Model Evaluation

Whereas inline fours wail, and sporting twins boom, Triumphs triples have cornered the market on growl, and the Street Triple Rs by Scott Rousseau liquid-cooled, DOHC 12-valve, 675cc inline three-cylinder engine may just be the sweetest layout in motorcycling today. It combines the smoothness and top-end performance of an inline four-cylinder with the low-midrange torque of a sporting twin, just about making it the perfect storm in terms of performance. While the 09 Daytona 675 has received a host of changes, including more radical cams to improve its breathing at higher rpm, the already potent 2008-spec Street Triple engine carries over, unchanged, to the Street Triple R in 2009. Equipped with milder camshaft timing that favors low-to-midrange performance and driveability over high-rpm screamability, the compact Street Triple R engine retains the same 74.0mm x 52.3mm bore and stroke, CNC-machined combustion chambers and attendant 12.65:1 comRIUMPHS CURRENT MARKETING slogan is Go Your Own pression ratio derived from the old Daytona to power the 2008 Way, but thats a maxim that has served the Hinckley, Street Triple. Fuel injection is handled by a trio of Keihin 44mm England-based Triumph Motorcycles, Ltd., well for over 25 throttle bodies employed by closed-loop sequential EFI. years now, since British home builder John Bloor rescued the We enjoyed the Street Triples engine performance last year, and defunct Triumph for a mere $200,000 and set out on a path to that opinion remains unchanged. Strapped to the dyno, our test return the revered British marque to its former glory. Bloor did it Street Triple R cranked out 92.59 rear wheel hp @ 12,000 rpm, just not by attempting to recreate the companys past (and by extension, 200 rpm shy of its rev limit (Triumph says the Street Triple Rs rev its past mistakes), but by steering it toward a new future where limiter is set at 12,300 rpm) while churning out a peak torque figcarefully planned and executed three- and four-cylinder high-perure of 44.42 lb.-ft. @ 8250 rpm. Those numbers were better than formance models with an increased attention to detail and drastithe 90.4 horsepower and 43.4 lb.-ft. peak figures of our 2008 Street cally improved workmanship portrayed Triumph in a newer, more Triple test bike, so we conducted two separate dyno tests on the R modern light. Only after this was established did the company model just to be sure that they wernt a whole lot better than the earnestly begin to pay homage to the old Triumph with the addition of significantly improved Modern Classic models, such as 2008 engine. Phone calls to Triumph assured us that nothing inside the Bonneville, Thruxton and Scrambler twins. That strategy is the engine has changed and that perhaps our 2008 unit simply had probably a big part of why the company has continued to be a sucnot been broken in properly. cess while attempts by others to rescue defunct iconic brands such The extra power was negligible in our acceleration and top as Norton and Vincent (and Excelsior-Henderson and Indian in speed trials anyway, as the Street Triple R went from 0-60 mph in America) have been a struggle or an outright failure. 3.36 seconds, hit 100 mph in 7.97 seconds before turning in a best But that doesnt mean that Triumph goes about its business by quarter-mile time of 11.32 seconds @ 118.1 mphall very close stubbornly refusing to meet to the demands of its customers, espeto the numbers turned in by the standard Street Triple. The 08 cially here in America, hence the companys range of cruiser model did achieve a slightly better elapsed time and trap speed, but models, including the forthcoming Thunderbird and most recently we attribute that to the rather windy conditions we encountered at with an upgraded version of its best-selling Street Triple naked our top-secret high-desert test facility on the day we tested the R bike, the Street Triple R. model. The Street Triple Rs top speed was 141.7 (vs. 141.0 mph When MCN compared the standard Street Triple to the Aprilia for the Street Triple), again right in line with what we expected. Shiver back in our August 2008 issue, we praised its exciting Despite those handsome performance numbers, however, the engine character and feathery feel but complained that its stiff, Street Triple R engine isnt completely perfect on the street. It noncompliant and nonadjustable suspensionokay, the rear shock might be if Triumph had addressed the serious hiccup that causes was preload adjustable, but it hardly matteredand two-piston the bike to shudder when the throttle is cracked. No matter how front brakes were unwelcome cost-cutting measures that effecdelicately we tried to roll on the gas, we could not avoid the lurch. tively robbed an otherwise great-performing bike of what, in hindUnlike the suspension, this is one annoying trait that is carried sight, should have been at least a draw with the Shiver if not an over from the standard Street Triple. Once the throttle is opened outright victory. Well, apparently someone at Triumph was listenup, however, the engine is charming and assertive, pulling cleanly ing to our pleas and others like them, because for 2009 it has introfrom 2000 rpm all the way to redline. On the street, the Street duced the Street Triple R, complete with fully adjustable Showa Triple R delivers excellent performance from bottom to top, and front and rear suspension and the same Nissin four-piston radiallistening to the engine shriek its signature sound through the twin mount brakes and radial pump master cylinder found on Triumphs exhaust cans perched under the tail section will leave you smiling middleweight marvel, the Daytona 675. under your helmet every time. But such enhancement comes at a price, $9499 for the Street The Street Triple Rs close-ratio six-speed transmission errs on Triple R vs. the $8699 (up from $8299 last year) for the Street the clunky side, but gear engagement is positive and the ratios are Triple. We reckoned that would be a fair price to pay if the Street well spaced to maximize the engines entertaining thrust, although Triple Rs extra suspension adjustability could lead us to the hanyou wont mistake it for a Freeway Triple R. The engine revs dling nirvana we had been seeking in the Street Triple. So was it? just a tick under 5900 rpm at true 65 mph, suggesting that the final

