2013 Triumph Street Triple and Street Triple R First Look

Triumph's Street Triple and Street Triple R have always been a favorite around the Sport Rider office, and the chances of finding a key to either bike look to have slimmed with the introduction of Triumph's heavily updated 2013 models. Both versions of the Hinckley brand's middleweight naked lay claim to a new chassis, significant weight reduction and geometry changes. Styling fortunately remains on par with what we've come to expect from Triumph, although keen Triple fans will immediately recognize some changes in terms of design, the obvious change being a repositioned exhaust.

The 675cc three-cylinder engine that’s long made the Street Triple a standout in the middleweight category appears to have gone untouched, and is claimed to produce right around 105 horsepower and 50 foot-pounds of torque – enough to keep you grinning on any tight canyon road. The aluminum beam twin-spar frame has conversely been reworked, and is said to be “engineered to optimize dynamism, agility and rider enjoyment.” The frame also contributes to a significant drop in weight by means of fewer pieces and less welds.

Additional changes for 2013 come in the form of an all-new low-mount exhaust, which does away with the undertail design that we’ve become accustomed to. Triumph claims the new exhaust weighs less than the previous system and contributes to a more idealistic center of gravity. As a whole, the Street Triple is claimed to weigh 13 pounds less than its predecessor.

The tweaked chassis and reworked exhaust has enabled Triumph engineers to adapt the Street Triple’s geometry. The most notable change is .5mm increase in trail, which now measures 99.6mm, and a reduction in rake to 24.1 degrees. A 41mm KYB front fork completes the chassis package, whereas two-piston Nissin calipers acting on 310mm floating discs complete the brake package. ABS comes standard but is switchable for those who are opposed to the rider aid.

The Street Triple will be available in three color options for 2013, Phantom Black, Crystal White and Striking Caribbean Blue, but retail price has yet to be confirmed.

The R model one-ups its slightly lower-spec sibling by way of larger brake calipers and fully adjustable suspension. Brake discs remain at 310mm, but the Nissin calipers on the R model are a four-piston design that’s intended to get things slowed down in a quicker fashion. In a similar improvement, the 41mm inverted forks are adjustable for preload, rebound and compression damping. Switchable ABS is a carryover from the standard model.

The R is different from the standard model in terms of geometry thanks to a 23.4-degree rake measurement and 95.0mm of trail. Compare this to the 2011 Street Triple R, which benefited from a 23.9-degree rake measurement and 92mm of trail.

In terms of styling, the newer R model takes design cues from its fully faired Daytona 675R sibling. Among the styling changes is a red rear subframe, red pinstriped wheels and a red radiator shroud. Three colors are available in total, Phantom Black, Crystal White and Matte Graphite. Retail for the R model is yet to be announced, although press material did make mention that the models will see showroom floors as soon as January 2013.

Triumph is generally quick to tout its wide range of accessories, and 2013 is no different. Some of the pieces that are already made available for the Street Triple models include a color-matched fly screen, belly pan and seat cowl. Arrow has already prepped a lightweight slip-on, and Triumph has also made available bar-end mirrors, CNC machined clutch and brake levers, and a quick shifter that’s said to take just minutes to install.