Triumph Street Triple Room

• Video

I was surprised how poorly Slovenes know this English motorcycle brand. Those who are a little more (motorcycle savvy) know that motorcycles are still being produced and (successfully) sold, but quite a few motorcyclists and those who would like to become one in the future, looked at the test Triple like a calf in a new one. door: "Is he good? "

The brand's most recognizable product is the Speed ​​Triple. The road warrior, with a gorgeous pair of round lights and a stunningly powerful three-cylinder engine, even won a thousand cubic meter "street fighter" comparison test four years ago.

They also released a smaller version called the Speed ​​Four, which, however, was powered by a four-cylinder engine. Triumph and four cylinders? Eh, what do I know. The fact that these three suit him better did not seem to be noticed by the British either, and Street Triple was transferred to the class of middle-class road warriors.

It's a stripped-down version of the sporty Dayton, from which Street gets its drivetrain and frame, while the suspension, handlebars, exhaust system and plastic parts have been adapted to the segment it belongs to. The telescope and shock are slightly softer, the handlebars are wider and taller than the Daytona, the two exhausts have found their way to the back, and the plastic on the bike is just a sample.

The test car was already adorned with accessories from the original equipment catalog: a lower spoiler (€ 232), a mask over the headlights (€ 200) and an engine protection against falls (€ 160) make it even more angry and sporty. Despite beauty accessories, are you still worried about flies eyes?

I confess they are me too. Initially. Then I got used to them or realized that an Englishman is an Englishman, that it should be so, and that it would be a mistake to change it for a more modern mask. Just as the Monster still has a round single lamp and the GS has two different sizes, so a real stripped-down Triumph has to face the road in front of him with two cartridges that can end up being stolen from Fick or Katrky as well.

You probably all know that four-cylinder engines are usually characterized by maximum power and smoothness, while two-cylinder engines are usually characterized by maximum torque and responsiveness. But how do the three rollers behave? This is a combination of the previously mentioned engine types.

The Triumph three-cylinder engine is quiet, responsive and powerful. The spark reacts to the addition of gas and at the same time emits a roar and whistle. "Tk, tk, tk, tk, tk" - I listened to strange mechanical sounds, waiting for the green light. Alas, I again think that one engine is idling as if it ran out of oil, and in a moment I realize that it was “tk, tk, tk! 'only a sound warning the blind and visually impaired of a red light.

The Triumph, unlike the Benelli car, operates without unusual mechanical sounds.

The seat can be lowered by 35 millimeters (it will cost you an additional 200 euros), which is useful for small drivers and girls, as it is located quite high. The rest of the driving position is typical "street".

There is no distraction where the legs hug the bike, and the seat is nicely padded so that the buttocks are not injured during the trip to and from the sea. The passenger will also sit quite solidly, the only "problem" is that there are no handles behind the rear seat, so she is forced to hold the driver's stomach while driving.

You will see a good picture of what is happening behind your back in the mirrors if your driving style is not such that you raise your elbows high. The derailleurs are slightly smaller than other European bikes, but work well and are positioned where you'd expect. Less convenient are the buttons for bypassing the rich digital dashboard.

We missed a button on the steering wheel that could change the displayed data. The engine speed indication is similar to the blue lights around the edge, which light up (first) at 10.000 to 13.000 rpm and light up more and more until it exceeds XNUMX XNUMX rpm when the electronics stop the ignition.

The visibility of the digital display and all warning lights is above average, both in sunny weather and at night when they are white. No defects were found in the final finishing. Maybe the motorcycle doesn't have as many precious parts as Italian products of a similar type, but hey, even the final price is closer to the average buyer, so look for milled crosses somewhere on CNC machines.

However, the Street Triple has a great engine. If you think 600 dice is not enough, give it a try. There are only 75 more and one cylinder less than comparable Japanese products, but the throttle response is completely different. In the mid-rev range, it provides (for that volume) a huge headroom, while at the same time emitting sound through the exhaust and air filter, which just requires a chase.

Make sure there is no one behind you in the tunnel, slow down to shift into first gear, and open the throttle. UUuuuoooo, uuuuooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo This may be common sense, and common sense rules of the road, but it's nice.

Looking at the graphs, which represent the measurement results in Akrapovič, it can be seen that the power increases completely linearly, and the torque remains stable between 5.000 and 7.500 rpm after a quick jump, followed by a concrete climb and peaks at about XNUMX rpm. "Jurassic".

There really is more than enough usable power, and the Street Triple is one of the few cars that, after a thousand miles, I've come to the conclusion that I don't need it anymore. I would probably change my mind after testing the stronger Speed ​​Triple, but that's another story. Another plus of the little Triple is handling.

For attacking on a winding road at medium speed, you will be hard pressed to find a more fun two-wheeler as the driving characteristics are really great. He dives into a corner without hesitation and remains calm until we turn on the throttle. During a sharp shift from first to third gear, the front end may wobble slightly, but everything is within safe limits.

The suspension provides a very lively ride and for racing adventures you'll need more options when it comes to suspension settings. The regular model only offers rear shock preload adjustment, so more demanding riders will have to resort to the R version, which has the same suspension as the Daytona 675.

Also commendable is the brake package and fuel consumption, which, despite the brisk pace on the road to Jezersko and via Austria to Dravograd, stopped at around 5 liters per hundred kilometers.

The triple should be avoided only by those who are allergic to drafts. Not that bad, there is simply no wind protection. Only the legs are reliably protected from the wind, and the upper body and head are completely exposed to wind and insects. As a result, comfortable driving stops at a speed of 140 kilometers per hour, and this can become tiresome faster. But this little fly is flying at over 235 kilometers per hour.

But look at the wind as something that actually gives you a sense of speed and keeps you safe in some way. Sport bike riders know that this only begins to "happen" at speeds above the legal speed. ...

And that's another advantage of the little naked warrior with the flexible three-cylinder engine: you don't have to drive wildly to make the ride enjoyable.

Our tip: If you overlook Triumph when choosing your next hobby, you are being unfair. Me and the British.

Technical information

Base model price: 7.990 EUR

Test car price: 8.582 EUR

engine: three-cylinder in-line, four-stroke, liquid-cooled, 675 cc? , electronic fuel injection.

Maximum power: 79 kW (108) at 11.700 rpm

Maximum torque: 69 Nm price 9. 100 / min.

Energy transfer: Transmission 6-speed, chain.

Frame: aluminum.

brakes: two coils ahead? 308mm, twin-piston brake calipers, rear disc? 220 mm, single piston caliper.

Suspension: front telescopic fork? 41, 120mm travel, single rear shock, adjustable tilt, 126mm travel.

Tires: 120/70-17, 180/55-17

Seat height from ground: 800 mm.

Fuel tank: 17, 14 l.

Wheelbase: 1.395 mm.

Weight: 167 kg.

Representative: Španik, doo, Noršinska ulica 8, Murska Sobota, 02/5348496, www.spanik.si.

We praise and reproach

+ motor

+ driving performance

+ brakes

+ suspension

+ ergonomics behind the wheel

+ sound

+ dashboard

– wind protection

- no passenger handles

– high seat for small drivers

Matevž Gribar, photo: Saša Kapetanovič