By Ryan Adams

2020 Triumph Thruxton RS

Editor Score: 90.5%

The Thruxton namesake is one that has described Triumph’s racing efforts throughout the middle of the past century. Now, the name designates a model that harkens back to those days that’s thoroughly modern while being meticulously designed to look the part of cafe racers from the 1960s. This new Thruxton RS continues to refine and develop Triumph’s factory cafe racer into a machine that will properly haul the mail and look smashing while doing so.

For me, the Thruxton is to sport riding what the Scrambler 1200 is to adventure riding. These machines do a fantastic job at their true intended purposes while delivering the cool retro vibe that make these motorcycles appeal to the general public. These are motorcycles that anyone would walk by on the street and give a second – or third – glance. Though the uninitiated may be unsure whether they’re looking at something from the 60s or perhaps something more modern, the word cool is on the tip of their tongue.

The Thruxton RS looks unequivocally cool, sure, but for us heavy-handed performance-minded (cafe) racers, the RS delivers the highest performing Bonneville in the brand’s 118-year history. As Evans surmised in his review of the 2019 Speed Twin, the Speed Twin’s engine updates that “may out-Thruxton the Thruxton” have indeed trickled up into the Thruxton RS, delivering more power and performance with efficiency.

The Thruxton RS’s 1200cc Parallel Twin features a …read more

Source:: 2020 Triumph Thruxton RS Review First Ride