, despite the nose screen! – which encourages the motorcyclist to avoid fast lanes and prefer small, winding roads. When there is !
Mounted on the CB1000R +, the heated grips will satisfy bikers who easily get cold hands. Present on the Speed Triple RS this time, the cruise control will avoid having too hot the buttocks on roads infested with radar. Even within the editorial staff, opinions diverge, and diverge, it’s huge.
Last full before returning "our" test motorcycles: out of the 420 km traveled by MNC, the CB1000R consumed 25.2 liters of gasoline, against 24.4 for the Speed Triple. Despite its handicap in terms of tank capacity, the Triumph therefore offers a range comparable to that of the Honda: around 270 km.
In the end, the victory of the Hinckley maxiroadster over that of Tokyo is obvious. Admittedly, Site had to oppose a "luxury" Speed Triple RS to a CB1000R 2018 with quickshifter but without "+". Loaded dice? Match bought? Duel good to throw? Certainly not !
Verdict: RS and a little +
Faced with its English rival, the new Honda CB1000R just confirms its status as a magnificent motorcycle, rebel and very good overall. Easy on a daily basis, angry in the towers, she unfortunately turns out to be too wild when you look for her. And take MNC’s word for it, we find it !
While it is permissible to hesitate between a CB1000R equipped with the quickshifter (€ 13,894) and a CB1000R + (€ 14,699), MNC believes that there is less to procrastinate between this same CB1000R + and a Speed Triple RS (15,850 €): the Honda is certainly less expensive, but it does not have a pot that deposits, nor suspattes that amaze !
The Speed Triple RS appears more powerful, more captivating, more endearing. Paradoxically, what appeals to the "hooligan" is that he knows how to behave: the 3-cylinder is always ready to attack, the chassis defends itself very well….
Site has no doubt that the Speed Triple S – which shares the same engine, brakes, rims, instrumentation and devastating looks as the RS – remains an excellent machine. As a reminder, the Street Triple 765 S (with Showa suspensions and original muffler) benefits from incredible road holding (s) and a dazzling sound..
Too bad the Speed Triple does not have the more modest "Triumph": the price increases were too brutal in 2018! In the virtual configurator of Triumph France, the previous Speed Triple S (2016-2017) is always displayed "from" 12,700 euros, or 1,050 euros less than the Speed Triple S 2018 … Outch !
Related articles
-
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…
-
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…
-
Speed Triple RS test: the Triumph roadster raises the tone and the sound in 2018 Only two years after its last update, the Speed Triple benefits from…
-
Duel Z900 Vs Street Triple S: one fight, two bosses Displayed at 8,900 euros, the Z900 and the Street Triple S use very different arguments to appease…
-
Roadster – Test Honda CB1000R 2018: change of universe – Test CB1000R 2018 – Page 2: Dynamics
2018 Honda CB1000R Test: Change of Universe Ten after making headlines, the Honda CB 1000 R is looking for a new style. Storing her modern influences in…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Duel BMW K1600GTL Vs Honda GoldWing 2018: Cruising Face Off… Forget Commander Stubing and his Love Boat . Rather, embark with Site for a cruise that is…
-
Duel Triumph Street Triple R Vs Yamaha MT-09 SP 2018: triple muse ! Will the new suspensions of the Yamaha MT-09 SP give it the rigor it needs to keep…
-
Duel Triumph Street Triple R Vs Yamaha MT-09 SP 2018: triple muse ! Will the new suspensions of the Yamaha MT-09 SP give it the rigor it needs to keep…