2020 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Reach the Tarmac, Not the Sky
The Street Triple R Low puts the 765 cc triple at a 30.7 in seat, so the rider who never quite trusted a taller middleweight gets the same machine on the same terms. Peak output is 116 hp at 12,000 rpm with 57 lb-ft at 9,400 rpm, running through a six-speed box with an up-and-down quickshifter and a slipper clutch as standard. Showa SFF-BP forks work the front, both ends are adjustable, and Triumph's ride-by-wire throttle maps sit behind the ABS, traction control and ride modes. Nothing in the package reads as a compromise trim built to hit a number.
On the road it does what a good naked should: light steering, a clear sense of what the front tire is doing, and enough lean clearance that the pegs stay out of the conversation on public pavement. It rewards a rider who likes to carry corner speed, and it stays civil at commuting pace. Aftermarket support is deep, which matters across the years you own it. The honest caveat: 4.6 gal and no cruise control make long interstate transits the weak part of the week, and heated grips, luggage, a USB port and tire pressure monitoring are all extras.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 116 hp (87 kW) @ 12,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 57 lb-ft (77 Nm) @ 9,400 rpm |
| Displacement | 765 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 |
| Wheelbase | 55.5 in (1410 mm) |
| Seat height | 30.7 in (780 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.6 gal (17.4 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Connectivity
Drivetrain
Safety
The first few miles you notice how small it feels between your knees. The tank is narrow, the bars are wide enough to give leverage without stretching you forward, and at a stop both boots go flat on the pavement without any thought. The triple's voice sits between a twin's thump and a four's wail, and the note changes character noticeably as the revs climb through the middle of the dial. Vibration reaches the bars and pegs but stays as texture, never numbness. At 60 to 70 mph the wind pressure on your chest earns its keep: a legal pace feels busy and involving, which is cheaper than a ticket. Clutchless shifts land cleanly in both directions once you stop being polite with the lever. Two hours in, wrists and knees are still comfortable.
Two decades of standing around with riders adds up. This isn't my own test notes but the collective read: talk at fuel stops and rallies, and the messages owners send once they've lived with a bike a while. On the Low the accounts line up neatly, with the enthusiasm and the criticism each pointing at the same handful of things.
The inline-three earns the most agreement. Riders describe a refined, linear delivery that stays docile in traffic and gets vocal and eager once the revs climb. Nearly as consistent is what they say about the chassis: the aluminum frame and adjustable Showa units get credit for precision and for the confidence that follows, with low weight mentioned in the same breath. Owners of this version mention the seat height mainly to say it takes nothing away.
Criticism stays narrow. Suspension is the main one: firm enough on good asphalt to be a virtue, harsh once the surface breaks up, and riders on the lighter end notice it soonest. Some blame the shorter travel of this version. After that it's the exposure at speed and a rear end short enough to throw dirt up your back on a wet ride.
Missing Sport and Rider modes and auto-cancelling indicators on early models
Some 2020 Street Triple R bikes were delivered without the advertised Sport and Rider modes, and auto-cancelling turn signals, due to a software/PDI issue. Owners report that neither dealer reflash nor Triumph USA has resolved it quickly.
Where this Triumph Street Triple R Low pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Street Triple R Low is actually built for.
Angeles Crest suits this bike. It steers light, tells you what the front tire is doing, and runs out of lean angle long after you run out of road. The low seat just means clean, unwobbly starts from every turnout.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
For Dragon-style corner work, the flat-foot seat height and light steering let you spend your attention on line and throttle instead of managing the bike. The low-rev drive helps in the tight stuff.
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 · 2019
Triple Soul, Shorter Stance
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 R Low. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
