Triumph Street Triple R 2020 — Specifications

Can a motorcycle remain true to its DNA while stepping aside to become more accessible? That’s the bold gamble of the 2020 Triumph Street Triple R, which positions itself as a taste arbiter between the entry-level S and the wild RS. With a declared price of €9700, it clearly intends to seduce the sporty touring rider who wants muscle without excess, and above all, without breaking the bank. A clever positioning, provided that compromises don't undermine the heart of the Street Triple’s character.

And that character is still there, carried by this legendary 765cc triple cylinder engine. Triumph has managed the feat of making it sing under the Euro5 standard without stripping it of its soul. The 118 horsepower at 12000 rpm and the 77 Nm of torque are preserved, and there’s even a feeling of increased responsiveness thanks to reduced inertia and recalculated gear ratios. Acceleration is crisp, the engine breathes freely, and the triplex melody remains a powerful argument against competitors like the Yamaha MT-09, sometimes more raw, or the Honda CB650R, more restrained. This 2020 Triumph Street Triple R proves that you can be clean without being boring.

On the chassis, the proven recipe is retained: aluminum perimeter frame, Showa adjustable suspension, and these excellent Brembo M4.32 brakes that inspire absolute confidence. The quickshifter, now standard, is a real good news for fans of clutchless gear changes. Where things are less impressive is on the equipment. Triumph made the surprising choice, for this Street Triple R 765, to return to an analog/LCD combination, abandoning the color TFT screen. A saving that is felt in the saddle and which may disappoint in an era where digitalization reigns. We still keep the electronic aids with Road, Rain and Sport modes, ABS and traction control, but the configurable Rider mode disappears. This is the price to pay for this price reduction.

So, who is this Triumph Street Triple R for? For the rider who seeks the very essence of the sporty roadster, prioritizing pure sensations over connected gadgets. Its contained dry weight of 166 kg and its 825 mm seat height make it an agile and maneuverable machine, ideal for winding roads as well as for the city. It doesn’t have the extravagant equipment of the RS, nor its M50 calipers or its Öhlins shock absorber, but it retains its lively spirit and playful temperament. Compared to the previous generation, the 2017 Triumph Street Triple R, for example, it gains in financial accessibility but loses in frippery. An assumed choice.

Ultimately, this Triumph Street Triple R motorcycle succeeds in its gamble. It offers the intense mechanical experience and precise chassis of the lineage, sacrificing intelligently some superflu to reach a wider audience. It’s the most sensible version for those who want an authentic triple, without paying the high price of the RS. It’s not the most technically advanced, but it is very likely the most consistent. A roadster for purists who are not afraid to watch a needle climb in a tachometer, rather than a pixelated screen.