BRUCE’S TRIPLES ON TRACK
TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE 765 RS
If you own a Street Triple and you’ve never taken it on track, you’re committing a sin. It took me all of a few corners to fall in love with the Trumpet that packed the perfect package of fine handling, a j uicy motor and greater predictability than an MP’s ex cuses. The engine is the heart of the bike, which never felt laboured on track. It had the torq ue to punch you out of corners, and carried plenty of pace down the straighter bits; all the time emitting a throaty, seductive induction noise that complemented the stock can’s soundtrack. I liked it.
The gearbox was as slick as it gets and the stock fitment shifter never failed to perform. The throttle connection was intuitive, and the power delivery was straighter than a Roman road. In essence, it felt refined, trustworthy and stuck like the proverbial to a blanket through the corners. It wasn’t that precise in the handling stakes, but it felt glued to terra firma the whole time, even when trying one’s best to stretch the triple’s throttle cable on corner ex its. Like the MT and the Brutale, the Triumph packs plenty of tech; it’s largely governed by four varying levels of techno castration, that includes a Track rider mode with limited traction and track friendly ABS. Anything other than this setup was pointless, as the bike’s tech engaged without invitation and ruined the ex perience at every opportunity. And while I can’t fault the Track mode’s ABS operation, the TC still made too many appearances for my liking. Thankfully, Rider mode ( a fifth programmable option) meant I could switch TC off completely, as well as the ABS.
Footloose and buz z ing its tits off, the Triumph was a delectable bike to ride, being super stable and offering a plush feel through its adj ustable pogos. It was also comfy, with wide ‘ bars and sportily placed pegs… that ground themselves to buggery at every given chance. The brakes were also nex t level, being the best of all the bikes, in my opinion. The purchase was strong and long lived, with plenty of feel on tap through the standard fitment Brembo MCS master-cylinder ( that could be adj usted for span and piston siz e 19,20,21mm) . The only thing that could make this make this bike better would be a fairing and some clip-ons. Come on, Triumph. Give us a 7 65 Daytona.