There's a reason Triumph has managed to sell over 50,000 examples of its Street Triple since it was released in 2007: this is one of the most capable bikes ever made. It can literally do it all, from nipping about on city jaunts to lapping up the miles on a weekend trip, and it'll even provide sensational delights on a track. Of course it isn't perfect — what is? — but the British marque has taken stock of the few cons alongside the bike's long list of pros, in its attempt to obliterate the competition with an all-new 2017 Street Triple.
First and foremost you'll notice a more aggressive face, with tweaked twin-pod headlamps that now feature distinctive new LED daytime running lights. But there are also major technological upgrades and a brand-new 765cc inline-three engine boasting over 80 new parts, including a new crank, pistons, aluminium barrels and an increased bore and stroke. Rest assured the obliging do-it-all formula remains, but unlike the previous 675cc Street Triple, which came in either base or R form, the new one is available in three versions — S, R and RS — each tweaked to offer a slightly different character.
The S is your urban 111hp companion; the R offers 116hp and a more sportive streak; while the 121hp RS is our pick of the bunch and the most explosive Street Triple ever built. Available in only two colours — Matte Silver Ice and Phantom Black — the RS comes equipped with a full electronics package comprising five modes (Road, Rain, Sport, Rider Programmable and Track) that link the ride-by-wire setup, traction control and ABS. Standard equipment also includes a fully adjustable Showa fork, an Ohlins rear shock, a gullwing rear swingarm, sticky Pirelli tyres, Brembo M50 front brakes, a slipper clutch and a quick-shifter, while a new five-inch full-colour TFT instrument cluster ups the game considerably. Worth mentioning, too, is the new free-flow exhaust, made from lightweight stainless steel, which provides a far more intoxicating induction howl.
But the Street Triple RS's greatest single attribute is its power-to-weight ratio. This is, after all, the lightest bike in its class, and when you consider the whopping 121bhp available from that peach of a three-pot, you start to understand how this roadster is unlike any other. Explosive yet agile, scary yet reassuring, the RS has readily available low-end torque that is in constant use. Throttle response is smooth and progressive, but once the tacho climbs over 7,500rpm the engine comes alive and wastes no time getting to the 12,750rpm red line. It is intoxicating, and essentially the new benchmark for the streetfighter category. Shorter, wider, lower and lighter than the Ducati Monster, Triumph's Street Triple RS is an addictive and intuitive performance street motorcycle.
