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| | | Road Test : 2008 Triumph Street Triple-Street me in the gut! |  Written: 06/08/2007 : 10:46. Read 128499 times (79/day). | Triumph has simply followed the successful recipe from the latest Speed Triple, Daytona 675 and Tiger 1050 and created another “must have” product. The Street Triple hits me in the gut in the same places as a much bigger capacity motorcycle.
  68 votes | |
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Time stands still, I can feel the three small cylinders working together to create some sort of a crescendo way too early! How can 675cc feel like so much more, I ask myself riding both first, second and third gear into the limiter.
One of the cleverest things the modern Triumph factory did was to strip a Daytona sportsbike to create the Speed Triple. If there is one Triumph that has managed to capture people’s imaginations during the last 10 years it is the Speed Triple. So in the styling department Triumph has made the new Street Triple look as similar as possible to the great Speed Triple 1050.
Tell tales are the Daytona 675 swinging arm and lower spec front brakes. But that’s all the difference you’ll notice from a distance. The double round headlights are there, the double high stubby exhaust is there and the minimalist look is complete.
To decide on the Street Triple to be Triumph’s next big thing was an easy decision for Triumph gaining a lot of glory and sales after launching the Daytona 675. The basis for a great naked was always there in the Daytona 675. The engine produced more torque than the bland and characterless in-line fours at the same time as it went just as fast around a racetrack.
The Street Triple feels very light when I first sit on it and push it forwards and backwards with the engine humming on idle. The seat (800mm) and feel is of a taller bike than the 07 Honda Hornet 600, but the Street Triple feels just as light and nimble.
The acceleration is instant and there’s no boring wait for 10K readings on the tachometer. There seems to be drive all over the power band, but from 6.000rpm the fun really begins and the front lifts at 8 both in first and second. Not big wheelies, just a small and very satisfying power wheelie. If you want to play with the big boys the Street Triple can wheelie all day long easily by doing on-offs or using the clutch in second. It’s just a natural thing for such a motorcycle. I would have been disappointed if it didn’t.
The major two things that impress me straight away are the 675cc triple engine and the handling. First I notice that there’s no nervousness or tendencies to headshake like I have experienced on the Speed Triple. The front end on the Street Triple is rock-solid and probably mostly thanks to the Daytona 675 chassis and swinging arm I’d say. Because the best parts from the Daytona 675 has been donated directly to the Street Triple. This makes the Street Triple a seriously competent sportsbike for the roads and the occasional track-day. The Kayaba upside-down fork and rear shock keeps the Dunlop Qualifyer tyres in contact with the changing tarmac all the time if you ride the Street Triple like a sportsbike. But we’re much naughtier than that and particularly on a naked streetfighter we turn into a version of Angus Young anno 1976. Street Triple easily inspires the wild in me and I enjoy riding it much more than any new 180bhp litre sportsbike.
The engine is a gem of 106bhp triple power with a claimed 69Nm to hoist wheelies with. But revving it out in first, second and third (continue to sixth if you have the space…) feels great and above 8.000rpm it’s proper sportsbike acceleration. The Street Triple has got the best of both worlds which is very difficult to achieve even with modern engine technology. Hail Triumph for having managed to keep the engine as exciting as this! The 675 is really addictive.
The claimed dry-weight is 167kg which is very light. This contributes to the great handling and ease of manoeuvring the Street Triple. The steering angle is not the best for slow car-park manoeuvres in town but that’s about the only thing that I could put my finger on. The two-pot Nissin front brakes are more than up for the job and I actually like them better than the Speed Triple radial items. No fuzz stopping this Street baby.
Conclusion:
Having ridden and tested both the 07 Honda CB600F Hornet, 07 Aprilia SL750 Shiver, Suzuki GSR600’s, Ducati Monsters, BMW F800’s I know pretty much what I am looking for in a motorcycle such as the Street Triple. My verdict is that Triumph has built exactly the bike that I want!
+
Great 675cc triple engine-both on low and high revs.
Handles like the Daytona 675
It’s worth every penny of that £5.500
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Slow speed manoeuvrability hindered a bit by the sportsbike-like steering lock
Makes the Speed Triple less attractive…
Key Specifications:
• 675cc, fuel injected, water-cooled, three-cylinder, 12-valve engine
• 6-speed, close ratio gear box
• Kayaba suspension front and rear
• Nissin 2 piston front brakes / single piston rear
• 800mm seat height / 167kg dry weight
• 17.4 litres (4.6 US gallons) fuel capacity
• 24.3º rake and 95.3mm trail
• Instrument display functions include LCD speedo and tacho dial, trip
computer, odo and clock, lap timer with 99 lap memory and gear position
indicator
• Maximum power: 108PS (107bhp) at 11700rpm
• Maximum torque: 69Nm (51ft.lbf) at 9100rpm
• Available in Jet Black, Fusion White and Roulette Green
Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: Martin Leyfield & Tor Sagen
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| Comments | |
 gbjohno (13-05-2008): I road the street triple at a recent RAT ride & even with my wife on the back it was excellent,I got off & wished I was 30 years younger,
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