Rider-friendly, almost comfortable ergonomics
The 2010 Triumph Street Triple offers a generally-friendly riding position, with my knees not too bent and my upper body leaning forward just enough for comfort on straights and corners alike, regardless of your speed and level of aggression. The saddle, designed for sporty riding, provides decent comfort, while the pillion could use some extra padding.

There’s also a new instrument panel that provides more data than last year’s, such as average fuel consumption, clock, and gear indicator, not to mention an adjustable shift light.

The saddle provides decent comfort (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com)

Lightning-quick
As a true streetfighter, the Street Triple offers only basic protection against the elements, a small windscreen above the dash. If you want more, Triumph’s extensive accessories catalogue offers two different models of windshield that will not only reduce turbulence but also enhance the look of the machine. My advice is to try them out or look for reports on Internet Forums before purchasing one or the other.

In addition to convenient features like the 800-mm high seat, the Street Triple knows how to please with a lively and testosterone-filled powerplant — a far cry from what middleweight street bikes, no matter how sporty they are, have been known for. The engine always feels sharp and ready to pounce, showing outstanding responsiveness across the entire rev range.

The short and narrow Street Triple proves easy to straddle and almost begs you to push it right from takeoff. A single trip near the 13,000-rpm redline is enough to put you in a racing frame of mind. The exhilarating nature of the sporty Brit and its distinctive growl quickly become addictive.

A new instrument panel that provides more data than last year's, fuel consumption, clock, gear indicator and shift light (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com)