Triumph Street Triple R

Triumph Builds a Nicer Hooligan
Engine & Transmission

AUGUST 2009

MOTORCYCLE CONSUMER NEWS
gearing is a bit tight, and yet the Street Triple R doesnt feel the least bit buzzy at that engine speed, which is still more than 2000 rpm below where peak torque occurs. Even taching 7000 rpm at 80 mph indicated doesnt seem to generate any tingling in the handlebars. Smooth triple, indeed.

Suspension & Chassis

The Street Triple Rs fully adjustable fork and shock are two of the major items that differentiate it from the Street Triple. Up front, the Showa 41mm male slider forks, anodized black to distinguish them from the gold-anodized units on the Street Triple, feature adjustability for compression damping and rebound damping as well as preload. The compression and rebound adjusters are of the clicker variety rather than non-clicking, the latter theoretically allowing finer tuning via quarter-turn adjustments. In light of our experience with the Street Triple, the R model was far more pleasant on the street. The added luxury of adjustable suspension allowed us to really dial in the fork, and our chosen settings really put the Rs 4.7" of front wheel travel to good use. We set the preload to four lines showing above the cap, and dialed two clicks out from full compression damping and two out from full rebound damping. With these settings, the fork erased the nervous front-end feel of the nonadjustable unit found on the Street Triple and gave our test riders the freedom to be much more aggressive in the turns and truly enjoy the agility afforded by the Street Triples 54.9" wheelbase and steep head angle without fear of smacking a bump or pothole and being stood up and pitched off line because of a lack of suspension compliance. Like the fork, the Showa piggyback shock also features adjustments for compression, rebound and preload to tailor its 5.0" of travel. After backing off the preload until about four threads were showing above the lock ring, we backed off seven clicks from full compression damping and four clicks from full rebound. While the Rs shock still rides on the taut side, its a night-and-day difference from the haywagon-like ride of the nonadjustable suspension found on the standard Street Triple. The R model retains the same lightweight alloy spar chassis as the standard Street Triple and similar to the Daytona 675s but lacks the Daytonas swingarm pivot adjustability. The Street Triple Rs rake is set at 24.3 with 3.75" of trail, which makes for a very light-steering, quick-turning motorcycle. A catchy yet understated Matt Graphite paint scheme with orange graphics and two-tone black and grey stitched seat really enhance the looks of the bike.

