Triumph Street Triple 675 v Aprilia 750 Shiver

Naked sports

The basic maths underpinning a sporting middleweight (around 170kg and 100ps) is impressive, which lets riders knuckle down and explore their limits with precision and confidence - and most riders with a decent level of skill will do just that.

I think we've established that these bikes don't do boring, which is great. Two incarnations which certainly fall under that umbrella are the 750cc Aprilia Shiver V-twin and the 675cc Triumph Street Triple.

The common threads between the two are plentiful, including wonderful performance glows, sharp steering, crisp throttle response, compliant suspension and reasonably roomy cockpits.

Their seating positions are also quite upright, but with a small amount of sporting bias to add to the plot. You can't get much better mounts for tight and windy roads, and their practical steaks are just too hard to ignore.

Of the two, the British Street Triple is the bigger hottie in the performance department, the in-line triple pumping out a claimed 108ps from the same donk which is found in the award-winning Daytona 675.

The Shiv's engine is an in-house creation from Aprilia, with its fuel injection falling under the remit of ride-by-wire twin throttle bodies. The svelte 90-degree 750cc powerplant produces a very respectable 95ps, but it predictably counters the Street Triple with a heap of torque - 81Nm at 7000rpm versus 69Nm at 9100.

Standard equipment on both bikes is similar, including USD forks and basic monoshock rear ends (the Aprilia's shock is side-mounted). The Aprilia has radial-mount brakes, as opposed to the standard items found on the Street Triple - but the Street Triple R, which will go on sale next January, will have the higher-spec brakes.

The Street Triple retails for $12,490, while the Shiver is $14,990. No severe financial trauma here -- in purchase price or insurance.

You can read the individual comparisons by clicking the links below, or keep on reading for the final verdict. The choice is yours.

» Triumph Street Triple 675 -- click here for review

» Aprilia 750 Shiver -- click here for review

AND THE WINNER IS...

For sheer sporting credentials and practicality, the nod goes to the Street Triple. It's just that little bit more nimble and the better performer, particularly with such an intoxicating and howling top end - but not at the sacrifice of pulling power.

But that doesn't mean the Shiver doesn't talk the talk, because you'll still be ahead of the game - and most of your sportsbike-riding mates - with the Italian stallion.

Huge rewards are to be had with both bikes and, if there is a particular reason for favouring one over the other, go for it!