In 1999, the British motorcycle manufacturer launched the Triumph Sprint RS, the half-fired version of the Sprint ST model. The RS model was cheaper than the ST version and was intended for those riders who wanted a sportier ride but with the same manners as the Sprint’s engine and chassis.
Compared to the ST model, the RS featured a similar chassis and a dual-sided swingarm instead of the single-sided unit of the ST model. The different swingarm, along with less bodywork, made the RS model eight kg (18 lbs) lighter than its sibling.
In the visual department, the RS model packed standard features, such as a half fairing with two roundish headlights, a medium-sized windscreen, a single seat with an optional passenger cowl, a three-into-one exhaust system with a silencer mounted on the right-hand side, and lightweight three-spoke aluminum wheels.
The suspension and braking systems were borrowed from the ST model, packing a 43 mm adjustable telescopic fork and two 320 mm floating discs with four-piston calipers on the front. The rear end was controlled by an adjustable shock absorber and a 255 mm disc with a dual-piston caliper.
Underneath its fuel tank, the 1999 Triumph Sprint RS had installed a 955cc four-stroke liquid-cooled three-cylinder engine with a fuel injection system in charge, delivering 110 hp at 9,200 rpm and 98 Nm (72 lb-ft) torque at 6,200 rpm.