By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike vs Supersport
Triumph Street Triple 765 RS (MY2023) vs Yamaha YZF-R9 (MY2025)
Triumph Street Triple 765 RS vs Yamaha YZF-R9: two kinds of bike, and who each one is for.
Out of a slow exit, the Triumph Street Triple 765 RS snaps forward on short gearing that's tuned to how its engine builds. Twist the Yamaha YZF-R9's throttle low in the revs and it's already pulling. Higher up, it rushes on toward the redline.
So which one do you buy?
Buy the Street Triple 765 RS if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Runaway pick: Street Triple 765 RS
If most of your miles are the commute, the Street Triple 765 RS is your bike. It simply does the daily job better.
The Street Triple 765 RS has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
Edges it: Street Triple 765 RS
Over a year of riding, the Street Triple 765 RS noses ahead on running costs. A neglected example would wipe that out.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Small edge: Street Triple 765 RS
On a twisty road, the Street Triple 765 RS edges ahead. That comes from better suspension. Not by enough to settle it alone.
Which one's the smarter buy
Apples and oranges
The Street Triple 765 RS and YZF-R9 sit in different classes, so value is a trade-off. Neither is the obvious better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
Street Triple 765 RS
The Street Triple 765 RS wakes up once the pace climbs, because its firm fork and shock won't wallow and keep feeding grip back through long sweepers. You can carry the brakes deep into corner entry and still know what the front tire's doing as the bike turns in. Lap after lap, the lever bites. Its soft seat takes the edge off the stiff springs.
Nils rode the Street Triple 765 RS in 2023, and in Austria in 2024 (NastyNils Testride).
YZF-R9
On a twisty road, the YZF-R9's aluminum frame lets it flick from bend to bend while the fork keeps reporting what the front's up to. A bump on rough pavement doesn't get past the suspension. The riding position doesn't tire you. Its exhaust note growls with a voice all its own.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Street Triple 765 RS has the lower wet weight: 414 lb (188 kg) vs 437 lb (198 kg).
- The Street Triple 765 RS makes more peak power: 128 hp (96 kW) vs 119 hp (88 kW).
- The YZF-R9 makes more peak torque: 68 lb-ft (92 Nm) vs 59 lb-ft (80 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both miss here
Both of these get tiring on a long day. A proper tourer will treat you better on big miles.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Both fall short
As first bikes, both are a stretch. Starting smaller isn't a step down.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Street Triple 765 RS
Strengths
- Elastic triple, forgiving in any gear
- Brakes that bite and last
- Electronics that stay invisible
- Genuinely premium build quality
- Cornering and handling agility
Trade-offs
- Stock seat too soft for track
- Hard riding shortens your range
- Wants real pace to shine
- Fiddly joystick menu controls
- Cruise control is a paid accessory
YZF-R9
What owners say
Strengths
- Comprehensive electronics package
- Torque-rich CP3 engine
- Comfortable ride for a supersport
Known problems to check before you buy
Street Triple 765 RS
- Valve spring retainer / collet replacement service action Triumph issued a dealer-mandatory service action for MY2023 and MY2024 Street Triple 765 (R and RS) requiring replacement of valve spring retainers. Dealers were instructed not to release affected bikes for delivery without the work being completed; bikes already in customer hands are to have the work performed at next dealer visit. The job requires engine removal and cylinder head removal. The action follows real-world catastrophic engine failures (valve drop, cylinder damage) reported by owners — including one MY2024 R at ~2,800 miles and one MY2023 RS at ~16,352 miles.
- Quickshifter / shift-linkage sensor failure on early MY2024 builds Early-production MY2024 Street Triple 765 RS units shipped with a quickshifter / shift-linkage sensor that failed in-service, often early in life (reports from ~1,500 miles). Triumph revised the sensor in production during 2024; warranty replacements on early units were delayed by parts backlog. The clutch and gearbox themselves remain unaffected — owners can continue to ride using the clutch lever during the wait.
YZF-R9
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 1-year-old Street Triple 765 RS with a 1-year-old YZF-R9.
- Street Triple 765 RS
- $11,200
- YZF-R9
- $12,000
At one year old, the Triumph Street Triple 765 RS sits around $11,200 while the Yamaha YZF-R9 runs about $12,000. That's an $800 gap in the Street Triple's favor. These figures come from earlier US market records, not live listings.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-three
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Street Triple 765 RS | YZF-R9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.9 in (836 mm) | 32.7 in (830 mm) |
| Wet weight | 414 lb (188 kg) | 437 lb (198 kg) |
| Street Triple 765 RS | YZF-R9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 765 cc | 890 cc |
| Power | 128 hp (96 kW) | 119 hp (88 kW) |
| Peak power at | 12,000 rpm | 10,000 rpm |
| Torque | 59 lb-ft (80 Nm) | 68 lb-ft (92 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 9,500 rpm | 7,000 rpm |
| Street Triple 765 RS | YZF-R9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 US gal (15 L) | 3.7 US gal (14 L) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Street Triple 765 RS | YZF-R9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Control | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
