Middleweight streetfighters — comfortable and versatile sport bikes that cost a lot less than superbikes in terms of insurance premiums and registration fees — are increasingly popular among riders. Triumph realized the potential of these machines after enjoying much success in Europe. For a few years now, they have been offering the Street Triple and its high-end variant, the Street Triple R, as their top-selling models.

A smooth and pleasant everyday bike (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com)

Barely wider than competing twin-cylinders, the compact and sexy Street Triple looks like a good deal at $9,999. The clean yet totally mean looks as well as the unique sound of the iconic triple appeal to those who want to stand out from the pack.

Familiar and well-proven engine
The new Street Triple uses the 2006 version of Triumph’s 675cc triple, which the folks in Hinckley have retuned and reprogrammed for street use. Make no mistake: it still kicks a--!

In this application, the engine produces 106 horsepower at 11,700 rpm and 50 lb-ft of torque at 9,200 rpm, including a generous and steady dose from just 2,800 rpm. The boost from the extra 75cc is markedly felt.

The six-speed tranny makes the most of the three cylinder’s torque through brilliant gear spacing — equally suited for slow urban traffic and aggressive riding on the road or the track. Shifting demands a bit more effort from the left foot than usual, and finding neutral is tougher than it should be.

Daytona-derived chassis
The Street Triple inherited the successful Daytona 675 chassis, already proven to be lightweight, strong and neutrally-balanced. The brakes use an adjustable lever acting on a pair of 308mm floating discs with Nissin dual-piston calipers up front, and a 220mm disc with Nissin single-piston caliper in the back.

A triple that put you in a racing frame of mind (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com)