It has been a while since we tested the 2013 Triumph Street Triple, but we reached a conclusion similar to most reviewers, i.e., the bike is a blast to ride. The only thing it is missing by current standards is a bit more power from the 675cc triple – particularly, down low. It looks like Triumph is about to remedy that by offering the Street Triple with an 800cc engine. This isn’t just a rumor, it has been confirmed by someone who should know what is cooking at the British marque.
The long-stroke 800 in the Tiger line makes less peak horsepower than the current Street Triple, so we expect the engine will be redesigned … probably with a shorter stroke and bigger bore providing crank horsepower in the 110+ range. Don’t expect much more given current emissions regs. With broader, smoother power, the new bike would be a better match for other mid-displacement nakeds, including the marvelous MV Agusta Brutale 800 we recently tested.
Having owned a 2014 Street Triple R for the past couple of years, I am very much in the target demographic for this new model. Regarding the current STR motor, both sides of the argument are true. On the one hand, yes, it’s an amazing motor. It feels great and pulls very well at all rpm. For the street, it doesn’t need more power; ‘need’ being the operative word. On the other hand, I agree with skortch and Jeremy in Tx regarding the preference for the higher-hp Daytona 675 motor. Sure, it may give up a hair down low, but the payoff on top makes the tradeoff well worth it. Besides, when one lays a dynograph of the Daytona mill atop that of the STR motor, it’s clear that the STR really isn’t making any extra power or torque anywhere. This isn’t like the Ninja 1000 vs ZX-10R, wherein the Ninja 1000 makes significantly more power than its racier sibling at nearly any street-sensible rpm.
Here’s the thing, though. While the STR certainly has a fun motor that is more than adequate for the street, one ride on an FZ-09 will have most people wanting the extra down-low punch of the larger motor. The STR is the better motorcycle in nearly every way, but that singular hit from the Yamaha Triple quickly leaves one wanting the same rush from the Triumph. Also, yes, the Triumph is rather cramped. The bars are lower, the pegs are higher. It’s more comfortable than a Daytona, but less comfortable than many other nakeds.
What I wanted was that FZ-09 motor, only in a properly sorted package: smooth, glitch-free fueling, much more competent suspension, and ditch the Transformers look, thank you very much. A riding position that’s more traditional Standard rather than Supermotard would also come in handy, especially on the freeway. ABS and traction control would also be nice.
Enter the new-for-2016 XSR900. It’s what the FZ-09 always should have been, and a good 90% of what I would want the new Triumph to be. At Yamaha’s lower price-point the XSR does without some of the higher-end pieces of the Triumph, such as steel brake lines, an adjustable clutch lever, clear (and not so humongous) turnsignals, optional heated grips, angled tire stems, and truly top-shelf brakes and suspension, but it is a clean, honest, deeply satisfying Triple in a very comfortable package that handles surprisingly well even when pushed hard.
The suspension isn’t on the level of the STR’s, but it’s miles ahead of the FZ-09’s. On my familiar “race” roads, I go just as fast on the XSR as I did on the STR, with no additional drama. Nothing touches down, there’s no pitching and wallowing…everything just works. Sure, it’s slightly less precise, and the brakes aren’t as sharp. That’s it, really. In terms of the brakes, I suspect a swap to steel lines and HH pads will narrow that gap, and the addition of a radial master cylinder ought to close it all the way.
Hard to argue with that motor, though, or the additional legroom and more upright seating position. For the most part, the looks are also very clean. There are a couple of annoying pieces, but overall it’s a handsome design. No insect-look, no Japanese anime, no Transformers.
Grab a handful in third, and you just might be willing to give up your trusty Street Triple.
The specs MCN leaked last year said the regular and R models will have 110 and 115 horses, but the RT and RS models will have 125. The RT is the first new Triumph I’ve been interested in in a long, long, time.
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/2015/july/street-triple-800-on-the-way/
Sounds promising.
800 eh, seems like “niche” may have less meaning here soon
So easy to remedy the Street 675… First… get the R model or don’t get it.
2nd, get a full exhaust and PCV or if older, flash the ECU and then there are no worries… I should know… 🙂
But yes, these new emissions are just Ludacris for bikes… I mean really? They are such small displacement already. That said… I agree for the “last year model”, a 675 Street RR (with the Daytona motor) Not emissions 4)
I like the license plate holder.
Went down to local dealer (Freedom Powersports) Sat to maybe look at one of the new designs. Was informed they are dropping Triumph. Poor sales. Did not sell a single Triumph in the 1st qtr of this year. Not good.
