Triumph Street Triple S Road Test Review

Design & Style of the Triumph Street Triple S

If you are a motorcycle enthusiast then you will instantly recognise the iconic twin headlamps which are also seen on the higher end Speed Triple bikes from Triumph. Whether you like them or not, is subjective. For me this is the perfect embodiment of what a street fighter should look like. The Street Triple S has a confident stance when it is at a standstill, awaiting its return on the streets. The sharp looks are a premonition of what to expect when you bring the engine to life. The rear has a sleek tail lamp that tapers off towards the inside along the frame of the bike which looks like the open mouth of an alligator due to its design resembling the inside upper jaw of the said predator. The engine area is the only part that looks bulky, albeit well built. Overall the bike looks like it went to the gym and came back with chiseled and muscular lines all over.

The only design choice that put me off was the side stand. It is placed very close to the foot pegs and is the same colour as them. This makes it a bit hard to find the stand when you want to swing it open. Another thing that some riders with shorter height would struggle a bit with would be the 810mm seat height. Otherwise the seat cushion is comfortable and the foot pegs have also been position well to provide a good riding experience for both long and short trips. Unlike the outgoing model, this one gets a pillion seat for added convenience although I doubt you would be using it much. The instrument cluster consists of an LCD panel and an analogue tachometer. You can view things such as current speed, trip distance, toggle riding modes and check fuel level on the LCD panel which is easily visible under the bright light of the sun. The rearview mirrors  are positioned nicely and are big enough to see the jealous faces of others as you leave them behind riding this beauty.

Engine & Performance of the Triumph Street Triple S

The new Street Triple S comes with a new 765cc engine derived from the Daytona and it puts out some impressive figures of 111.4hp @ 11,250rpm and 73Nm @ 10,421rpm. This is definitely a step up over the previous incarnation of the bike that had a 675cc engine. Despite the bike not having the biggest of engines around, it delivers a thrilling performance and you get instant power at the slightest of inputs. The light weight of the bike aids in not only in achieving a great power to weight ratio but also makes the bike very nimble. You can swivel in and out of traffic with great ease. Apart from raw power you have loads of electronics aiding you. There are two riding modes - rain and road, which change the dynamics of the bike and how it responds to throttle inputs. There is switchable traction control and ABS to make your rides safe. The twin 310mm discs upfront combined with a single 220mm disc in the rear have a lot of braking power. The suspension setup however is stiff. This makes the bike great around corners but also makes your ride through bad city roads a bit bumpy.

Verdict

 The new Street Triple S makes  a lot of improvement over the older Street Triple 675 and then goes on to challenge the competition head on with the attractive pricing of Rs 8,71,500 (ex-showroom Delhi). It is pitted against other street fighters like the Kawasaki Z900, DSK Benelli TNT 899 and the yet to be launched Ducati 797. Personally, I feel the Street Triple S is one of the best looking naked two wheelers you can wrap your legs around and it is a great pick for enthusiasts who like a balance of speed and everyday practicality.