Savvy MCN readers who compare braking numbers between the various middleweights in this issue will notice that 2009 Yamaha FZ6R stopped even shorter, which might lead one to believe that the Rs Akebono two-piston front brakes are on par with the Street Triple Rs. While the numbers are what they are, the FZRs stopping is also aided by its longer wheelbase, which allows the rider to fully maximize the stopping power of both brakes. The Street Triple Rs shorter chassis and steeper rake enhance weight transfer to the front end, decreasing the effectiveness of its 220mm rear brake, and some of our test stops were accomplished with the rear wheel practically hovering off the pavement. The Street Triple R is unchanged in the wheel and tire department, using the same five-spoke alloy 3.50 x 17 front and 5.50 x 17 rear wheels as the rest of its 675 siblings, shod with Dunlop Sportmax Qualifiers, generally regarded as excellent tires for street and sport use.
Controls & Ergonomics
In keeping with its hooligan persona, Triumph fitted the Street Triple R with a flat, wide Magura alloy handlebar that would appear more suited to motocross than street riding. The leverage it provides only adds to the Street Triple Rs maneuverability in lowspeed situations, and the bar is comfortable over long distances. We also appreciated the field of view offered by the Street Triple Rs mirrors, but didnt like the fact that the Triumph, like most sport bikes, still lacks self-cancelling turn signals. We also think that a motorcycle in this price range should offer reach adjustability on both hand levers. The Triumph only offers it for the brake, unlike the much less expensive Kawasaki ER-6n tested elsewhere in this issue, which offers rotary dials on both the clutch and the brake. The Street Triple Rs 32.3" tall seat is comfortable for shorter riders, although taller riders in our testing corps complained that its forward angle and the Street Triple Rs high footpegs tended to push them forward into the tank, making for a bit of a cramped feeling in the cockpit. Still, the seat is narrow at the seat/tank junction, and the bikes 4.6-gallon fuel tank is not radically sculpted so as to catch the riders legs. As it is a naked bike, the Street Triple R offers very little wind protection, not a good thing for those whose rides are measured in hundreds of miles. We like the Speed Triple Rs Daytona 675-style instrument cluster, which offers an easy-to-read analog tachometer, digital speedometer and gear indicator along with dual tripmeters, average speed, average mpg and even a lap timer for track days.

Brakes, Wheels & Tires
If the better-quality suspension on the Street Triple R were the only difference between it and the standard Street Triple, we could already rate the R as the better value even at its higher price. But, and please pardon the pun, Triumph didnt stop there. To increase its braking power and feel, the R model is also equipped with the semi-floating 308mm Nissin discs, radial-mounted four-piston calipers and radial pump master cylinder pirated straight from the Daytona 675. Our 60-0 mph braking tests showed that this change is a welcome improvment, as the radial brakes stopped the slightly heavier Street Triple R (420.5 lbs.) in 114.6', about 3.4' shorter than the standard Street Triple (413.5 lbs.) but with much greater ease.

Final Thoughts

Frankly, the Triumph Street Triple R is the naked 675 that Triumph shouldve built in the first place. By itself, the Rs adjustable suspension transforms the R into a more competent, more confidence-inspiring and more fun motorcycle. Throw in the premium brakes, and the Street Triple R more than justifies its $800 higher price tag. Weve always respected Triumphs continuing strategy to go its own way, but the 2009 Street Triple R is proof that the company is willing to listen to its customers to produce a better motorcycle as well.
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Left: The Street Triple Rs frame-mounted bugeye headlights, a staple of Triumphs streetfighter models since the introduction of the second-generation Speed Triple of 1997, hover over the Rs new, black-anodized 41mm Showa forks. Pirated from its sportier brother, the Daytona 675, the forks are fully adjustable, a feature sadly lacking on the standard Street Triple. The Street Triple Rs wide aluminum Magura handlebar, which aids its low-speed maneuverability, and wellplaced mirrors are carried over from last year.
Right: As if the Street Triple Rs suspension was not enough of an improvement, its premium front brake package, which includes a strong, progressive Nissin radial master cylinder, more than justifies the $800 price increase over the Street Triple. Left: While the Speed Triple Rs twotone saddle isnt designed for all-day comfort, it is reasonably well padded and quite narrow at the seat/tank junction, enhancing the bikes slim profile. The Rs aluminum chassis owes its parentage to the Daytona 675 but lacks the adjustable swingarm pivot. The heat shields on the Rs twin mufflers are too abbreviated to be truly effective. Right: Up front, gorgeous four-piston radial calipers put the bite on the Rs twin semi-floating 308mm rotors.
Above: The Street Triple Rs Daytonaderived instrumentation features an easy-to-read analog tach and digital speedo, but the clusters function and reset buttons are difficult to reach.

