In 2001, the British motorcycle manufacturer launched the Triumph Sprint RS, which debuted in 1999. The RS model was the half-naked version of the ST with a lower price, aimed at those riders who wanted a sportier machine with the same manners as its sibling.
Compared to the ST version, the Sprint ST packed a similar chassis and engine, a half fairing, and a dual-sided swingarm instead of a single-sided unit. The bike lost eight kg (18 lbs) and came in a new Jet Black paint job, joining the Racing Yellow and Lucifer Orange.
The 2001 machine packed the same standard features, including a half fairing with a medium-sized windscreen, a one-piece seat with a passenger cowl, a three-into-one exhaust system, and lightweight three-spoke aluminum wheels.
Underneath its clothes, the 2001 Triumph Sprint RS had equipped a 955cc four-stroke three-cylinder liquid-cooled engine with a fuel injection system in charge, boasting 110 hp at 9,200 rpm and 97 Nm (72 lb-ft) torque at 6,200 rpm.
The bike's power was transferred to a six-speed manual transmission with a wet multi-disc clutch linked to the rear wheel through a final X-ring chain drive, pushing the motorcycle to a top speed of 238 kph (148 mph).
From top speed to a complete stop, the bike used two 320 mm discs with four-piston calipers on the front and a 255 mm disc with a dual-piston caliper on the rear, offering excellent stopping power.