Alternatives

If Street-life doesn’t do it for you, here are three options…

Yamaha MT-07 2014-current £3500–£5500 • 689cc parallel twin• 74bhp • 55mpg • 182kg

Light, flickable and with an engine that loves to rev, it’s much more the hooligan’s choice and a good post-test machine. Considerably cheaper when new and that’s reflected in used values too — you can pick up a 2014 MT for the price of a good 2008 Street. Suspension is the weak point but that’s easily fixed without spending too much.

Ducati Monster 696 2008-2014 £3500–£5500 • 696cc 90° V-twin• 80bhp • 50mpg • 185kg Not as versatile as the Street Triple but thumpy V-twin power and iconic styling tick the right boxes. Turning circle is better than earlier models which, with the semi-servo clutch, makes town use easier. It’s handling is sharp and it loves being catapulted down a twisty backroad, where the grunty motor is great at driving out of bends (you’ll need more revs than you expect to really push on). Slaughtered on acceleration and top-end by the other bikes here, though.

MV Agusta Brutale 675 2012-2016 £4500–£5500 • 675cc inline triple • 108bhp • 45mpg • 167kg

A natural competitor for the Street Triple, with an equally excellent three-cylinder engine (from the F3 Supersport bike), a great chassis and tough looks. It also has switchable engine mapping (which you can custom-programme for anything from power delivery to engine-braking effect), quickshifter and eight-way traction control. Plenty of power too — even in Rain mode it’s got more peak power than the Street Triple and in full-power mode, it’s up over the 100bhp mark. Handling is excellent, brakes very good (ABS as standard from 2014) and it’ll attract attention wherever you go. Parts supply and aftersales backup is a worry though.