Both the bikes rival each other in the middle-weight street-fighter segment.
The RS is the top-spec model of Triumph’s middleweight naked bike, the Street Triple. It was launched in October last year with just a single, Matte Silver colour option. Now, with the addition of the Crystal White and Matt Jet Black, the RS comes with three colour options.
Kawasaki India has also launched a black colour option for their Z900 RS model. The bike was launched with candy tone orange colour in February this year and had received a positive response.
The changes on both the bikes are limited to only the paint job. The electronics and mechanicals of the bikes remain the same.
Being the top-spec model, the Street Triple RS gets the most powerful engine in the Street Triple line-up. It is powered by a 765cc engine producing 121 HP and 77 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. At 948cc, though the Z900 RS has the bigger engine, it still produces lesser power at 109.4 HP and 98.5 Nm of torque.
Electronically too, the Street Triple RS is more advanced. It gets Ride-by-wire technology for that quick throttle response. There are five riding modes – Road, Rain, Sport, Track and Individual with the Road mode being the most gentle and the Track mode being the most furious. Traction control and ABS come as standard. In comparison, the Kawasaki Z900 RS only gets the Kawasaki Traction Control, LED headlight and a multi-function display nestled between dual analogue-style speedometers and tachometer dials.
The Triumph Street Triple RS was initially sold at Rs. 10.55 lakhs but since the duty on CKD kits was increased, the price also increased to Rs. 11.13 lakhs (ex-showroom). The Z900 RS is more expensive at Rs. 15.3 lakhs (ex,showroom). However, the launch of new colours haven’t affected the prices of the bikes in any way while they also give the bikes a visual refresh.
Both the bikes compete with the MV Agusta Brutale 800, Ducati Monster 821 and the Yamaha MT-09.
Triumph Street Triple RS Colours
– The bike is now offered with three colour otpions – Matt Silver, Crystal White and Matt Jet Black
– Price of the bike remains at RS. 11.13 lakhs (ex-showroom)
– The RS is the top-spec model in the Triumph Street Triple model
– The Kawasaki Z900 RS only gets one new black colour option
