Launched in 2020, the Triumph Thruxton RS arrived as a higher-spec version of the Thruxton. More powerful and with advanced suspension, the design of the Thruxton RS combines a retro-inspired design with modern electronic systems. Named after the Thruxton Circuit racetrack in Hampshire, England, the “RS” channels the spirit of the café racers of old. Plenty of custom touches and modernized equipment help it put out top-shelf performance with excellent road manners and handling characteristics.

The Thruxton was first released as the limited-edition, hand-built Bonneville Thruxton of 1965, and based on the T120 from the Bonneville lineup, hence the name. A few different versions of the Thruxton platform would make it to the market with different engines. The 1,200 cc displacement has been the standard since 2016, and is what powers today's café-tastic Thruxton RS model.

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2023 Triumph Thruxton RS

8.5 / 10

Key Features:
Powerful, higher-tuned engine
Fully adjustable suspension
Nimble handling
Ride modes
Traction control

Model

Truxton RS

Engine:

1,200 cc parallel twin

Power Output

103 HP @ 7,500 RPM

Torque

83 LB-FT @ 4,250 RPM

Transmission

6-speed manual

Driveline

O-ring chain

MSRP

$16,995

Pros

• Classic café-racer looks
• Modern performance
• Solid pedigree

Cons

• Solo seat only
• Room for more electronics
• Limited color choice

2023 Triumph Thruxton RS Performance And Capability

The engine in the Thruxton RS is an updated and improved version of the previous “R” platform. An extra eight ponies and a deeper torque well improves its overall performance and delivers more of the expected fun. This engine pulls double duty. The parallel-twin engine strikes a familiar chord with Bonneville DNA well represented for a classic mien, and bless their hearts, Trumpet used its throttle bodies disguised as the old mechanical-slide carburetors from back in the day to further date the powerplant.

The intake design and the cooling fins on both the engine and the exhaust-clamp rings combine to really reach back in history, its very own history, for a bit of age ambiguity and a {bona fide} pedigree.

A 97.6 mm bore and 80 mm stroke gives the engine an oversquare layout with a 1,200 cc displacement. A sizzlin'-hot, 12.1-to-1 compression ratio demands top-hook pusholine to prevent misfires and run-ons. To keep the top-end light and uncluttered, the valvetrain relies on a single over-head cam to time the eight-valve head. It's liquid-cooled for the thermal stability that brings to the table, but maintains a set of cooling fins, some polished and some blacked out, for the classic old-school charm it adds.

The 2023 Triumph Thruxton RS produce 103 horsepower and 83 pound-feet of torque. Power flows through a slipper-type clutch that delivers a light lever pull with a broad friction zone and anti-backtorque mitigation to make it safe and easy to use. Then it hits the six-speed transmission and chain-and-sprocket drive to complete the drivetrain. Claimed Thruxton RS top speed is 140 MPH, so it's a bona fide racer that doesn't just look the part: It can back those looks up with real performance.

Performance Specifications

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Design

The Thruxton's old-school charm is impossible to deny, especially since it comes from way back in the 1960s. It enjoys the benefits of coming from a long family line that had its own arc of evolution over the decades. It's impossible to fake that level of fidelity. Even with all of its classic goodies, the factory still prioritized the Thruxton's performance over absolute adherence to the original equipment.

This is, perhaps, most noticeable in the suspension that runs inverted, gold-anodized forks ahead of modern piggyback shocks. The factory sneaks more performance goodies in at the front fender which rides on foil-shaped uprights, acting as spoilers for the front fork tubes and improving overall aero penetration.

In the gasser tradition the bobbed sheet metal at both ends sees the removal of everything not directly associated with performance, and Triumph carvs down whatever remains to reduce weight. A cyclops headlight splits the night and sprouts the standoffs for the front blinkers up where they are reasonably safe from damage because of a drop at a stop or in the parking lot.

Dual round instrument gauges handle the most important metrics while keeping the cockpit nice and clean. The handlebars mount to the upper tripleclamp and have very little rise. This pulls the pilot forward over the 3.8-gallon fuel tank into an aggressive racer's posture. Toward the rear of the tank, there's a bit of a wane ahead of the waist to form the classic knee-pockets that let you pull your legs into the bike for streamlining purposes, and also to leave room for some lateral body English. The seat rests 31.8 inches off the deck which should be accessible for most body types, though the shortest riders may find themselves on tiptoes.

It's impossible to overstate how much the tapered rear fairing adds to the old-school, café-tastic vibe the Thruxton has going on, even if it probably does little for the actual performance numbers. The rest of the gear in the rear mounts to the short rear fender that comes shot in black like its front-end counterpart.

Specifications And Dimensions

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Chassis

Tubular-steel members make up the dual-downtube/double-cradle frame that supports the engine rather than using it as a stressed member. Since the under-frame area is lower than both the exhaust and the engine, it provides a certain amount of protection for all the above if you were to bottom out on a curb or pothole.

