2013 Triumph Street Triple & Street Triple R | FIRST LOOK

Triumph revealed the new 2013 Street Triple and Street Triple R at the Intermot Show in Cologne, Germany. Triumph first brought out the Street Triple back in 2007 as an option to the Speed Triple 1050. Using a re-tuned version of the 675cc in-line three-cylinder engine from the Daytona 675, the Street Triple has been a big success for the Triumph brand in recent years.

Street Triple

For 2013, Triumph has given the Street Triple a new aluminum twin-spar frame that uses fewer pieces and needs fewer welds. Along with the lighter frame, Triumph redesigned the exhaust to lower the center of gravity, improving the Triple’s handling. A slight reduction in rake and an increase in trail over last year’s model should help it to turn quicker. Total weight with a full tank is just 403 pounds. All this should add up to a sharper handling bike that is an impressive 13 lbs. lighter than the outgoing model.

To help keep the tires planted to the ground, the Street Triple is outfitted with a KYB 41mm inverted fork with twin Nissin two-piston calipers attached to bring it to a stop. Both are carryovers from the outgoing model. ABS is standard, but can be deactivated.

Not much has changed in the engine department for the liquid-cooled, 105-horsepower triple producing 50 lb.-ft of torque; it carries over from the outgoing model. An advanced LCD digital dash includes a gear indicator, programmable shift light, and lap timer along with the digital speedo, tach, and clock. It will display tire pressures as well, if the optional Triumph Tire Pressure Monitoring System is fitted.

The 2013 Street Triple comes with a full two-year unlimited mileage warranty and comes in three color options: Crystal White, Phantom Black, and Caribbean Blue. Price will be announced in late October and units should start arriving in dealerships in January 2013.

Street Triple R

The Street Triple R version takes it up a notch… or two. The fork is fully adjustable with the ability to change preload, rebound, and compression damping where the standard model has no adjustability. The R’s shock is similarly upgraded, with a piggyback reservoir, and adjustable spring preload and rebound damping. The two-piston brake calipers from the standard version are replaced with more powerful Nissin four-piston radial calipers. The frame geometry is slightly different from the standard version with a decrease in rake and trail for sharper handling.

For aesthetics, the Street Triple R comes with aggressive red details on the radiator shroud, rear subframe, and pinstripes on the wheels. Color choices are: Crystal White, Phantom Black, and Matte Graphite and comes with a full two-year unlimited mileage warranty. Price will be announced in late October and units should start arriving in dealerships in January 2013.