Triumph 675 STREET TRIPLE R 10ème anniversaire 2016 — Specifications

Who remembers the mid-size naked landscape in the mid-2000s? Yamaha held the street with its Fazer, Kawasaki pushed its Z 750, Honda fielded the Hornet, and Ducati played the Monster card. A well-established quartet, almost purring along. Then Triumph showed up with its Street Triple and its feisty 675 triple, setting the record straight. Ten years later, the Hinckley firm decided to mark the occasion with an anniversary edition of its Street Triple R, limited to 150 units in total. A way of reminding everyone that the little English roadster has lost none of its edge.

This 10th anniversary special edition comes in three liveries of 50 units each, designed by the 8Ball workshops, already responsible for the Daytona 675 Super III. The Gold version plays on a gold and black contrast, with a Union Jack painted on the radiator scoops and eye-catching rim stickers. The Dark, true to its name, banks on a deep black lifted by red accents, with the British flag appearing as a watermark on the tank. The Grey brings up the rear with more restraint but keeps the national emblem on its flanks. Each unit receives a seat cowl and a cross-stitched Alcantara seat. The rest of the spec sheet matches the standard Street Triple R point for point, which is no small compliment.

Beneath the bodywork lies the 675 cc triple delivering 106 horsepower at 11,850 rpm and 69.6 Nm of torque at 9,750 rpm. An engine that loves to rev and produces a distinctive sound, halfway between the growl of a twin and the scream of an inline four. The aluminium perimeter frame, 41 mm inverted fork, and rear monoshock form a package that is both light and precise. At 183 kg wet, the Street Triple R remains a featherweight compared to many rivals. Braking, handled by two 310 mm radially mounted discs up front, inspires confidence. The 820 mm seat height and 17.4-litre tank let you ride without wrecking your back or stopping every hundred kilometres.

The problem is distribution. Triumph reserved this anniversary edition for the British market only, with no plans for export. Prices across the Channel were set at £7,999 for the Gold and Grey versions, £8,599 for the Dark. Suffice to say that for a French rider, getting hold of one of these 150 machines is an uphill battle, between personal import and inevitable extra costs. The list price of the standard Street Triple R in France sat around €9,240, which places this limited edition in an accessible bracket for such a well-bred motorcycle.

That said, this anniversary edition is above all a collector's item for brand enthusiasts. Mechanically, nothing sets it apart from a standard R. No Öhlins suspension, no dedicated engine map, no quickshifter. The premium is paid in cosmetics and exclusivity. For anyone riding daily and looking for a sharp mid-size roadster, the stock Street Triple R does exactly the same job. But for those who collect Triumphs or simply want a bike that nobody else will have in their garage, these 150 units hold genuine appeal.