IT HARDLY seems fair, does it? I mean, Triumph already has the best naked middleweight motorcycle on the market by a margin in the Street Triple. And then, while its competitors desperately try to come up with a bike worthy of challenging it, Triumph comes along and deals them a hammer blow.

So how exactly has this been achieved? By adding an 'R', that's how. That's right, the Street Triple R is an upgraded version of what has been an astonishing sales success for the Hinckley-based firm. With the waiting list for the standard model only just cleared, the new 'R' offers high-spec cycle parts to match the bike's ability. Oh, and some rather nifty graphics, too.

As such, for an extra £800 or so you get fully adjustable suspension along with stronger radial four-pot brakes, a new seat, Magura handlebars, and... that's it. You see, improving on perfection is always going to be a tricky business, so let me just say this now: If you've got a standard Street Triple on order from Fowlers, don't worry, I can assure you you will not be disappointed.

But if you've got the spare cash, you'll be over the moon with a Triple R. Stylish and cool, this Triumph still looks like nothing else on the road (apart, of course, from its big brother the Speed Triple). The 675cc motor is completely unchanged from the standard model and that's a good thing. Lifted from the Daytona and remapped for greater urge in lower revs, it offers the kind of torque you get from a V-twin with the top end rush you get from an inline four while still returning on average 40 to the gallon. The beauty is, it does it all so smoothly. But it's the 41mm USD forks and piggyback shock from Kayaba, along with the Nissin stoppers that will gain you the extra 'rispeck' in the pub car park.

Aside from cosmetics, the biggest change to speak of is the adjustment to the bike's geometry. The Triple R's combination of steeper rake and less trail allows it to turn sharper and steer quicker than before. The forks are shorter and the shock is longer and firmer, putting more weight over the front of the bike to create a slightly more hunched, more aggressive riding position than the standard model. Sadly, the chance was not taken to try to improve the Triumph's steering lock which is woeful. Fortunately the Triple R weighs little more than Kylie Minogue after a good breakfast and can be wheeled and shunted around with ease, which is great news both for shorter riders and for those of the fairer sex.

But back to the engine, which is really what this gem of a bike is all about. Fired up, the motor has a distinctive whine that comes with the triple's unusual layout. Flick the throttle from tickover and the response is instant. The needle races round the rev counter and back in the blink of an eye. Tap it in gear and pull away and you’ll soon notice the revs come as freely under load as they do in neutral -- there are no issues here with dodgy fuelling. Top speed is not overly impressive at a 'mere' 141mph, but the stunning power to weight ratio means acceleration anywhere between zero and 120mph is phenomenal, and I'll give you a couple of examples.

If you count to four as quickly as you can out loud, that's pretty much exactly 0.4 of a second. And that's exactly how much slower to 60mph this bike is than a Suzuki Hayabusa. In other words, at just 3.3 seconds that's astonishingly quick, and indeed faster than a lot of bigger bikes and race reps. But the party doesn't stop there. Roll-on acceleration in top gear from 40 to 120mph takes just 13 seconds. That's a whole second quicker than an R6, and an unbelievable three seconds faster than a Tiger 1050. The flyweight Street Triple R's phenomenal mid-range acceleration in every gear makes it not only easy to get the most out of but also an enormous pleasure to ride. The tyres stick round the corners like superglue while the trick suspension soaks up the lumps and bumps.

But the best part of all is the soundtrack. Even without the addition of the gorgeous Arrow cans which my demo model was fitted with, the Street Triple R makes the most incredible howling noise between 6,000 and 10,000 rpm. To say the sound is highly addictive would be an understatement. If you want your spine to tingle, the hairs on the back of your neck to stand up and your adrenal glands to run riot every time you ride, you really do want one of these.

The Street Triple R was kindly loaned by Fowlers Motorcycles of Bath Road, Bristol. For more information about test rides, call Fowlers on 0117 977 0466.

Article written: November 24, 2008

OUR STEER ON THE STREET TRIPLE R

Price: £ 6,220

Engine: 675 cc, liquid cooled, inline triple

Top speed: 141 mph

Power: 95 bhp at 11,750 rpm

Torque: 45 lb/ft at 10,00 rpm

Weight: 167 kg

Seat Height: 805 mm

Fuel capacity: 17.4 litres

by Jon Bennett