By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Triumph Street Triple 675 R (D67LDR2) vs Speed Triple R (MY2012)
Triumph Street Triple 675 R vs Speed Triple R: which one's easier to live with every day.
You'll feel the Triumph Street Triple 675 R flick into a bend the moment you ask, and it keeps egging you on. On the Triumph Speed Triple R, a light push at the bar is enough, and it won't fight you. Its forged wheels drop it in with a snap.
What makes each one tick
Street Triple 675 R
On the Coronado Trail, the Street Triple R's sharp geometry and trim chassis have it switching sides from curve to curve, and it keeps tempting you to carry more pace. The throttle wakes a triple that's got real punch low down and still spins freely up top. The R's seat sits a touch taller than the base version's, yet its sharper setup doesn't strip away the everyday manners. The exhaust snarls on every pull.
Speed Triple R
From the first mile, the Speed Triple R's bar sits right where your arms and shoulders want it, and there's torque waiting in every gear. Crack it open at corner exit and it pulls without surging, stumbling, or any interruption. On track, one button on the dash kills the ABS. At corner entry, a little weight on the pegs is all it needs to set its line. A few laps in, stringing corners together doesn't take conscious effort anymore. The chassis holds your chosen line.
Nils rode the Speed Triple R in Andalusia in 2012 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Street Triple 675 R has the lower seat: 31.7 in (805 mm) vs 32.5 in (825 mm).
- The Street Triple 675 R has the lower wet weight: 417 lb (189 kg) vs 487 lb (221 kg).
- The Speed Triple R makes more peak power: 133 hp (99 kW) vs 105 hp (78 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither one fits
Hours in the saddle won't flatter either of these. They're happier on shorter runs.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Not their thing
For a brand-new rider, both are the wrong place to start. Learn the basics on a smaller bike first.
These two run dead level on commuting, twisty roads, and running costs. Sit on both in the showroom and trust what your body says.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Street Triple 675 R
What owners say
Strengths
- Sweet inline-triple engine
Speed Triple R
Strengths
- Bars land exactly right
- Forged wheels sharpen turn-in
- A hard day, zero failures
- Torquey and characterful triple engine
Trade-offs
- It punishes sloppy inputs
- Not a big-bore drive off the apex
- Gearbox stays notchy
- Lacks modern electronic rider aids
Known problems to check before you buy
Street Triple 675 R
- Cam chain tensioner rattle on cold start A noisy cam chain tensioner on cold starts is a known problem. If left unattended it can cause premature chain/guide wear. Replacement with a manual tensioner is a common fix.
- Loose coolant hose clamps on low-mileage bikes On bikes with very low miles, the coolant hose clamps can loosen as the system settles, leading to minor leaks.
Speed Triple R
- Transmission may slip gears (recall on certain 2012‑2013 ABS models) Recall 13V212000 NHTSA campaign 13V-212: on some 2012-2013 Speed Triple ABS motorcycles, the transmission may have been built with an incorrect detent spring, which could cause it to shift out of gear while moving. Affected bikes require a dealer inspection and detent spring replacement.
- Notchy and imprecise gear shifting Even after the gearbox redesign, the transmission remains clunky; riders report rough up‑shifts, occasional missed gears and a neutral that can be hard to find, especially when pushing hard.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-three
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Fuel economy
- 34 mpg (US) / 6.89 L/100 km
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Street Triple 675 R | Speed Triple R | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.7 in (805 mm) | 32.5 in (825 mm) |
| Wet weight | 417 lb (189 kg) | 487 lb (221 kg) |
| Street Triple 675 R | Speed Triple R | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 675 cc | 1050 cc |
| Power | 105 hp (78 kW) | 133 hp (99 kW) |
| Torque | 50 lb-ft (68 Nm) | 82 lb-ft (111 Nm) |
| Street Triple 675 R | Speed Triple R | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.6 US gal (17.4 L) | 4.6 US gal (17.5 L) |
| Street Triple 675 R | Speed Triple R | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 308 mm | 320 mm |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 190/55-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Street Triple 675 R | Speed Triple R | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
