By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Hyper Naked
Yamaha MT-10 (RN45) vs Triumph Speed Triple RS (NN02A)
Yamaha MT-10 vs Triumph Speed Triple RS: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
Roll on out of a slow bend and the Yamaha MT-10's off-beat four growls while it's already pulling hard in the midrange. The Triumph Speed Triple RS's thrust swells in one clean line from low revs. Near the top, it's surging again.
So which one do you buy?
Which one's the smarter buy
Money won't decide it
The price gap doesn't produce a clear winner. Neither bike is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
MT-10
You hear the MT-10 before anything else: its exhaust carries a MotoGP-like howl that conventional inline-fours don't make. The throttle gets a strong answer well short of the top of the tach, because the engine's tuned for the road and doesn't need to be spun out. Around town the bike stays composed and easy to manage, and the hard seat's slope toward the tank starts to nag after an hour. The front wheel lifts on request.
Nils rode the MT-10 in Austria in 2017 (NastyNils Testride).
Speed Triple RS
On Angeles Crest Highway, the light aluminum frame and Öhlins suspension let the Speed Triple RS change direction quickly, and it doesn't get nervous doing it. At the brake lever, the Brembo calipers haul it down with immense force and keep their feel stop after stop. There's smooth shove from the engine low in the range, spread evenly as the tach climbs. The triple screams once it's spinning.
Nils rode the Speed Triple RS in 2018 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The MT-10 makes more peak power: 160 hp (118 kW) vs 148 hp (110 kW).
- The Speed Triple RS makes more peak torque: 86 lb-ft (117 Nm) vs 82 lb-ft (111 Nm).
- The MT-10 has the larger fuel tank: 4.5 US gal (17 L) vs 4.1 US gal (15.5 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Wrong job for both
Long days aren't what these two do best. Plan shorter legs and plenty of stops.
There's no real gap on track days, character, commuting, and twisty roads. Sit on both and let fit and price decide.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
MT-10
What owners say
Strengths
- Incredible crossplane engine sound and character
- Monster midrange torque
- Excellent electronic package for the price
- Strong standard equipment and build quality
Trade-offs
- Uncomfortable stock seat
Speed Triple RS
What owners say
Strengths
- Smooth, torque-rich engine character
- Powerful, consistent Brembo braking
Known problems to check before you buy
MT-10
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
Speed Triple RS
- Quickshifter interference causing missed gears or false neutrals (recall 19V815) Recall 19V815000 The quickshifter assembly body may contact the linkage clamp, interfering with gear changes and potentially causing a missed gear or false neutral, increasing the risk of loss of control.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 6-year-old MT-10 with a 6-year-old Speed Triple RS.
- MT-10
- $11,500
- Speed Triple RS
- $8,200
At six years old, the Yamaha MT-10 sits around $11,500 while the Triumph Speed Triple RS lands near $8,200. That's a $3,300 gap in the Speed Triple RS's favor. These figures come from earlier US market records, not live listings.
What they share
- Seat height
- 32.5 in (825 mm)
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 320 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 190/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| MT-10 | Speed Triple RS | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 463 lb (210 kg) | 454 lb (206 kg) |
| MT-10 | Speed Triple RS | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 998 cc | 1050 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four | Inline-three |
| Power | 160 hp (118 kW) | 148 hp (110 kW) |
| Peak power at | 11,500 rpm | 10,500 rpm |
| Torque | 82 lb-ft (111 Nm) | 86 lb-ft (117 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 9,000 rpm | 7,150 rpm |
| MT-10 | Speed Triple RS | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 US gal (17 L) | 4.1 US gal (15.5 L) |
| MT-10 | Speed Triple RS | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 55.1 in (1400 mm) | 56.9 in (1445 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| MT-10 | Speed Triple RS | |
|---|---|---|
| Cornering ABS | Not offered | Standard |
| Steering Damper | Standard | Not offered |
| Quickshifter | Standard | Option |
| TFT Display | Not offered | Standard |
| USB Charging Port | Not offered | Standard |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
