By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Triumph Speed Triple 1050 (515NJ) vs Street Triple 675 R (D67LDR)
You'll roll the throttle on at the apex of a long sweeper, and the Triumph Speed Triple 1050 won't drift off your line. The Triumph Street Triple 675 R's engine pulls wide and even as it comes on, then spins free toward the top. Its induction howl climbs right along with the revs.
So which one do you buy?
The Street Triple 675 R has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Slight edge: Street Triple 675 R
Your daily ride leans slightly toward the Street Triple 675 R. That comes from friendlier manners. Fit and price can easily outweigh that.
What makes each one tick
Speed Triple 1050
With a short stretch from saddle to bar, the Speed Triple 1050 sits you close over the front, and one shove on the bar drops it straight into a bend. In tight switchbacks it wants round, patient pressure on the bar and won't pivot on a sharp jab. The throttle brings a smooth shove that doesn't turn savage near the redline. Hard braking won't unsettle the fork.
Street Triple 675 R
Borrowed from the Daytona supersport, the Street Triple 675 R's aluminum twin-spar frame talks back through every bend. At 417 lb (189 kg), it doesn't ask for more than a light nudge on the bar to turn into a corner. Direction changes take little effort. The bar tells you exactly what the front tire's doing.
Nils rode the Street Triple 675 R in 2008 and 2009 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Street Triple 675 R has the lower seat: 31.5 in (800 mm) vs 32.1 in (815 mm).
- The Street Triple 675 R has the lower wet weight: 417 lb (189 kg) vs 472 lb (214 kg).
- The Speed Triple 1050 makes more peak power: 128 hp (96 kW) vs 105 hp (78 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Look elsewhere
Long-haul comfort is a weak spot for both. If you tour, shop with that in mind.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Not built for this
Learning on either of these is the hard way. A gentler bike will make you a better rider sooner.
Traveling with luggage
Neither one fits
Both of these make awkward travel bikes. Pack light and keep the trips short.
Nothing splits them on twisty roads. Ride both back to back and the decision usually makes itself.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Speed Triple 1050
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Tips In With One Input
- Brakes You Can Trust
- Planted When You're On The Gas
- Clean, Honest Fueling
- A Big Naked Anyone Can Ride
Trade-offs
- No Savage Top-End Hit
- Rewards Smooth, Not Sharp
- Tight For Bigger Riders
- Gearbox Still Feels Vague
Street Triple 675 R
What owners say
Strengths
- Addictive triple engine character
- Superb agile handling
- Excellent value for money
Known problems to check before you buy
Speed Triple 1050
- Sprag clutch/starter gear failure The starter sprag clutch and starter idler gear can fail, producing a loud grinding noise during engine startup and leading to starter slipping or failure to crank.
Street Triple 675 R
- Cam chain tensioner noise A rattle from the cam chain tensioner area, particularly noticeable on cold starts, can indicate a failing automatic tensioner. While the part is inexpensive, a very loose chain may have already caused internal engine damage.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-three
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Speed Triple 1050 | Street Triple 675 R | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.1 in (815 mm) | 31.5 in (800 mm) |
| Wet weight | 472 lb (214 kg) | 417 lb (189 kg) |
| Speed Triple 1050 | Street Triple 675 R | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1050 cc | 675 cc |
| Power | 128 hp (96 kW) | 105 hp (78 kW) |
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (105 Nm) | 51 lb-ft (69 Nm) |
| Top speed | 150 mph (241 km/h) | 141 mph (227 km/h) |
| Speed Triple 1050 | Street Triple 675 R | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 33 mpg (US) / 7.06 L/100 km | 32 mpg (US) / 7.4 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 US gal (18 L) | 4.6 US gal (17.4 L) |
| Speed Triple 1050 | Street Triple 675 R | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 320 mm | 308 mm |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
