HINCKLEY'S HERO

What's not to love about Triumph's fabulous Street Triple and Street Triple R?

-  JON URRY

2013-2016 TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE AND STREET TRIPLE R

Having already thoroughly rained on the Japanese manufacturers' parade in 2008 with the launch of the original Street Triple models, in 2013 the wet spell turned into a torrential downpour as Triumph released the second generation of its class-defining middleweight. Lighter, more agile, and with a smattering of tech, the new Street Triple and Street Triple R basically ended any hope the Japanese had of fighting back. So, what was new? And is it equally impressive nowadays?

Sharing the same all-new aluminium beam chassis as the Daytona 675, the Street Triple models also gained uprated KYB suspension, a sharper look, a new low-slung exhaust system, a lightly modified motor and the option of ABS and a quickshifter. Far from a small facelift, this was a fairly radical upgrade to the bike, and as soon as you sling a leg over the 2013 model, you know that it is a much more serious prospect. In a good way...