Triumph Street Triple R 2014 — Specifications

Does a motorcycle lose its soul when it gains efficiency? That was the question posed by the Triumph Street Triple R in 2014, with a redesign that ruffled a few feathers among purists. It lost its two rear exhaust pipes, a visual and sonic signature, for a single, low muffler. A sacrilege? Perhaps. But on the scales, the gain is tangible: six kilos less on the scales, a lowered center of gravity, and a considerably lightened rear end. For a motorcycle that already boasted a featherweight curb weight of 183 kilos, this forced diet made it even more vicious.

Beneath this reworked bodywork, where the radiator fairings gain aggression, the perimeter aluminum frame is redesigned to be stiffer and lighter. The rear subframe, now a bright red as it should be for an R version, is the most visible testament to this. The wheelbase remains at 1410 mm, but the rake angle tightens slightly. The result is agility already legendary, bordering on telepathy. This 2014 Triumph Street Triple R no longer needs to be invited to turn, it’s already doing it.

And to propel it, the famous 675 cc three-cylinder engine remains unchanged in its essence. 106 horsepower at 11850 rpm, 68 Nm of torque at 9750 rpm. These figures don't tell the whole story. This engine is a marvel of character, buzzing and elastic at low revs, then howling towards its redline with a communicative fury. The new exhaust system barely modifies the curve, shifting the peak power a little higher, without ever altering that mechanical zest that has made the Street a success since its debut.

It is in the chapter of suspensions and brakes that the R version fully justifies its price premium over the base model. A 41 mm KYB inverted fork and a reservoir mono-shock, both fully adjustable, offer generous travel and impeccable stability. At the front, four-piston Brembo radial calipers bite down on 310 mm discs, with ABS now disconnectable from the handlebars. Equipment that places this 2014 Triumph Street Triple R in a strong position against competitors such as the Yamaha MT-09 of the time, more powerful but less well-executed in terms of chassis.

Ultimately, who is it for? The demanding sporty tourer, the urban dweller who dreams of mountain passes on the weekend, and even the Sunday track rider, especially with the quickshifter offered as an option. At 8990 euros at the time, it was not cheap, but it offered a package of rare coherence. This evolution, sometimes aesthetically contested, has armored the technical specifications of the Triumph Street Triple R and strengthened its status as an absolute reference in the world of agile roadsters. Rogues had to get used to the new look, but once in the saddle, all their doubts flew away in the piercing sound of its triple.