Triumph Street Triple R Low (HD04) Buyer's Guide

The Machine's Character

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.

Hard Numbers

Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.

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Key specifications
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

Front Suspension Adjustable Showa SFF-BP (Separate Function Fork – Big Piston) Precise front end feedbackAgile weight reduction Standard
Rear Suspension Adjustable Standard

Connectivity

USB Charging Port Optional

Drivetrain

Quickshifter Standard
Slipper Clutch Standard

Safety

ABS Standard
Traction Control Standard
Ride Modes Triumph Ride-by-Wire Throttle Maps Selectable ride modesRefined throttle response Standard

The Truth on the Street

Over the years I've heard a lot about this bike in paddock conversations, from owners at club nights, and in the messages riders send me after a season on one. The picture of the 2020 Street Triple R Low is consistent. Owners love the engine and the chassis, and their complaints are about ride comfort and living with a bike that has no bodywork.

The triple and chassis owners rave about

Riders consistently describe the triple as refined and linear. They say it's happy to potter through town and gets loud in the best way when it spins up, and owners bring up the induction howl again and again. The handling gets the same praise: agile, communicative, and the kind of bike that coaxes its owner into riding harder. Shorter riders in particular say the lowered stance cost them nothing in sharpness. To them it still rides like the full R.

Where the firm setup bites back

The most common complaint is about ride quality on broken pavement. Owners call the suspension harsh over bumps and potholes, lighter riders most of all, and some suspect the Low's shorter travel makes it worse. Others mention the wind blast at highway speed and a stubby tail that throws road grime up their back.

Known issues

Missing Sport and Rider modes and auto-cancelling indicators on early models

electrics occasional

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.

The Expert Benchmark

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.

What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class

Wind-in-the-Face Thrill

Corner Confidence

Everyday Fun Balance

Punchy Midrange Character

Easy City Flickability

Trust-Building Throttle Feel

Adrenaline-per-Dollar

Raw Road Feedback

Ownership Ease Without Boredom

This bike Class average

The shape of the Triumph Street Triple R Low — numbers and character vs. the average Naked Bike

Head-to-head: Triumph Street Triple R Low vs. its rivals

Power

116 hp This bike 119 hp Yamaha MT-09 125 hp Kawasaki Z900 ABS 111 hp Ducati Monster 118 hp MV Agusta Brutale 800

Torque

57 lb-ft This bike 69 lb-ft Yamaha MT-09 73 lb-ft Kawasaki Z900 ABS 69 lb-ft Ducati Monster 61 lb-ft MV Agusta Brutale 800

Displacement

765 cc This bike 890 cc Yamaha MT-09 948 cc Kawasaki Z900 ABS 937 cc Ducati Monster 798 cc MV Agusta Brutale 800

Seat height

30.7 in This bike 32.5 in Yamaha MT-09 32.3 in Kawasaki Z900 ABS 33.1 in Ducati Monster 32.7 in MV Agusta Brutale 800

The 'Should I Buy It?' Score

Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Street Triple R Low is actually built for.

A scenic view of Angeles Crest Highway winding through rugged Southern California canyon terrain. Rocky mountainsides with golden earth tones frame the asphalt road with tight sweeping curves. Double yellow center line visible, sparse vegetation along the shoulders, clear blue sky with white clouds. Daylight, dry conditions. Iconic location for canyon-road enthusiasts. — Josh Sorenson / Pexels

Best motorcycle for Angeles Crest?

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

Best motorcycle for Tail of the Dragon?

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

What's new versus the previous generation

If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.

Previous generation · 2019

Triumph Street Triple R Low (HD01A)

Triple Soul, Shorter Stance

Compare to the previous model →

Alternatives to the Triumph Street Triple R Low

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.