Triumph 660 Street Triple S A2 2018 — Specifications

What drives Triumph to engineer a dedicated engine rather than simply restricting an existing unit? That's the whole uniqueness of the 2018 Triumph 660 Street Triple S A2. Where the competition generally settles for a restrictive mapping on a standard block, Hinckley chose to reduce displacement to 660 cc, with a revised bore and stroke of 76 x 48.5 mm. The result: 95 horsepower, the legal ceiling before restriction to 35 kW, and 60.8 Nm of torque available from just 5,100 rpm. A radically different approach from that of a Yamaha MT-07 or Kawasaki Z650, which play the budget twin card. Here, it's a three-cylinder rumbling beneath the 17.4-litre tank, with a 12.47:1 compression ratio and four valves per cylinder. The character is there, even if the horsepower remains contained.

On the scales, 168 kg dry places this Street Triple in the lower average of the segment. It's a real asset in the city and on back roads, where agility comes first. The seat, perched at 810 mm, may rule out the shortest riders, but it remains within mid-size roadster standards. The aluminium perimeter frame carries over the architecture of the higher-spec S, R and RS versions, which share the 765 base. The swingarm, also aluminium, provides a rigidity you can feel through linked corners. Triumph hasn't sacrificed the chassis on the altar of the A2 licence, and that's rare enough to be worth highlighting.

On the suspension front, the 41 mm Showa inverted fork offers 110 mm of travel with no adjustment whatsoever. The rear monoshock, from the same manufacturer, is limited to preload adjustment with its 124 mm of travel. It's a far cry from the R and RS equipment, but for daily use and learning proper lines, the compromise holds up. Braking follows the same logic: twin 310 mm discs gripped by Nissin two-piston calipers up front, a 220 mm disc with a single-piston caliper at the rear. Not enough to attack a track day with confidence, but more than adequate for the road. The 120/70-17 and 180/55-17 tyres deliver good grip, and the aftermarket offers a very wide choice of rubber.

The onboard electronics are a genuine strong point for a machine aimed at new licence holders. ABS and traction control keep watch, while two maps—Rain and Road—let you adapt throttle response to conditions. This level of equipment, once reserved for top-spec versions, reassures new riders without killing the fun. The chain final drive and six-speed gearbox prove conventional but effective, with a claimed top speed of 220 km/h—a figure that puts the idea of a "neutered" motorcycle into perspective.

At €8,725, the Triumph 660 Street Triple S A2 sits above an MT-07 or SV650, but it justifies the premium with its uniquely characterful three-cylinder, its serious chassis and its polished electronics. It's a machine designed for new licence holders who refuse to ride a bland compromise while waiting for their full licence. It doesn't try to mimic the higher versions: it offers its own take on the sporty roadster, accessible and enjoyable. The day the restriction becomes nothing but a memory, its owners will no doubt want to move up the range. Triumph understands this well, and this 660 plays its role as a gateway to the Street Triple universe perfectly.