TESTERS LOG

The Triumph Speed Triple R is a real powerhouse of a motorcycle. Its Daytona-derived 675cc triple produces seamless power thats always on tap, and twisting the right grip made me a true believer in its great torque curve and linear power delivery. Equally as impressive, the Street Triple R lacks nothing in the stopping department. Its four-piston radial front brakes are the most responsive and powerful of any middleweight weve tested recently, although it is difficult to fully exploit them because of how quickly Triumph transfers the combined weight of the machine and rider forward during heavy braking. As a result, the R is very sensitive to the position of its rider, especially when the rear wheel is floating above the ground during a hard stop. As far as its styling goes, I still cant get around the Triumphs exposed dual bugeye front lights, but I guess beauty will always remain in the eye of the beholder. For me, the most beautiful aspect of this naked middleweight is how it feels, not necessarily how it looks. Danny Coe With the Street Triple, Triumph already showed us that it could produce a rocket-fast, well-balanced middleweight streetfighter. Yanking open the throttle and unleashing its free-revving and torquey triple is a pulse-quickening and unforgettable experience. It stops on a dime and gives back change, and it is one quick-handling little beast. With Street Triple R, Triumph has proved that it is smart enough to give its fans even more of what they want, namely all the great attributes of the Street Triple with the added value of suspension that can now be dialed to suit a wider variety of riders, from the boulevard to the racetrack. That the company decided to go even further and add the Daytonas awesome radial brakes is all the more impressive. So while $9499 may seem like a lot of money for a naked middleweight, the Street Triple R is an awful lot of motorcycle for the money. It may be purely spiritual, but the connection between todays Hinckley-based Triumph and those Meriden classics of yesteryear is closer than youd think. Scott Rousseau

2009 Triumph Street Triple R
SPECIFICATIONS AND PERFORMANCE DATA
ENGINE Type:.liquid-cooled inline triple Valvetrain:. DOHC, 4 valves per cyl., shim under bucket valve adj. Displacement:.675cc Bore/stroke:.74.0 x 52.3mm Comp. ratio:.12.65:1 Fueling:.multipoint sequential EFI, 3 x 44mm throttle bodies Exhaust:..3-into-1-into-2 DRIVE TRAIN Transmission:.6-speed Final drive:..chain RPM @ 65 mph*/rev limiter:.5889/12,200

*actual, not indicated

PERFORMANCE Measured top speed.141.7 mph 01/4 mile.11.32 sec.@ 118.10 mph 060 mph..3.36 sec. 0100 mph.7.97 sec. 600 mph.114.6' Power to Weight Ratio.1:4.54 Speed @ 65 mph indicated.60.7 MC RATING SYSTEM
EXCELLENT VERY GOOD GOOD FAIR POOR

ERGONOMICS TEMPLATE

DIMENSIONS Wheelbase:..54.9" Rake/trail:.24.3/3.75" Ground clearance:.4.9" Seat height:..32.3" GVWR:..840 lbs. Wet weight:.420.5 lbs. Carrying capacity:.419.5 lbs. SUSPENSION

A B A C B

??.?" 50.75" 26.75" ??.?"

66.0"

Front:.. 41mm male slider forks, F G HI J adj. preload, comp. and rebound D E F OVERALL RATING damping, 4.7" travel MISCELLANEOUS Rear:.link- type monoshock, adj. preload, DYNAMOMETER DATA comp. and reb. damping,5.0" travel Instruments:.digital speedo, analog Low end 92.24 hp tach, odometer, 3 tripmeters, digital BRAKES Mid-range clock, lap timer, avg. mpg, max Front:dual 308mm semi-floating discs,, speed, avg. speed, trip clock, gear Top end Nissin radial-mount, four-piston calipers indicator, coolant temp. You wont see evidence Rear:..220mm disc, Indicators:. hi-beam, t/s, neutral, off the on/off throttle hesitation that hurts the low fuel single-piston caliper Street Triple Rs driveMSRP:..$9499 44.25 lb.-ft. ability on the dyno chart, TIRES & WHEELS Routine service interval:.6000 mi. but it is there. Once the Valve adj. interval:.12,000 mi, Front: 120/70-ZR17 Dunlop Sportmax throttle is cracked, howWarranty:.2 years, unlimited miles ever, the Rs EFI is crisp Qualifier on 3.50" x 17" wheel Graphite, Matte Blazing Colors:.Matte as low as 1100 rpm, even Rear: 180/55-ZR17 Dunlop Sportmax Orange under a load. Impressive. RPM, THOUSANDS Qualifier on 5.50" x 17" wheel
SAE CORRECTED REAR-WHEEL TORQUE, LB. FT. SAE CORRECTED REAR-WHEEL HORSEPOWER

