First ride: Triumph Street Triple 660

The LAMS market in Australia is red hot, and the search inquiries made across Bikesales for both editorial articles and stock (both new and used) supports that massive interest. And the sales generated from that curiosity is translating into sales – big time. Just look at how the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and Honda 500cc range continue to rock and roll, as well as bikes like the KTM Duke 390. It’s an inexorable charge that has certainly changed the motorcycle landscape, perhaps permanently.

As a consequence of that growth, it’s inevitable that something so huge eventually will splinter into smaller ‘business units’, as one genre of LAMS bike is not going to be a universal crowd pleaser – especially with a number of states extending (or about to) the period during which riders must hold their restricted licenses. And that leads me to the new Triumph Street Triple 660…

The LAMS market in Australia is not just about providing a two-wheel entry point for young adults and those on tight budgets – in fact that’s a misnomer. Case-in-point: I’ve just fielded a call from my 48-year-old mate who’s going for his learner’s next week – neither a spring chicken (but he’s fit – a taekwondo freak…), and I’m sure he’s got enough coin to make his LAMS purchase one that’s unfettered by too many financial constraints.

And guess what bike he’s been onto me about? The Street Triple 660. This machine’s been on Triumph Australia’s wish list for a while now, as it provides all the chassis and tactile goodness of the award-winning Street Triple 675 – even the sticky Pirelli Diablo Rosso tyres remain in place – but one that “bike learners can ride” rather than being a “learner’s bike”. That distinction is entirely appropriate in the case of the Street Triple 660, which surely has catapulted its way straight to the top of the LAMS naked performance tree, in terms of both get up and go and handling.

And you pay for the privilege – at $12,490, it’s the second most expensive LAMS naked behind the Ducati Monster 659 ($12,990), but just because it isn’t a price that appeals to the entire LAMS universe that doesn’t mean it isn’t value for money – far from it.  We’ve always said the Street Triple 675 is a steal at $12,990 for the amount of enjoyment and sporting flair it provides, so why should it be any different for the $500 cheaper Street Triple 660, even though it’s been tamed a little.

I speak of the engine’s stroke, which has been trimmed by 1.2mm (from 5.3 to 51.1) to allow Triumph to make the 660cc LAMS ceiling in Australia. As well as the de-stroking exercise, Triumph also changed the inlet cam, altered the cam duration (it’s open longer) and recalibrated the ECU to ‘retrieve’ the torque that may have been lost during the whole exercise. And the ECU is tamper proof as well, so any aspirations of 675-ing the 660 down the track won’t produce a successful outcome. The 660 will still go, but with a 125cc-like top-end…

In LAMS configuration, the Street Triple produces 55hp (40.6kW) at 9300rpm and 54.6Nm at 5155rpm compared to the 675’s 106hp at 11,850rpm and 68Nm at 9750rpm. The 660 retains the 675’s tachometer though, so there’s always a reminder of just how excited – a 13,000rpm redline – this machine gets when it’s in full party mode.

Disregard the horsepower reference, though – the beauty of the Street Triple 660 is that torque and wedges and wedges of useable power are always at hand, and the peak is now 4600rpm lower than the 675. On a half to three-quarter throttle, you don’t ‘feel’ like you’re on a LAMS bike, such is the vigour and get up and go from the 660 with the flat and always-on-the-treadmill torque curve.

It’s the succulence down low that remains the Street Triple’s area of pre-eminence, and pussy footing along in slow moving traffic is effortless – a tall first gear and crisp fuel injection see to that. If you’re after the antitheses of a hair trigger throttle, look no further.  Add to that a supple clutch, impeccable throttle action, compact dimensions and neutral handling, it’s a bike that still keeps on giving even in 660cc mode.

Out of the suburbs, the low gearing of the Street Triple 660 keeps the “always in the right gear” mantra ringing true, but you’re not going to get the seat-of-the-pants feel of the 675 primarily because the rev ceiling is lower -- and the hard, hit-the-stops acceleration to get there isn’t as exhilarating. But bland it isn’t – the Street Triple would never fall into that bracket – and there’s still a sportsbike-like howl as the 660 builds up a head of steam.

Even with the Street Triple’s sporting instincts curbed in 660 mode, fuel consumption hasn't really improved compared to the 675, which equates to about 300km between fuel stops. The return is about 4.5lt/100km on the freeway, which nudges up to about the mid fives in the city -- solid stuff all the same.

As for the remainder of the 660’s traits – well, that’s just a matter of reading from the same song book as the 675, because there’s absolutely no difference between the two, down to the Nissin/Brembo brake combo, KYB suspension and new aluminium twin-spare frame.

If you’re sold on the 660, Triumph Australia is also offering three bespoke accessory packs for the middleweight naked, and they are as follows:

Travel Pack $590

Protection Pack $425

Style Pack $749

In addition, if you choose two items of Triumph clothing with your accessory pack, Triumph will give you a 15 per cent discount. The offer applies to jackets, gloves and jeans.

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 55hp 40.6kW) at 9300rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 54.6Nm at 5155rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed, close ratio
Final drive: 'O' ring chain
Clutch: Wet multiplate

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame type: Aluminium beam twin spar
Front suspension: KYB 41mm USD forks, non-adjustable, 110mm travel
Rear suspension: KYB monoshock with adjustable preload, 124.5mm travel
Front brakes: Twin 308mm floating discs with Nissin four-piston calipers (switchable ABS)
Rear brakes: Single 220mm disc with Brembo single-piston caliper (switchable ABS)
Wheel construction: Five-spoke cast aluminium, 3.5 x 17 front, 5.5 x 17 rear
Tyres: Pirelli Diablo Rosso -- Front 120/70-17, rear 180/55-17

OTHER STUFF
Price: $12,490
Colour: White, red or black
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres