All Trials – Play It Like Wilkinson! – Used TRIUMPH

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Play her like Wilkinson !

All Trials - Play It Like Wilkinson! - Used TRIUMPH

Like rugby player Wilkinson, the Street Triple comes from England. Like him, she is solidly built, has a beautiful face but above all, like him, she distributes sacred kicks in the ass … A reason to kick her out of France ? Test…

Based on the excellent Daytona 675 (read), the Street Triple presents itself as the alternative to Japanese 4-cylinder roadsters and Italian twin cylinders.

Like her sister, French Supersport champion (yes indeed, read), the British skilfully chooses to play the card of differentiation … but only to a certain point! Because if its 675 cc Triple engine is truly atypical, its chassis is less.

All-aluminum frame and swingarm, Kayaba 41mm upside-down fork and same brand rear shock – Japanese, oops! -, 308 mm double disc front brake clamped by Nissin calipers: the Street Triple cannot claim the same singularity as a Buell !

Ditto in terms of look: it is "content" to take the double optic, the truncated rear and the high and short double pots of its illustrious sister the Speed ​​Triple (read). But can we really blame the Hinckley firm? After all, this "Baby Triple" fans of the brand and others have been asking for it for a long time. !

So depending on taste or mood, the deliberate choice of designers to "copy and paste" the style of the 1050 on the 675 can either be considered as a flagrant lack of imagination … or on the contrary seem obvious. crystal clear! Anyway, there is a fact that no one can deny: the "British Touch" is here! Japs and Ritals have better watch out…

Because the Street Triple openly targets the Monster, Shiver, Hornet, GSR and even the FZ6 and Z750, whose sales volumes are posting records in France! The Hinckley factory is therefore running at full speed and new Street Triple continue to cross the Channel to "invade" the continent..

The first French figures are moreover satisfactory: with 496 registrations at the end of October (read our), the Streeple – it’s easier to pronounce! – is already in the top 100 sales for 2007. But naturally, the 675 does not intend to stop there. !

To be competitive in concessions, Triumph had to align itself with the prices of competitors, or not to exceed the fateful bar of 7,500 euros. A goal almost achieved, since the small English currency is 7,590 euros … That is 391 more than the French bestseller (Z750), 591 more than the GSR, 410 more than the FZ6, 300 more than the Hornet, 5 more than the Monster 695 (replaced in 2008 by the 696) and 409 euros less than the Shiver.

But prices aren’t everything, especially when they’re so close and likely to vary from time to time – it’s almost Christmas, then sales! So much so that the real battle of the Street Triple will take place above all on the road….

Before getting on it, the owner notes that the general finish is of good quality, as illustrated for example by the passenger footrest plates which nicely match the shapes of the pots, the varnished inscriptions on the tank and the saddle or the return selector through the frame.

The "aviation type" brake hoses are well routed and the other cables are discreet. We even note the presence of angled valves to avoid getting the gloves dirty. Only the plastic parts framing the radiator and making up the front part of the meter can disappoint.

The handling of the small Triumph is very easy, whatever the size of the biker – or the biker. With the saddle and footrests placed much lower than on the Daytona and the handlebars much higher, the riding position is that of a welcoming mid-displacement roadster..

The dry weight limited to 167 kg is appreciable, as is the compactness of the engine block and the whole motorcycle. Easy…

However, by observing the dashboard – directly inherited from the Daytona – and by starting the 3-cylinder in line (still 12 valves with double overhead camshaft), the latent sportiness of the Street Triple is revealed in broad daylight. !

Certainly, compared to its sports version, the "urban" version of the 675 has lost a few horsepower: 125 for the Dayto, 108 for the "Streeple" but 106 hp for the two French "horse-less" versions. The sound of the two silencers is also slightly less aggressive than that of the pot housed under the saddle of the Supersport.

However, the gas shots remain accompanied by sharp climbs in the towers and a very pleasant hoarse growl. In addition, the maximum torque of 69 Nm of the "Streeple" is reached from 9,100 rpm while the 72 Nm maximum of the Daytona is found at 11,750 rpm. Likewise, the 106 legal horsepower is achieved at 11,700 rpm on the roadster, against 12,500 laps on the Supersport..

Thus, the little roadster shows impressive velocity, in the true sense of the word for someone who has just gotten off his school motorcycle CB500! Handle fully screwed in, the front wheel leaves the ground in 1st, or even 2nd. Finally, this easy to ride "Streeple" deserves an attention comparable to that given to a sports car….

From 2000 rev / min, "Ze Triple" accepts to tow and distils as the revs rise an exhilarating sensation of rise in power, devoid of hollow. The vocalizations of the silencers actively participate in the general feeling and no parasitic vibration disturbs the pilot’s joy. !

As on the Daytona, the range of use is very wide, ranging from quiet – but not stiff – 2,500 laps to furious 11,000 laps! Like larger displacement motorcycles, the Street Triple allows the rider to benefit from excellent pick-up from mid-revs, which the other 600s struggle to provide..