ELECTRICS Battery:..12V, 10Ah Ignition:.digital inductive type Alternator Output: 402W @ 4000 rpm Headlight:.2 x 55/65W FUEL Tank capacity:.4.6 gal. Fuel grade:.91 octane High/low/avg. mpg:.42.1/38.0/40.1
TEST NOTES PICKS Hallelujah, fully adjustable front and rear suspension! Radial front brakes offer increased stopping power Awesome-performing, lightweight three-cylinder engine PANS Abrupt on/off throttle transition Piggyback shock takes patience to dial-in Seating position may be cramped for some riders
??.?" 14.0" 32.3" ??.?" 21.0"
61.0" 50.5" ??.?"
A: nose to middle of pass. seat. B: nose to middle of rider seat. C: nose to center of grip D: nose to pass. footpeg. E: nose to rider footpeg F: ground to center of grip G: ground to top of rider footpeg H: ground to lowest point of rider seat. I: ground to top of pass. footpeg. J: ground to middle of pass. seat.
Middleweight Naked Engine Transmission Suspension Brakes Handling Ergonomics Riding Impression Instruments/Controls Attention to Detail Value

??.?" 39.4"

38.0"
STANDARD MAINTENANCE Time Parts Labor Item Oil & Filter..0.3..$73.35..$24.00 Air Filter.0.25.$33.35..$20.00 Valve Adjust.2.75.$42.72.$220.00 Battery Access.0.1.MF.$8.00 Final Drive..0.1..$8.00 R/R Rear Whl.0.15..$12.00 Change Plugs.0.5..$48.48..$40.00 Synch EFI.0.65..$52.00 Totals 4.8 $197.90 $384.00 27

2011 Triumph Street Triple R Multi-award winning middleweight streetfighter 105bhp 675cc three-cylinder engine Fully-adjustable sport suspension Radial caliper four-piston brakes Speed Triple inspired styling Two year unlimited mileage warranty Following on from the phenomenally successful Street Triple, the Street Triple R provides a harder-edged and sportier middleweight streetfighter that has been critically acclaimed around the world. Based on the standard Street Triple, the R version adds a fully-adjustable supersport suspension and premium graphics and color schemes to really make it stand out from the crowd. Highly regarded for its light and intuitive handling, the Street Triple R features 41mm inverted front forks which are adjustable for preload, rebound and compression damping to give the expert rider freedom to set the motorcycle up for their specific needs. The rear monoshock is an equally high quality item, adjustable for preload and rebound damping. The twin 308mm floating front discs, meanwhile, are mated to powerful fourpiston Nissin radial calipers for eye-popping stopping power. With a wet weight of just 416lbs.(189kg) and a lively 105bhp at its disposal, the Street Triple R provides a lively yet surprisingly composed ride that will surprise more than a few race replicas on a twisting road or race track. Since its introduction for 2009, the Street Triple R has received numerous accolades, including Bike of the Year awards from Bike magazine in the UK and Moto Navi of Japan. Last year the Street Triple R also was a regular feature on world-class racing circuits as the official bike of the ParkinGO European Series. The Street Triple Rs premium parts include lightweight five-spoke alloy wheels from the Daytona 675, fat alloy Magura handlebars, a stylish two-tone seat unit and comprehensive instrumentation that includes a built in lap timer, programmable gear change lights, clock and gear indicator, and a large tachometer and digital speedometer. Classic Triumph streetfighter twin headlights and twin high level mufflers dominate the styling while three color options (Matte Graphite, Intense Orange or Phantom Black with gold wheels) ensure that there is a Street Triple R to suit all tastes. (more)
Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd. 385 Walt Sanders Memorial Drive, Suite 100 Newnan, GA 30265 Telephone: (678) 854-2010 Fax: (678) 854-2025 www.triumphmotorcycles.com
Triumphs range of genuine accessories are hugely popular with Street Triple R owners. Color matched flyscreens, belly pans and seat cowls give the bike a more sporting and aggressive look. Arrow Special Parts have developed both a three-into-one low boy exhaust system and lightweight slip-on mufflers for improved performance and weight reduction. Other key accessories include CNC machined clutch and brake levers and a plug and play quickshifter that can be fitted to the Street Triple R in minutes.
Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd. 385 Walt Sanders Memorial Drive, Suite 100 Newnan, GA 30265
Telephone: (678) 854-2010 Fax: (678) 854-2025 www.triumphmotorcycles.com