2013–2016 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Triple That Carves Clean
This Street Triple is built around a simple idea: take a supersport heart and put it in a bike you can live with every day. The 675 cc inline-three makes 105 hp at 11,850 rpm and 50 lb-ft at 9,750 rpm, with real pull in the midrange and a top end that keeps on climbing. It sits in an aluminum perimeter frame with an upside-down fork, and the whole package weighs 403 lb (183 kg) wet. The rider-aid list is short: ABS is standard, and that's it. In the middleweight naked class, few bikes weave engine character and chassis quality together this tightly. It feels special.
On a twisty road it's light on its feet, and the handling never asks for more skill than you've got. That's why it flatters a newer rider and still keeps an experienced one busy. It ages well too. Reliability is solid, and the known gripes are small: a cam chain tensioner that rattles when cold, rear linkage bearings that want fresh grease every few years, and condensation in the dash after rain or a wash. The honest caveat is the suspension. The fork isn't adjustable at all, and the shock only gives you preload, so up front what you get is what you ride. Know that going in.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 105 hp (78 kW) @ 11,850 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 50 lb-ft (68 Nm) @ 9,750 rpm |
| Displacement | 675 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 310 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Seat height | 31.5 in (800 mm) |
| Wet weight | 403 lb (183 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.6 gal (17.4 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Drivetrain
Safety
For years I've listened to riders: in the paddock, at club nights, in owner chats and in the messages and emails they send me. For this Street Triple the pattern is clear. The praise is widely shared and centers on chassis and engine, while the complaints are scattered and come from individual owners.
Riders consistently single out the chassis: agile and stable at once, which they credit to the light frame and a well-sorted suspension. The inline-three gets the same treatment, and many owners rank it among the most charismatic engines in its class. Reliability follows close behind. Owners rate this generation highly and say the early troubles of the first one, rectifiers among them, were largely resolved. That's the consensus.
Some owners mention a slightly spongy lever under hard braking, with less initial bite, and point at the ABS plumbing. Others bring up wind blast at highway speeds, which costs comfort on longer trips. Riders who use the bike in the wet report corrosion on engine paint, fasteners and exhaust headers unless it's meticulously maintained. And a few recall the launch price, which sat above many competitors. Premium territory.
Noisy cam chain tensioner
A rattling noise from the cam chain area, especially when cold. Typically an annoyance rather than a mechanical failure; may require adjustment or replacement of the tensioner.
Suspension linkage bearings require frequent greasing
The rear suspension linkage bearings are prone to corrosion and seizure if not disassembled and regreased every few years. Neglect can lead to damaged bearings and compromised handling.
Condensation in instrument cluster
Moisture can build up inside the LCD instrument panel, especially after riding in rain or washing. Usually clears but can be a recurring annoyance.
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 city traffic on the way out and fast canyon roads once you're there, this fits. It's precise, it leans forever and the triple has the top end you want. Just accept the suspension as delivered.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If you ride the same tight roads over and over to get better rather than faster, this is your bike. The feedback teaches you something every corner and 403 lb never fights you.
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 · 2011–2012
Triple That Bites Back
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.
Successor · 2017–2019
Triple Soul, Corner Ready
Successor · 2017
Triple Soul, Accessible Price
Competitor · 2014–2017
Dirt-Trim Triple With Soul
Roughly $1,200 cheaper used than this bike at 10 yr
Competitor · 2014–2018
Italian Fire On Three Cylinders
Roughly $1,300 pricier used than this bike at 10 yr
Competitor · 2014–2017
Raw Twin, Weightless Handling
~$2,000 cheaper used than this bike at 10 yr
Competitor · 2012–2017
The Italian Triple That Bites
About the same used price as this bike at 10 yr
Competitor · 2022–2023
The Orange Street Scalpel
Same Platform · 2020
Reach the Tarmac, Not the Sky
Similar Character · 2019
148 Horses of Triple Soul