The steering head establishes a 22.8-degree rake angle, which is uncommonly steep and largely responsible for the Thruxton RS's nimble feel. Same with the trail figure at 3.6 inches, which is even shorter than the average for sport-type bikes. Of course, weight factors in, and it sheds 13 pounds from that of its predecessor for a dry weight of 434 pounds. Fully-adjustable suspension works its magic at both ends with inverted, 43 mm Showa forks ahead of dual, coil-over, piggyback Öhlins shocks out back. Both ends have 4.7 inches of travel to deliver a fairly plush ride and leave lots of room to squat under hard cornering.

Trumpet doubles down on the front brakes with dual 310 mm discs and four-bore Brembo monobloc anchors, while out back, a 220 mm disc and twin-pot Nissin caliper takes care of business. Aluminum wheels and wires round out the rolling chassis with a 32-spoke design and 17-inch diameter, shod with a 120/70 and 160/60 on the front and rear, respectively. Wheels that size are typical of sportbikes in general, and since they come with Z speed rated tires, they can take everything the RS can dish out and then some. ABS protection comes stock.

Chassis & Suspension

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2023 Triumph Thruxton RS Price And Availability

MSRP on the 2023 Triumph Thruxton RS starts at $16,995. That's for the Jet Black colorway. If you'd prefer the two-tone Competition Green over Silver Ice, you'll have to skin that checkbook for another five bills at $17,495. The Chrome over Jet Black “Chrome” model fetches $17,795, and is available this year alone.

Pricing & Features

How the Triumph Thruxton RS Stacks Up To The Competition

Café racers are enjoying a resurgence in popularity as more manufacturers are making some sort of bike, be it a replica or something with more of a modern twist. As a result, there are some big names for this section, Honda's CB1000R Black Edition and the Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport.

How the Triumph Thuruxton RS Compares to the Honda CB1000R Black Edition

• 2023 Triumph Thruxton RS

  8.5 / 10

  Key Features:
  Powerful, higher-tuned engine
  Fully adjustable suspension
  Nimble handling
  Ride modes
  Traction control

  Model

  Truxton RS

  Engine:

  1,200 cc parallel twin

  Power Output

  103 HP @ 7,500 RPM

  Transmission

  6-speed manual

  Driveline

  O-ring chain

  MSRP

  $16,995

• 2023 Honda CB1000R

  8.5 / 10

  Expert Opinion: The Honda CB1000R Black Edition with its classic Neo Sports Café styling carries modern electronics and a high-performance engine. Agile handling and sport-oriented ergonomics promise an exciting ride.

  Model

  CB1000R

  Engine:

  998 cc inline-4

  Power Output

  143 HP @ 10,500 RPM

  Transmission

  6-speed manual

  Driveline

  #525 O-ring-sealed chain; 15T/44T

  MSRP

  $12,999

The CB1000R is one of Honda's Neo-Sports Café models carrying itself with a re-imagined café look that's definitely more modern looking than its counterpart, even if it's more like the suggestion of café racer DNA. A bobbed front fender, single headlight, and inverted front forks lead off much like the Thruxton, though the Honda lacks the charm of the Thruxton's bar-end mirrors or analog gauges.

The Honda produces 184 horsepower from its inline fourbanger to vastly outgun the Trumpet, though the Thruxton is already faster than you'll ever go on public roads. The extra power of the Honda doesn't really accomplish much at the end of the day beyond bragging rights. Price helps Honda out with a $12,999 sticker that leaves a lot of cheese on the table.

How the Triumph Thuruxton RS Compares to the Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport PRO

• 2023 Triumph Thruxton RS

  8.5 / 10

  Key Features:
  Powerful, higher-tuned engine
  Fully adjustable suspension
  Nimble handling
  Ride modes
  Traction control

  Model

  Truxton RS

  Engine:

  1,200 cc parallel twin

  Power Output

  103 HP @ 7,500 RPM

  Transmission

  6-speed manual

  Driveline

  O-ring chain

  MSRP

  $16,995

  Torque

  83 LB-FT @ 4,250 RPM

• 2023 Ducati Scrambler 1100 PRO

  8 / 10

  Key Features:
  Öhlins suspension
  Iconic styling
  Good balance of power and torque
  Comfortable ergonomics
  Modern electronics

  Model

  Scrambler 1100 PRO

  Engine:

  Aircooled 1,079 cc L-twin

  Power Output

  86 HP @ 7,500 RPM

  Transmission

  6-speed manual

  Driveline

  Chain; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 39

  MSRP

  $17,195

  Torque

  65 LB-FT @ 4,750 RPM

The closest competitor from Italian giant Ducati is its Scrambler 1100 Sport PRO. Sure, it isn't exactly a café racer, but you could argue that Scramblers come from the same base “standard” or “UJM” platform and will appeal to the same sort of riders. Like a sister from another mister, the Duc runs with inverted, anodized front forks, an abbreviated fender, and single round headlight. A short-rise bar lets you push off a skosh for comfort, but leaves room to tuck in racer-style.

Ducati powers its entry with a 1,079 cc L-twin engine that puts out less power from it's cubes with 86 ponies and 65 pounds o' grunt. On the upside, the Scrambler comes with a fairly robust electronics suite for which the others have no answer to give it an edge in that department. Pricing starts at $17,195, which is comparable to the Thruxton RS and much closer than the Honda's checkout price.

He Said

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says,