While we were there they sold a Slingshot, and had a line to test drive them. Not sure what that means.
Hmm… just that one store or all 20 of their dealerships? If they can’t move them nobody can.
To many Triumph rules on the dealer makes your motivation low to sell the bikes. Low sales equals no more Triumph in stores, Triumph can’t seem to connect the dots.
I wonder if or how much more or less the 800 engine itself weighs. Even if is doesn’t gain power on top. Any bike a a gob more power around 4K rpm is my friend. For me its the difference between a bike that goes IF you gas it to a bike that goes WHEN you gas it. IF features in the phrase “down shIFt”. WHEN is just when.
Then the problem may be that you had already “up shifted” too early.
The best engine I’ve ever enjoyed – for torque, top-end power, responsiveness, and overall fun – is the Triumph 675 triple. However, it was the version in the Daytona, not the 20hp less Street. Granted, the latter was still great but the Daytona was just that much more (~115 hp at the wheel). Rather than develop a whole new engine they could simply stick the full-zoot 675 in the Street and gear it a little lower. Done. No need to re-engineer engine, frame, or anything else for that matter. Call it the Street Triple RR.
With the competition from the FZ-09 I’m surprised they didn’t do this years ago.
I like the Daytona’s state of tune better as well. Much better. I had always hoped the Daytona’s unaltered engine would find its way into the Street Triple R trim one day. I actually thought (okay, really just hoped) that is how they would respond to the FZ-09.
seems so obvious….
My favorite is the 800 Tiger that was issued to me as a loaner. I LOVED that little commuting blade. So much so that I plan to buy one.
I spent a week in the Rockies on a rented Tiger 800. It was a nice bike, but I found the engine to be very dull.
I spent half a day on an FJ-09. The engine is a real peach, the seat was AWFUL.
I could live with the bike as a whole though.
I see a pattern here. You thought the 800 was dull, I thought the 1050 was dull. We (and just about everyone who has ridden it) thinks the 675 is excellent. Ok, now I understand why Triumph wants to discontinue it…(face palm)
I think the 675 might be the most universally loved engine the motorcycle world, or at least it was until the FZ-09 came about. I’d hate to see it go away. An 800 would be great IF they tune it the way the 675 is tuned. Triumph’s new emphasis on talking torque has me worried though.
I can’t help but see this constant displacement creep as silly but for one thing – Euro 4 seems to be stringent enough to almost *mandate* displacement bumps to keep bikes from losing engine performance. I don’t see any particular need or real use to making the 675 even bigger unless if it’s going to lose 20HP and 5 lb-ft from the Euro 4 standards. The 675 has a great spread of power, way more than enough peak HP, has been pretty reliable, and is bolted to a bike that’s as light as a naked bike can be while still being economically feasible.
I have a feeling if we see an 800cc-ish Street Triple, the 675 will go away because it could not meet some sort of regulation…
I suspect that is the reason for the 800, too. That is why I am curious to know if the 675 is going away (which would pretty much confirm Euro 4 as the culprit) or staying (which would just imply that Triumph is responding to competitive pressures.)
I think it might also have to do with the fact that they can justify charging more for an 800 than a 675, even if it’s just changing the location of the crank pin. Overall performance would be the same unless they bloat the bike up. All I know is that manufacturers sell more of their smaller engine bikes than the big ones. The Street Triple outsold the Speed Triple because it had such a fantastic engine – better than the 1050 in my opinion.
If buyers wanted a bigger engine, that’s what the Speed Triple was for.
Actually, I like the 675 just fine. But the Yamaha FZ-09 and Kawasaki Z800 are putting the pressure on.
Still looks like a freaking insect!! I’m sure Triumph would satisfy more riders if they design something a bit less spaced out!
It’d be tough for Triumph to “satisfy” more riders than they already have with the Street Triple. If you hadn’t noticed, it’s kinda been a -massive- success for them.
You’re not totally alone in your sentiment, but people haven’t exactly been staying away in droves from the Street Triple, no matter what your opinion of the styling is.
I don’t know… Lots of riders have been satisfied with the Speed/Street Triple look for nearly 20 years, now.
I wonder if a 800 Daytona is coming?
I love my 09 Striple R and if and when I replace it, this is the top of the short list.
What isn’t totally clear to me is whether Triumph is adding a 800 to the Street Triple lineup or replacing the 675. The former would be the better choice. Choices are good.
