9
REVIEW
Triumph Street Triple 675
With one of the most addictive engines in its class, not to mention a tidy little chassis, the triple from Hinckley is hard to faultWHAT WE LIKE
- Agile handling
- Ballsy 675 engine?
- Cool street-fighter styling
NOT SO MUCH?
- Pricey after-market bling?
- Slightly heavy cable clutch?
- Dash dazzle on wet nights?
While the colour palette may be the only change to this year's Street Triple range, vivid Roulette Green (as tested) now dropped from the range, any chance for us to throw a leg over Triumph's street-fighter is all the excuse needed for another crack at our favourite mid-strength naked.
The smaller of two such bikes in the 2010 Triumph range, the lower capacity 675cc Street Triple comes in at a touch under $12K (during the current Triumph sale), $4600 cheaper than its bigger brother, the 1050cc Speed Triple.
But don't think for a moment that small engine means small performance. Far from it.
Street Triple's three-cylinder heart, shared with the British brand's track hero Daytona, is a sensational performer, its cracking mid-range pull seeing it punch well above its weight when levelled against similar-spec Japanese rivals.
A distinctive whirring noise from the chain driven cams is met with a crisp bark from the dual exhausts in a note that could only come from Triumph's feisty triple-pot screamer. Roll on the throttle and that wonderful early surge hints at the promise this torquey little number possesses, solid pull offering rapid acceleration met with shed loads of high-end power, perfect for overtaking or sprinting from corners on your favourite section of winding road.
Boasting a light-weight aluminium twin-spar frame, Street Triple provides loads of support for those meaty 41mm USD forks, giving acres of front-end traction as you push the big bars hard in to corners, quickly finding the chicken strips as the rear tails sweetly, its well-tuned (adjustable) monoshock pushing the back tyre hard in to the road for maximum drive from the apex, taking just a little weight from the front wheel under full throttle – awesome out-of-the-box handling.
Six well-spaced ratios offer plenty of drive when more pace is required, but are still long enough for that second- and third-gear dawdle to the shops. The shift action is exact, positive, equally up there with some of Japan's better offerings.
Confident stopping comes courtesy of burly 308mm twin disc brakes up front which afford plenty of late braking bite, precisely controlled by a well weighted hydraulic assisted lever. At the rear, a sorted 220mm single disc helps pick up the slack.
Like most naked bikes, the seating position on Street Triple is a little more upright than its sports rivals, but not so much that you look stiff in the breeze. The seat is well padded and the bars spaced just right for enough leverage in sharper bends, or when riding two up.
Our test bike was also fitted with a short tinted screen, seat cowl (not pictured) and bar-end mirrors which not only looked the goods, but also gave surprisingly clear rearward vision, clearing both rider and pillion.
Dislikes are hard to come by on a Street Triple, but if I had to be critical, I'd opt for a little more assistance from the cable-operated clutch and a little less intensity from the backlighting of the instrument panel -- its white iPod-esque hue a touch dazzling on wet misty nights. Similarly, some of the after-market bling is a little pricey, and with a bike as uniquely styled as this, bling is fit for the begging.
Otherwise Street Triple is an impressively light, lithe and nimble sports naked with plenty of character and enough grunt to shame a few faired 600s I could name. A fun and confidence-inspiring ride, this is certainly one worth adding to the bucket list... though maybe not in green.
SPECS: TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE 675
ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 12-valve, in-line three-cylinder
Capacity: 675cc?Bore x stroke: 74.0mm x 52.3mm
Compression ratio: 12.65:1?
Fuel system: Multipoint sequential EFI (with SAI)
TRANSMISSION?
Type: Six-speed
Final drive: Chain
Clutch: Wet, multi-plate
CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame type: Aluminium beam, twin-spar?
Front suspension: Upside down 41mm forks?
Rear suspension: Mono-shock, preload adjustable?
Front brakes: Twin disc (308mm), dual-piston caliper?
Rear brakes: Single disc (220mm), single-piston caliper
Tyres: 120/70-17 inch (F), 180/55-17 inch (R)
DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES?
Rake: 24.3-degrees?Trail: 95.3mm?
Claimed wet weight: 189kg (Wet)?
Seat height: 800mm?
Wheelbase: 1390mm
Fuel capacity: 17.4L
PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 78kW @ 11700rpm?
Claimed maximum torque: 68Nm @ 9200rpm
Fuel economy: 6.9L/100km (as tested)
OTHER STUFF?
Price: $13,800*?
Colours: Jet Black, Fusion White, Tornado Red & Roulette Green (as tested - 2009 plated stock only)?
Bike supplied by: Triumph Australia (www.triumph.co.uk/australia)?
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres
*Pricing is the manufacturer's list price and does not include dealer delivery, statutory and on-road costs.
Share this article
Written byMatt Brogan
See all articles
Stay up to dateBecome a bikesales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Subscribe today
Disclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Love every move.
Buy it. Sell it.Love it.
®Contact
Advertise with us
Local marketplaces
International marketplaces
Consent
Download the bikesales app
