Triumph Street Triple

Author's product rating:   

Comfort	Good
Handling	Excellent
Looks	Excellent
Features	Satisfactory
Fuel consumption	Good

Advantages:	Triumph name, price, looks, handling, engine etc etc
Disadvantages:	No fairing so lack of weather protection

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Bit of background:
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I already own a Triumph Daytona 995i, which I am happy with. Time will come some day when I may have to change it, or simply buy another bike for regular running. After the news that my local Triumph dealer is closing their franchise, I decided to look for the next nearest one.
This led me to Team Roberts Triumph in Conisbrough (near Doncaster).

Test ride Sir?
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Arrived at the shop with just the intention of having a look round, really to see where it was and what it was like. Got chatting to the owner and after casual conversation the question came up:
"Have you got your licence with you?"
"Yes why?"
"Can take that out for a blast if you like" -pointing to the gleaming black Street Triple, which was looking at me through the window.

"Errrmmm no.. No its OK, I'm not really bothered about buying another bike just yet".
"OK no probs" shrugs his shoulders.

After he had a sandwich he asked again..
"Hey look, you've got your licence just have a go on it . . "

So I agreed, not reluctantly, but mainly because I didn't want to buy a new bike after it.
The brief paperwork was done and the keys handed over.
"Don't go through any puddles, I've just washed it" he grinned "Have fun."

The Street Triple hustle
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Just to give you an idea of my dimensions, I am about 5 feet 9 inches, and used to riding sportsbikes. So sitting on the street triple I found it an easy reach to the bars. Not a stretch over the tank, infact my hands felt only about 6 - 7 inches away from the front of my chest.
Reach to the floor was good, and I tend to only put the ball of my foot down anyway while at standstill, but someone under 5'6" may be on toes.

Clutch in (modern triumphs require you to pull in the clutch to start). and the engine fires up and burbles away. The two large silencers high up at the back of the rear subframe snarl and vibrate slightly as you blip the throttle.

The smallest of clunks as you put the bike in 1st gear and it pulls away smoothly. compared to my 955i, the engine feels a little buzzier. But then again, this bike has no fairing like my Daytona, just the little black bikini screen above the twin headlights.

I'm not really pushing the bike yet, I can't even remember if I'm in a 30 or 40mph limit, but judging by the car up my back end now, I have a feeling I'm in a 40 zone. oh well. This is confirmed when I see the 30 signs up ahead. sorry buddy, but they weren't really following me for that long.

Not wanting to get lost, I turn right into a layby and flick the bike around. The bars giving me lots of leverage to turn the bike, but I'm still not quite used to it yet. It's light though, and I put the Triumph where I want it and head off back up past the shop, and into where I know the national speed limit awaits . .

The road is fairly quiet, and I'm still getting that buzzy feeling from the engine, but no cause for concern. The display for the speedo is liquid crystal - and reads off digitally. so makes you even more conscious if you are breaking that 30 limit.
The lights are on, you have no choice over that, but the switches are easy to get to for indicators main beam, etc. The warning lights are clear, and the only gripe I have is that the clutch cable still passes over the instrument display.
Although not as bad as my Daytona, (which covers the 30 mph mark on my speedo). The LCD speedo is large and unobscured.

The national speed limit signs are approaching so I give a quick check around, nothing in front, and just an impatient car behind, someone not wanting to drive at anything below 35 even though we are in a 30 . tough really, as I want to keep my licence clean thankyou . . besides, once we get to the national limit, you won't see me until I slow for the next village, town . whatever it is..

wind it back, and the Street barks forward, the triple engine giving that low growl, nothing like a 4 cylinder machine can, and not the gruff rumble of a twin. This more reminds me of a loud electric guitar hitting a deep chord. Im using the lightest of clutch movement to whip it up through the gears and not bothering to look down at the display just yet..

60 probably passed in no time at all, I know its not far to the next 30 limit so I start to back it down, and ease off. The bike feeling a little bit twitchy over a few bumps, but nothing really to worry about.
I am feeling a pull in my shoulders though. The upright riding postion I'm not used to, and sitting up straight like this, without a stretch to the bars is using my upper arms in a way I'm not used to.

I enter the next town, and notice in my mirrors (on the bars) - that the car I left behind is tearing through the speed limit to catch me up again. I can;t help but smile wryly, pretty clear in the mirrors though, given that triple engne, no vibration to blur the view.

A little kid in a pushchair waves at me, the mother looking at me out of the corner of her eye. My double visor is down so no one can see my face. but I flick it up, and wave back to the kid, who's face suddenly lights up with a pinball jackpot grin and the mother can't suppress a smile.
I can hear the kid start babbling away to his mother, but I'm already passing them by, and can't make out the words over the engine note.

Not pushing the Triumph hard , and the exhausts just burble quietly, are the gears whining a little? I don't really notice them.
I look for a safe spot and flick the bike round in a U turn. And head off back to the open road again.

Lets see how it does without the clutch.
This time into the country I catch up a large bus followed by a car, the car is taking it;'s time and hasn't got the power or room to overtake the bus safely, so it's just following. The Triumph however...
a quick double check to make sure the car isn't going for it, and so I do. This time revving the Street Triple harder between changes, all I feel is the barest of clcks through my left foot as it notches up.
The growl changes to a howl and gives me that grin only Triumph can. I love this engine sound..

A few fast sweeping bends coming up and I cant help angling my shoulders to lead into them, dropping my elbows slightly, I feel a little bit awkward with this riding position, but the Triumph holds its line, the front feeling a tad skittery over the bumps, but it's more down to not having that fairing and strecthed out riding position. It just needs getting used to.

But its back to the shop, I guess I have been on the bike about 20 minutes or so. ride it up and park it back where it was.

Well? How was it?
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"Um?" I said distracted a little
"The bike" the store owner smiled "how was it?"
"nice very nice" . . . and he listened with a few comments of his own as I told him what I thought . .

So what did I think?

I like my sportsbikes, and I really like the Daytona 675, on which the Street Triple is based. If I couldnt' afford the Daytona, then I would have this instead, but it may take a little getting used to the riding position.
(which, the owner said, was the wrong way round, it should be a sporty position I need to get used to).
The only other thing was at low speeds, rolling off the throttle and back on again was a little twitchy as the Triumph responded , but again, this may be not being used to the bike, and at high speeds it wasn't a problem.

The one thing I was keen to know was just how much wind protection does that little screen give. and at high speeds its pretty damn good. The riding position may have a bit to do with it, but at *ahem* mph I didn't really get a massive blast in the chest, which is what I expected.

The finish on the paintwork was great, and the matt black frame complementing the gloss back paintjob. The bike turns heads (I know, I saw them turn when I was riding it0. Plus that name on the tank .

If you want one, then be prepared to wait, because all the Triumph dealers sold out shortly after the Street Triple launch.
retail price? around the £5400 mark, which for a bike of this calibre is excellent value.

Like I said though, I like the Daytona 675, then again after thinking about the Street Triple hard, for writing the review I'm not sure ..
Dammit, I think the only thing is to have both.

If you want to check out demonstrators though, then triumph.co.uk will provide a list of dealers up and down the country.