Sounds good to me. Had a 1050 Speed, liked it but was just the wrong side of heavy and if you were temptable would suck you into go-to-jail speeds too easy. Rode a 675, nice but another revvy 600. 800 could be the sweet spot, good mid-range and still light. Give a decent tank range please, like 150 miles or more.
Funny, not 2 or 3 years ago it was stomping the competition from japan and europe and the motorcycle media couldn’t help but fall all over this bike. So the competition just ups their displacement and now all the publications are hammering Triumph for not doing the same. This bike still smokes all the sammy sportbikes in street power… and that’s where it should stay
Or you could leave it alone and sell a Speed Triple to someone wanting more power.
Exactly. I like the 675 engine the way it is. It lacks nothing.
A British company following the American way: bloat until everything good about the original is gone. Triumph succeeds by doing things other brands don’t. They should keep doing that.
Put a rocket 3 motor in it
Bwahaha – lol – that made me laugh out loud………:)
Origami and toothpicks . . . . . .
I always feel like the manufacturers are toying with me. There’s the FZ-09, which has a good engine but is disturbingly ugly and has too many suspension and fueling flaws. There’s the MV, but that’s a toy for rich people to park in the garage next to their other fancy toys. Triumph has this bike which is surely great dynamically, but in the end it’s still an impractical sportbike. The bones are there, but maybe this kind of bike should have user-selectable components (seat, windscreen, handlebars, rack, topbox, heated grips, centerstand, etc). I don’t mean as high-cost accessories, but as configuration options at the time of purchase. Seems like this sort of bike is a perfect candidate for personal tuning at the time of purchase.
Oh hell, lets jump right over 800cc’s and go right for 900. Then we can bump the Speedy up to a class leading 3600cc’s.
Very attractive bike…………………………..
NOT!!!!!!!!!!
I thought the round headlights looked better. Still a nice looking bike.
Sprint 800 or Tiger Sport 800, please.
Yes! Been waiting YEARS for a Sprint 800!
Leave it the way it is! Plenty of power for the street. Just friendly (barely) enough for a novice rider. 800 CC is to close to the Speed Triple and leaves a hole in their line-up in the smaller class.
I think they should do ride by-wire and TC if anything. Then it would clearly be novice friendly.
Boy’s, I would like the existing motor to be used for us older blokes. There is not much point making a clone of the little bike. The only other option I see is that it could be a future Daytona replacing the long lost 995 Sportsbike in the line up.
Its fine as it is – you are meant to rev the pickhandles out of it! Many older riders compare it with the RD350LC of thier youth……
Should make for a really nice ride. I think the Striple is a really nice bike even with the 675 which never felt under-powered to me anywhere in its rev range. So is this a replacement for the 675, or a new up-market offering?
Under powered was never my impression, either. It’s a genuinely great motor. Biggest issue I have with it, is it’s certainly no bike for tall men. The riding position, aside from the forward lean, is tighter than the track focused Daytona.
I consider the Street Triple’s rider triangle “compact” even as a short rider. I imagine it would certainly get pretty tight for anyone over the six-foot mark.
It’s about time. The MV, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki Have had the upper hand in this class, and has had the bullet in the chamber with the Tiger engine for a couple years now.It’s such a great bike that laid back in a very competitive class. Torque rules in this class and this great bike need a shot in the arm. I thought it was the best in it’s class with a fun revvy motor, but broader power is always welcome.
Oh good, less peak HP with a bigger motor and more torque. That should please members on this board lol..lets see 110 at the crank ..maybe 100 at the rear wheel?
🙂
The most stock ho I’ve seen from a dunk sheet on a street triple is 96.9hp and 46lb of torque at the wheel. So the new 800 if it’s tuned higher than the tiger 800 could easily improve hp and will trounce the torque numbers. I’ve seen dyni numbers as low as 82 ho at the wheel for older STreet.
Remember a
above it says it make LESS peak hp than the current ST and they are estimating 110 at the crank (and yes torque figures are reportedly up)
It says the Tiger 800 motor makes less peak HP than the smaller Street Triple mill. The new motor for the Street Triple will be redesigned to have a shorter stroke and make more hp.
It will likely produce roughly the same hp/torque as the FZ-09 motor, perhaps just a bit more.
VLJ you are right, I misread that originally. I tried to delete my comment, but it wouldn’t let me. BTW my son bought the FJ-09. So far very happy.
I just posted something here relating to the Yamaha vs the Triumph, but my post simply vanished again. I’ve learned that those vanished posts do show up eventually, though, typically a half-day later.