2011–2012 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Triple That Bites Back
The Street Triple takes the 675cc inline-three and aluminum beam frame from the Daytona 675 and turns them loose without a fairing. The triple makes 105 hp at 11,750 rpm on a torque curve that pulls cleanly from low in the rev range, then sings through the midrange with an intake howl no twin or four can copy. At 417 lb wet it sits at the light end of the middleweight naked class. The bug-eye headlights borrowed from the Speed Triple and the compact Daytona proportions gave it a streetfighter look that still reads modern today.
On the road it rewards a rider who likes to lean. Ground clearance is generous, the chassis is honest, and the front end feeds back enough to carry real corner speed with confidence. Mechanically it ages well, but this is a stripped-back machine. The fork and shock are fixed at the factory with no adjustment at either end, ABS and heated grips were options rather than standard fitment, and there are no ride modes or traction control to fall back on. If you want a light, talkative canyon weapon and don't need electronic safety nets, it fits. If you want adjustability or rider aids, look further up the range.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 105 hp (78 kW) @ 11,750 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 50 lb-ft (68 Nm) @ 9,100 rpm |
| Displacement | 675 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 308 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 55.5 in (1410 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.5 in (800 mm) |
| Wet weight | 417 lb (189 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.6 gal (17.4 L) |
| Fuel economy | 41 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Safety
Swing a leg over and the 31.5-inch seat drops you into a compact, upright crouch that suits most heights. Thumb the starter and the triple settles into a hard, metallic idle that climbs into that signature wail as the revs build. There's a fine buzz through the bars and pegs at a steady cruise, never numbing, just enough to remind you the motor is working for a living. The bike feels tiny and willing underneath you, flicking from side to side with almost no effort thanks to its low weight. Your hands get a clear read on what the front tire is doing, and the riding position lets you shift your body without fighting the ergonomics. At real road pace it asks very little of you, and the 4.6-gallon tank with a relaxed 41 mpg keeps you out longer than you'd expect from something this eager.
Riders bring this one to me on their own, in messages to my inbox, in talk at events, and in the long back-and-forth between owners who have lived with it. Add up what comes in over the years and the Street Triple lands in a consistent place: a motor and a chassis people speak warmly about, with a pair of soft spots that keep getting flagged.
The 675 triple sits at the center of nearly every account. Owners describe usable shove from low in the rev range rolling into a top end that asks to be revved, with an intake voice that pulls them deeper into the throttle. The frame earns the same respect: precise through a set of corners and a steady source of confidence. They keep noting how little effort it takes to change direction on a machine this light, in town or out on a tight road. The spare, aggressive streetfighter look still draws its share of compliments.
Two complaints come up again and again. Owners report the stock shock and brake pads lose their bite after moderate use, which leaves a loose, imprecise feel at the rear and less stopping power on hand. The other is vibration. Hold the revs up away from town and a high-frequency buzz reaches the handlebars that several riders find wearing over a longer run.
Cam chain tensioner rattle
A rattle from the right side of the engine on cold starts may indicate a slack cam chain tensioner. If left unaddressed, potential engine damage can occur.
Gearbox jumps out of gear under hard acceleration
Some bikes exhibit a tendency to pop out of gear when ridden aggressively without the clutch, often a result of previous owner abuse.
Where this Triumph Street Triple pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Street Triple is actually built for.
For Angeles Crest weekends this is a natural. It's light, communicative, and has the lean clearance to keep up your pace through the tight stuff. Just accept you're setting the pace on rider skill, not electronics.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
On the Dragon and the Blue Ridge twisties, the honest front end and easy handling let you work on precision instead of fighting the bike. It rewards technique over speed, which is exactly what you want here.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2007–2012
Triple Soul, Razor Handling
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Triumph Street Triple. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
