2020 Triumph Street Triple S Review

Learner motorcycles tend to have basic hardware in a bid to keep the price reined in. Triumph has taken the opposite approach with its 2020 Triumph Street Triple S. Showa suspension, Nissin and Brembo brakes, and Pirelli Diablo Rosso rubber – the list of quality standard gear is extensive.

It is also the reason why the Triumph Street Triple S is the most expensive LAMS-compliant naked bike on the market. A $14,900 ride away price makes it around $3000 dearer than its closest competitor, Yamaha’s MT-07 LA.

The Triumph Street Triple S will be on every L-plater’s wish list but finances, or the lack thereof, will restrict it to young professionals or tradies and 30-somethings who’ve discovered the joys of two-wheeled motoring.

That said, a trawl through the bikesales listings will find plenty of machines under the $10,000 mark. Second-hand Street Triples are generally well looked after, simply because owners who can afford to buy one can also afford to have it serviced on schedule and re-shod with decent tyres if required.

And the latest iteration of the Triumph Street Triple S is more than up to the task of giving those tyres a serious scrubbing. A mass of 168kg combined with 52hp and 61Nm makes the Triumph the performance pick of the LAMS brigade.

Taking it to the streets

It is hard to believe the Triumph Street Triple S a LAMS-compliant bike the first time you tap the throttle. It packs less than half of the power of the 765cc Triumph Street Triple RS but its 61Nm is only 18Nm off its bigger sibling.

As a result, acceleration is better than brisk, and the Triumph has no problem launching off the lights at a rate that will keep the cars fading in its rear-view mirrors.

Boy racers will love the lights that progressively illuminate on the LCD display to indicate when you’re approaching the redline.

The reality is there’s not much to be gained in pushing that far up the tachometer.

Peak torque kicks in at 6000rpm and that’s where you want to be playing. The closely stacked ratios in the six-speed gearbox complements the engine by ensuring upshifts don’t drop the revs too far, enabling the S to surge back into the midrange revs where it does its best work.

The soundtrack suits the performance, with a raspy exhaust note under load and a throaty burble as you ease on the right grip.

Expect to see fuel consumption in the high fives to low six-litre mark around town. On that basis, the 17.4 litre tank should see you through 300km of commuting, rising to around 400km on the open road.

The Triumph packs traction control and two riding modes (rain and road) into its software suite, along with switchable ABS.

A quick test on a gravel carpark shows the traction control and ABS do as they’re designed, with the Triumph Street Triple S refusing to spin up the rear wheel or lock up under braking.

The test also highlighted the benefits of being able to switch the ABS off when riding on gravel roads. Not locking up the back end is handy on bitumen but increases your stopping distance on gravel.

Braking is more progressive than on the RS and it takes a decent pull of the front lever to engage the ABS, presumably to mitigate the impact of riders engaging the system in low-speed manoeuvres.

The Showa suspension mightn’t be as tricky as the setup found on the Triumph Street Triple RS but it is well-tuned for novice riders with very little diving under full brakes while still having enough initial compliance to soften out mid-corner ripples.

There is 110mm of travel on the front forks and 124mm of play in the rear monoshock, which can be adjusted for preload.

Related Reading:
2020 Triumph Street Triple RS Launch Review
2020 Triumph Street Triple R looming
2020 Triumph Street Triple S LAMS on sale 

Designed to appeal

The 2020 facelift introduces more angular lines, courtesy of new plastic panels, and an even more bug-eyed pair of headlamps.

Those lamps are also apparently whiter and brighter than the previous model – we certainly had no visibility issues on a quick night run.

The signature gullwing swingarm is retained, as is the stubby three-into-one stainless steel exhaust on the right-hand side.

Fit and finish is first rate, as you’d expect on a bike at this price. Ergonomics are likewise well-sorted, with wide bars for an open riding position and a well-shaped tank to lock your knees in through the twisty sections.

The pillion seat is angled just enough for a passenger to lean comfortably into the rider, without adopting a sports bike-style crouch that can quickly induce cramps.

Riders planning on touring or with a highway commute would be smart to invest in a visor for the flyscreen. It may be a little piece of plastic but it will make a big difference to your comfort at triple-digit speeds. There are more than 60 Triumph accessories for those looking for extra protection, comfort or bling.

Summing up

If money isn’t an issue, the Triumph Street Triple S is arguably the best learner-legal street motorbike on the local market. For many riders, the performance – in a straight line or through the bends – is enough to make buying a post-LAMS machine a moot point.

ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, 12-valve triple cylinder
Capacity: 660cc
Bore x stroke: 76.0mm x 48.5mm
Compression ratio: 12.1:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 52hp (39.7kW) at 11,250rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 61Nm at 6000rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Clutch: Wet
Final drive: Chain

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Twin-spar alloy beam with two-piece diecast subframe
Front suspension: Showa 41mm upside down forks
Rear suspension: Showa monoshock with preload adjustment
Front brakes: Dual 310mm discs with twin-piston Nissin calipers, switchable ABS
Rear brake: 220mm disc with single-piston Brembo caliper, switchable ABS
Tyres: Pirelli Diablo Rosso _ 120/70 ZR17 front, 180/55 ZR17 rear

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed dry weight: 168kg
Seat height: 810mm
Wheelbase: 1410mm
Fuel capacity: 17.4 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $14,900 ride away
Colours: Crystal white
Bike supplied by: Triumph Motorcycles Australia
Warranty: 24 months/unlimited km