2009 Triumph Street Triple R Review

Introduction

It may sound hard to believe, but the Street Triples are actually 2008 spec bikes. Furthermore, the simple 2009 model year doesn’t even get a new color range so the real question here is: in which chapter did the 2008 model year lack and, implicit, what did Triumph needed to improve on the 2009 model? Our answer is that virtually nothing as the bike is being powered by Daytona’s 675cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, inline three-cylinder engine from which British engineers ensure, with a multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection, that they get 107bhp at 11,700 rpm and 51ft.lbf at 9,100 rpm.

2009 Triumph Street Triple

A proven performer on the chassis it first rolled off the production line, the engine is being mounted on the same agile and confidence-inspiring unit. So if it is to look at the big picture here, the Street Triple gets the best from the Daytona (engine, tranny, chassis) and the best from the Speed Triple (that incomparable British naked look).

The all-new 2009 Street Triple R stands out thanks to the much more attention paid to details and the brand new colors, all contributing at creating a significantly more refined motorcycle, which is extremely hard given the already impressive base model. Triumph’s new addition gets wider handlebars. Scroll down for the ‘Exterior’ part to find out more.

History

As mentioned before, the Street Triple is Triumph’s ingenious way of diversifying their urban sports lineup basing on already selling and consecrated models, the Daytona 675 and the Speed Triple 1050. After much spying/rendering from motorcycle journalists and the unveiling of a first official picture, the bike was officially presented at the Triumph Tridays in Neukirchen, Austria.

The engine featured softer internal parts such as the pistons and cams for a broader powerband than Daytona’s and the best of it was the fact that it didn’t look, sound and feel like a middleweight motor, powering the Street Triple on top of riders preferences. Some dealers even reported six months waiting lists for the amazing new model.

The 2009 Triumph Street Triple R is an extension of that very same model and will surely carry on being produced in parallel until Triumph finds another ingenious way to create a brand new model.

Competition

2009 Yamaha FZ6 S2 / ABS

Yamaha manages to deliver almost in the same way their FZ6 S2 / ABS urban sports bike. The bike gets an R6-based fuel-injected 600cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, forward-inclined parallel four-cylinder, DOHC engine and FZ1 styling. Like the Triumph, it features a six-speed gearbox and performance figures are worthy of this comparison; 98 hp at 12,000 rpm and 63.1 Nm at 10,000 rpm.

2009 Kawasaki ER-6n

The 2009 Kawasaki ER-6n fits the same category, but the bike’s 649cc, four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-valve per cylinder motor only gets two cylinder and manages to develop 48.5 lb/ft at 7,000 rpm. This positions Triumph right in between the two Japanese bikes which are kind of like the extremes of the class.

Exterior

2009 Triumph Street Triple R

The Daytona 675 may have donated the engine, tranny and chassis, but the Speed Triple came in with the distinctive streetfighter look that suit the Street triple and Street Triple R so well. While the first one features the same Jet Black, Fusion White, Roulette Green colors and nothing to set it apart from the previous model year, 2009’s all-new “R” model benefits of preferential treatment and the makeover is outstanding.

Two new colors - Matte Graphite and Matte Blazing Orange – cover the same impressively finished bodywork and the two-tone black and graphite saddle meets the finishing standards while making a smooth pass from the 4.6 gallons gas tank and the fairly small rear end. The slightly wider aluminum handlebars are Magura tapered and the upside down forks are anodized black to enhance the bike’s aggressive look.

Independently of paint scheme, the bike gets “R” graphics so that your mates would know that you’re riding the latest and most beautiful Street Triple motorcycle yet to be produced.

2009 Triumph Street Triple R

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