Thus the use of the gearbox – moreover very pleasant – is less frequent than on the Japanese and Italian competitors. The strong point of the Street Triple is undoubtedly its flexible, demonstrative and intoxicating water mill. Even a fellow like Chabal would succumb !

"One of the great things about the performance of this exceptional motorcycle is that you don’t have to do anything exceptional to enjoy it: the Street Triple produces a torque of over 60 Nm from 3500 rpm to 12,300 rpm / min", rightly underlines the firm of Hinckley which reworked"the injection but also the camshafts, the treatment of valves and segments as well as the exhaust manifold".

Only downside, the English roadster emits a whistle that can become boring on a long journey or in "peaceful driving". Acknowledging the primary transmission, the pinions of which are on the right, the technical team of Triumph France invokes "the three cylinders, whose setting at 120 ° produces a noise effectively different from the JapaneseFortunately, the sound of the pots makes it possible to overcome this inconvenience: it is even difficult to resist the temptation to emit "happy" unnecessary gas shots. !

Likewise, shy bikers who usually do not dare to lift the front wheel will find in this motorcycle a reassuring accomplice who can push the wisest to adopt a slightly "hooligan" behavior. "Made in Wilkinson" ass kicks forge character !

This playful side – "streetfighter", even Triumph will say – naturally tends to increase consumption: with an average recorded during our test at 6.9 liters per 100 km (confirmed by the on-board computer), we noted practically 1 liter more than during our review of the Daytona 675…

The more urban program must also be taken into account. It will be noted quite simply that the "Streeple" does not surprise by its consumption: carried out reasonably, its 17.4 liters of capacity make it possible to travel up to 300 km.

Regarding braking, here too the little Triumph offers something to entertain! However, the technical sheet may leave fans of the latest equipment wondering: "good bye" the four-piston radial calipers of the Daytona and "welcome" the classic two-piston calipers … Damned ?

In the end, if the 308mm discs aren’t bitten as fiercely as on the Supersport, the roadster’s are pinched effectively and the front wheel can be locked in much less time than it takes to write it down! Here again, the new licenses who will have chosen this bike to start will have to be careful during the first big braking on the wet as in the dry….

Dosable and powerful, the braking of the Street Triple is a success. It does not require much effort from the adjustable lever in spacing (we also regret the lack of adjustment of the clutch lever). The front axle in general is pleasant, easy to put on the angle and reacts very well to imperfections of the road or driving.

This feeling of control and the confidence acquired over the miles is increased by the fitting of original sports tires: Dunlop Qualifiers. Very soft, 120/70 front and 180/55 rear tires give the Street Triple secure downforce and deserve to be released on the track, as Triumph suggests in its brochures. !

The rear end of the bike, on the other hand, would benefit from being a little less dry … The handling is exemplary despite a few small jumps during strong acceleration out of a bumpy curve, but the comfort is insufficient for a roadster worthy of the name . Too bad because the reception of the saddle – fine – turns out to be suitable a posteriori.

Another point that can play against the "Streeple": its lack of functionality in the city. Thus, the excessively large turning radius limits maneuvers, whether between cars or to slip to a solid attachment point for parking.

Likewise, the lack of space under the saddle – inherent in many current motorcycles – condemns the owner to choose a simple disc unit if he does not want to carry a real lock in a bag … or taped to the saddle? However, this U or this chain is sorely lacking for the protection of a motorcycle which risks becoming highly coveted….

During long journeys, the pilot’s lack of protection is felt: stalled at 140 km / h counter – or 7000 rev / min in 6th gear – the Street Triple puts its driver to the test. In addition to the aesthetic gain, the purchase of the optional screen should be considered for those who wish to cut more roads than streets..

Those will perhaps try the duo … which requires a complacent passenger! Without reaching the extreme discomfort of the Speed ​​Triple, the Street forces the courageous rookie to hold on firmly to the "supporter", the little "Wilkinson" having more than enough to kick two asses at once! Here too, the purchase of the optional passenger handle may prove useful. The buyer is free to re-invoice the excess to his passenger if the latter really insists on it !

In the end, Triumph offers a medium-displacement roadster ostensibly oriented towards arsenal and pleasure. And on these plans there, the test is undoubtedly … transformed !

Watch out for the little pink paper, as it is easy to drive faster than is allowed in town or on the secondary network … On the highway, however, the lack of protection may be beneficial. !

In summary, the little 675 cc Triple hides very high level performance and the cycle part allows you to make the most of this fabulous potential. On the road, we even prefer the Street Triple to the too uncomfortable Daytona..

However, for those who expect comfort, docility and practicality from a roadster, the Street Triple is not the ultimate weapon. It’s more of a "lethal weapon", for those who want to go driving, messing around but certainly not working … except their wheelies ?

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