Triumph Street Triple 765 RS versus Yamaha MT-09 SP

Conclusion - what sticks

The Streety 765 RS is an insanely good bike with many strengths and few weaknesses. It delivers tons of driving pleasure and impresses with a handling that even a Speed Triple 1200 RS has to fit into. Whether it has to be the RS or whether the R is enough, you can't say objectively. If you have to pay attention to your wallet, you will certainly be happy with the R. However, if you can afford the RS, you should help yourself there. The RS is actually a little better in some things and, above all, more noble in appearance. An absolute dream motorcycle!

Once again, we received the test machine from Q-Bike, the Triumph flagship store in Hamburg, for this test. At Q-Bike, both the RS and the R are ready for a hearty ride. So if you are still undecided which one it should be - just go to Q-Bike and at least look at or ride both machines. But beware: If you test drive the RS, you are acutely endangered...

Conclusion - what gets stuck

Back to the exit question: Is the 1,800 Euro surcharge for the SP worthwhile? Jein, one might say. The SP is the slightly more noble and chassis-technically better machine, but if you don't have it so thick, we think you can also use the standard MT-09.
 
However, the competition for the naked bikes of the upper middle class is tough: KTM 890 Duke R, Kawasaki Z900, Ducati Monster, Aprilia Tuono 660, Triumph Speed Triple RS - these are all also great machines. In the end, many potential buyers will probably depend on the engine: it's just a character question whether you're on Twin, Triple or In-line fours.
 
In any case, the MT-09 SP does quite a lot of right and actually nothing wrong - except for the company operation, which is, however, similarly murky among the competitors. But as a couple you don't really want to ride these bikes, don't you?
 
The test bike was provided to us by Tecius & Reimers in Hamburg Eidelstedt - thank you.