New Triumph Street Triple R breaks cover for 2020

Following in the tyre tracks of the entry level S and range topping RS, Triumph has confirmed the 2020 Street Triple R – and the surprising news is that it will cost £400 less than the model it replaces.

The Street Triple R has been one of the most popular models in the Triumph range, ever since the first generation Street Triple R 675 was launched in 2009, and the new, Euro5 compliant, Street Triple R carries on this tradition with a combination of sharp performance, sporty suspension and a keen price tag.

As before, the Street Triple R sports a version of the highly acclaimed 765cc triple that’s also used by all bikes in the Moto2 world championship. In this incarnation, Triumph are claiming a peak power of 117bhp at 12,000rpm, a similar output to the outgoing model, with maximum torque of 77Nm at 9400rpm. As before, the R not only sits between the S and the RS in spec, but also in the power stakes, where it gives up a few ponies to the £1400 more expensive range topper.

Indeed price is one of the key attractions of the Street Triple R. By dropping the price to  £8,900, Triumph has priced the R right alongside the likes of the Kawasaki Z900 and Yamaha MT-09. That’s some tough competition but based on the performance of the previous Street Triple R, the Hinckley company will feel confident in taking up the challenge.

Broadening the appeal of the Triumph is a ‘Low Ride Height’ version, with a seat height of 780mm, 45mm less than the standard model. Far from simply having a reshaped saddle, the ‘low’ version also has revised suspension to make it one of the lowest naked sports bikes on the market.

The motor has been reworked to meet the latest Euro5 regulations, which are aimed at producing cleaner, quieter and more efficient engines. Triumph says that the work carried out on the 2020 Street Triple R has led to 7% reduction in inertia, which in turn leads to a more responsive motor, while the revised airbox and exhaust is said to give a crisper soundtrack under acceleration.

The specification includes three riding modes (Road, Rain and Sport) with ABS and traction control, as well as a quickshifter that works up and down the ‘box. Like the Kawasaki and Yamaha, there’s fully adjustable suspension front and rear – in this case Showa’s renowned Big Piston Forks – while the high specification brake calipers come courtesy of Italian stopping specialists Brembo. Tyres too are well specified as standard, with Pirelli Diablo Rosso III rubber fitted from the factory.

Styling has been sharpened up, although to the naked eye you’d be hard pressed to tell the differences between the latest model and the previous generation. The LED headlights are new, and the bodywork has been also updated. The new silencer remains neat and tidy, despite having to adopt the latest Euro5 emissions regulations, and the mirrors have been reshaped. Two colour options are available, gloss black or matt silver, with the signature Street Triple R red subframe and hand-painted detailing on the wheels.

As in previous years, Triumph has produced a virtual brochure full of accessories for owners who want to customise their machines with factory developed modifications. Over 60 official accessories are available for the Street Triple R, including the ever popular colour coordinated belly pan and seat cowl, a small windscreen, LED indicators, CNC machined mirrors and fluid reservoirs. Italian exhaust manufacturer Arrow also continues its long association with Triumph, producing a slip on silencer for the 2020 model, while practical mods include waterproof soft luggage and integrated heated handlebar grips.