After experiencing Triumph's retro Bonneville and the beastly Thunderbird Storm cruiser, we’ve just got astride one of the most thoroughbred and technologically up-to-date Triumphs currently available in India, the Street Triple.
We have always admired Triumph’s ability to blend old-school styling with contemporary lines and updated technologies, and the Street Triple is no different; just a glimpse is enough to tell you that this is one of the most distinctively designed streetfighter bikes today.
The Street Triple gets sharp body lines with minimalistic bodywork. Its powerplant is finished in black, as are its five-spoke alloy wheels. The British brand’s signature dual headlights provide good visibility at night. Get astride the Street Triple and you experience admirable and well crafted instrumentation. The Street Triple gets comprehensive instruments that are legible and useful, and include a digital speedometer, odometer, twin trip meters, a fuel gauge, lap timer, gear shift, economy and range indicators, as well as an analogue tachometer with programmable gear shift lights. The flat handlebar features quality switches and top-notch palm grips that are soft to touch. The well-made mirrors look smart. They are a bit cumbersome to adjust to your ideal position, but offer great visibility behind.
With its manufacturer’s name on either side, the lean-looking tank carries 17.4 litres of fuel and provides good inner thigh support, nestled by a broad, lightly stepped seat with a strap as well as grab rails for the pillion to hold on to. The radiator shrouds have a set of integrated clear-lens indicators, while the bike ends in a newly designed rear that showcases LED tail-lights. Overall, the Street Triple has top-notch fit and finish and build quality, as you would expect from this famous bike maker.
The engine, derived from the Daytona 675, has been incorporated virtually unchanged in the Street Triple. But that’s not a point of criticism, considering the universal appreciation received by this 675 cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, in-line three-cylinder engine. It is the way the maximum power of 104.5 bhp at 11,850 rpm and peak torque of 6.9 kgm at 9,750 rpm are delivered that makes the Street Triple special. While clutch feel is light and progressive, the six-speed gearbox works flawlessly. Its precise gearshifts in the one-down, five-up pattern and well thought out gear ratios complement the engine. The Street Triple is fitted with a gear-driven balancer that helps keep vibrations at bay when riding at high speed.
Open the throttle and you immediately notice an accurately metered throttle response, with strong thrust delivered low down in the rev range and a powerful high-end shriek. The motor seldom feels out of breath.
The intake and exhaust notes are worth the price of admission to this street fighter, as the Triple outputs a high-pitched whine and throaty intake roar.
The 2014 Street Triple comes with a revised aluminium twin-spar frame, the exhaust moved from underneath the seat for improved mass-centralisation, making way for a lighter cast-aluminium sub-frame. Upside-down front forks work hand-in-hand with the rear monoshock, supported by an alloy swingarm, to provide impressive ride quality. It’s a touch on the firm and sporty side, but helps the bike feel sure footed, light and agile. The Street Triple loves to be thrown around fast and tight corners, its Pirelli Corsa Diablo tyres providing excellent grip and inspiring confidence. It’s hard not to smile while gunning down the highway on a Street Triple, as the new chassis offers a nimble feel with solid high-speed stability. A low kerb weight of 183 kg is also clearly evident.
The seating position is comfortable, with a seat height reasonable enough for tall as well as shorter riders. The Street’s saddle feels comfortable, with enough room for both the rider and pillion. The riding posture is neither too relaxed nor overly aggressive; the handlebars sit well positioned to offer a light lean, allowing you to tackle long trips. However, there’s little by way of wind protection, as the Triple lacks any form of windscreen as standard fitment, although you can grab one from the nearest Triumph accessories outlet.
Brisk acceleration demands equally capable stopping power, and the Street Triple delivers here. Managed by a switchable ABS system, the front gets 310 mm disc brakes with two-piston calipers, and the rear brake is a 220 mm disc with single-piston caliper, providing solid bite with good feel at the lever.
Priced at Rs. 7.45 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Street Triple’s bare-chested looks and sporty handling, coupled with Triumph’s latest technology, translate directly into a great riding experience, which will have you grinning from ear to ear.
It feels light and nimble, with ample engine performance and character, yet it’s still easy to master. Having ridden one extensively, it’s now easy to see why the Street Triple has such a strong following.
TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE
Price :Rs 7.45 Lakh (ex-showroom,Delhi)
L/W/H: 2055/740/1060mm
Wheelbase : 1410mm
Fuel tank capacity : 17.4litres
Kerb weight : 183kg
Engine layout : In-line 3-cylinder, liquid-cooled,four-stroke
Displacement : 675cc
Power : 104.5bhp at 11850rpm
Torque 6.9kgm at 9750rpm
Gearbox : 6-speed, 1-down, 5-up
Front suspension :USD telescopic forks
Rear suspension : Monoshock, alloy swingarm
Front brake: 310mm discs (ABS)
Rear brake : 220mm disc (ABS)
Wheels : 5-spoke alloy
Rim size (f-r) : 17 i
