Triumph Street Triple 765 R
Moto2 tech filters down into Triumph’s midweight naked, but it’s more than a brilliant engine that makes the R great…
As we know Triumph have been busy tweaking their Street Triple range and they’ve focused their efforts into making all models sharper, more powerful and more responsive. Added numbers to the name, too. And the Street Triple 765 R is the weapon of choice when it comes to whipping between the hedges of typical gnarly British back roads. And, if you fancy stretching your legs, and ambition, most gnarly back roads on planet Earth for that matter.
‘Love that,’ beams occasional Bike tester Dom Mattock, stepping off the 765 R following a 15-mile blast in the glorious spring sunshine. ‘It’s a perfect blend of sporty intent, every-day friendliness and polished sophistication.’
Of course Dom is right, and it is little wonder because Triumph have been through this motorcycle front to back, honing an already accomplished package to even sharper intent. Components and technology from the firm’s Moto2 engine deal have filtered into the Street Triple’s powerplants – the R now makes a claimed 118bhp (and the track focused RS and Moto2 Edition produce even more with 128bhp). Internal gearing and final drive ratios have also been tweaked to sharpen acceleration, while the freer flowing exhaust’s wound up the soundtrack.
Clearly performance is strong, especially in Sport mode which stays on for pretty much all my time aboard the 765 R. Only when it comes to riding for photos, when a less aggressive throttle response is preferable, do I flick it into Road. Should the heavens open there’s also Rain, plus a Rider mode if a more personalised power delivery is required.
Triumph have also worked on the chassis, speeding up the steering with slightly more radical geometry and 12mm wider handlebars. Upgraded suspension (41mm Showa forks and accompanying shock, both fully adjustable) provides a plush ride quality that really comes into its own on less than perfect tarmac. There’s a substance and sophistication to the 765 R’s ride too, which sets it apart from both the MT-09 and Tuono 660. And the riding position, for me at least, is near perfect. Just enough forward lean toward the bars for sporting naughtiness, yet not so much that all-day motorway cruising isn’t on offer, whenever required. My only real complaint in terms of the chassis is when it comes to low speed turning. There’s a certain level of resistance to the steering at that speed, not dissimilar to a steering damper in play, causing the 765 to flop into mini roundabouts and tight turns like a tipsy reveller attempting to wend their way home. I suspect this is more down to the Continental tyres than geometry, but it’s annoying nevertheless.
Tester Paul Berryman’s keen to offer his thoughts on the steering. ‘While the Yamaha is the skittish side of perfect, the Triumph is the
‘Arguably the best bike the Hinckley concern have ever made…’
stodgy side of perfect. Great in terms of stability – it takes a lot to unsettle the Street Triple, even on the gas over bumps – but the low speed turning just isn’t in the same league as the Yamaha or Aprilia.’ The Brembo brakes are though. They’re magnificent – powerful, bags of feel and with almost unnoticeable ABS intervention, which is something I discover when a car pulls out in front of me on an otherwise empty road. Yeah, thanks for that…
What’s most striking about the 765 R, however, is the way it gels as an overall package. You can tell Triumph have been refining, improving and honing every inch of this naked roadster to the point that it’s arguably the best bike the Hinckley concern have ever made. That’s one hell of a statement to make, I know, but gawping at the 765 as it shimmers under clear blue skies it feels completely valid. Build quality and spec levels are bob-on, and it looks a treat. In fact it is easily the best looker of this trio, although the white paint is a £200 premium. And the updated three-cylinder motor is the perfect complement to the equally tweaked chassis.
‘In this company the Street Triple feels like it delivers the most for the money,’ muses Dom. ‘And unless you’re a regular trackdayer, why would you need the RS or Moto2 Edition? The R is a bike that’s perfect for 99% of Street Triple buyers 99% of the time – and most other motorcyclists in general too, I reckon.’
Most definitely one for the road.