When you hear the name Triumph what comes to the mind first is Bonneville and Tiger. Lovers of classic cruisers and adventure tourer bikes always had a special place for Triumph in their hearts. Now, one more bike is added to its line-up in India - Street Triple. Though a star in the naked sports segment, with a complete makeover, the Street Triple models are creating history in the market. We test-drove the latest Triumph bike. Here are the details:
Design
It was in 2007 that Triumph launched Street Triple in the naked street bike category. It came with the 675 engine from Daytona. Ten years later, Triple Street offers a new engine and advanced electronic packages in two variants -- street savvy S and track-ready RS. The bug-eyed headlights help the compact-size Street Triple stand out in the crowd. It has a right lean angle that gives it a sporty look. Other eye-catching elements include a muscular tank, small silencer and sporty alloys.
Mini computer
It is more appropriate to call the meter console on RS a mini-computer. The five-inch TFT colour display can be adjusted for angles. The mini-computer packs features such as speedo meter, tacho meter, riding mode indicator, gear position indicator, fuel gauge, clock, temperature, trip meter, mileage, distance-to-empty, service reminder, other warning lights and other details about the bike.
As per the ride mode, the screen style can be adjusted in six ways. The display is visible in any climate and any light. Compared to the S and R variants (R variant not sold in India), the RS model is equipped with a lap timer. The joy stick on the left hand can be used to get the info on the console. The handle also has a switch to choose the drive mode that can be changed on the go.
Engine & ride
The 765 cc three-cylinder engine makes the RS the king of both the track and the road. The engine churns out a meaty 121 bhp of peak power and 77 Nm of peak torque. The bike's handle and foot peg ratio is such that it can accommodate daily as well as aggressive riding position. It has a flat handlebar with a short reach. The side mirrors are fixed on the edges of the handlebar. It is one of the lightest bikes in the segment; lighter than its previous generation.
It has an easy to use 825 mm tall seat. The seat is split and has good cushioning. The six-speed gear box comes with a quick shifter. You do not need to use the clutch to upshift (for S and R models the quick shifter is available as an accessory). The short-throw gear is ultra-smooth and the slip and assist clutch is a boon for city ride. Besides, it helps aggressive downshifts even during high speeds.
There are five drive modes -- road, rain, sport, rider and track. Our test drive was in pouring rain. Try the rain mode and RS gives you excellent traction at high speeds even on wet roads. Even during sudden braking, there was not even a hint of a slip. The growl of the engine in the sport and track modes are a pleasure to hear for any petrol head.
The throttle response is precise, thanks to the ride-by-wire system. The engine is ultra-refined and the power delivery is almost linear across rev range. Even in top gear, if you slow down to 40 kmph, the engine will be jerk-free and smooth. Accelerate and it will propel like a bullet. The confidence the ABS and traction control provides is immense.
The gullwing swing-arm improves high-speed stability both on the road and on the track. Besides, it also gives great straight-line stability and cornering capabilities. The RS has an advanced suspension setup. In the front, the 41 mm Showa forks with adjustable preload and rebound damping do the duty and, in the rear, it gets an Ohlins piggyback reservoir monoshock suspension system.
Compared to earlier models, the brakes offer superb bite and feedback. The RS gets twin disks with Brembo M50 Piston Monoblock calipers up front and, in the rear, it receives a disk with single piston sliding caliper. The bike is shod with Pirelli Diablo tyres that offer superb grip and a road hugging experience to the rider.
The last word
The Street Triple, especially the RS, is sure to make history in the naked street category. Superb power, refined engine, great ride comfort and stability along with good build quality make it a perfect bike that could give sleepless nights to rival bike makers.
Price S - Rs 9.52 lakh; RS - Rs 11.50 lakh
Test drive: 9645599922
