Four new Triumph Street Triples for 2017?

Strong rumours and a reported leak from a customer survey point to Triumph preparing to launch the new generation of the Street Triple. This time, it's likely to be an 800cc model, making around 125PS with a range of four variants in total. If this is true, this would be Triumph's first ground-up revamp for the extremely popular motorcycle that debuted in 2007 and then received a refresh to its current form in 2015. We expect the official announcement to come late next year, most probably at the EICMA show in Milan.

The news of the new Street Triple evidently comes from the details of a survey Triumph was conducting. These surveys are usually hush-hush and seek opinion from regular motorcyclists on the specification and appeal of new models. The data collected can sometimes lead to minor changes and is usually something a manufacturer will factor in before the pricing decisions are made.

Triumph develops motorcycles at its Spanish facility and it is here that two variants have been spotted testing. Also spotted was the facelift coming to the 2016 Speed Triple before an all-new model replaces that as a 2017 model next year alongside the new Street Triples.

While the Street Triple started out as a unique proposition with its displacement giving it torque and power advantages, the competition is serious and it's moved on. A number of triples are now on sale. The MV Agusta Brutale 800 (which is coming to India) is the most exotic of the lot but the real worry for Triumph is the new Yamaha 847cc range of three-cylinder motorcycles. The MT-09 is a naked, the Tracer is a touring variant and the new Retro Racer is styled on the lines of the Ducati Scrambler and has just come out.

Clearly, the market's trend of increasing displacement slightly is something Triumph must feel the need to respond to and a larger displacement Street Triple would be a natural solution. Triumph does have 800cc bikes - the Tiger 800 - and that engine is a longer stroke, less powerful version of the Street Triple's 675cc engine. But we suspect that the longer stroke configuration will interfere with the performance goals for the Street Triple 800 and that should mean either all-new engine or more likely a new variant based on the 675cc original.

Documentation from the survey shows a four-model spread for the new motorcycles all showing an unspecified displacement over 750cc. The base model is shown to offer 110PS, five more than the current motorcycle. This should point to a relatively mild tune that creates torque from low revs. The base Street Triple 800 gets traction control, non-adjustable suspension (preload on the rear only) and Nissin brakes (which are OEM on the Street Triple 675 as well). Note that the arrival of traction control signals that the new Street Triple is going to be ride-by-wire. The price suggested is very close to the current Street Triple 675 which suggests that the current 675cc model could be on its way out.

Above the base model is the Street Triple 800R which adds 5PS more, adjustable Showa suspension units, radially mounted (Nissin) brakes and three riding modes. This setup is indicatively priced £1,000 higher than the base model. This is an arrangement pretty similar to the current two-tier product line where both the Daytona and the Street Triple models add adjustable (Ohlins) suspension for the R models.

The new offerings are called the RT and RS. The RT is to be a sport tourer with 125PS with the same brakes and suspension as the R model. Triumph will add a seat cowl, power socket and perhaps the tyre pressure sensors that are part of its accessory catalogue as standard. The half fairing in the drawings accompanying the report is said to be optional. Add another £1,000 to the base for this bike.
The top model is to be the Street Triple RS800 which will be another £1,000 more expensive and sit at just over the £10,000 mark. This is intended to be the serious, sporting Street Triple with Brembo monobloc radial callipers, adjustable Ohlins suspension and two more riding modes including a Track mode.

The question that naturally arises is that whether this is just a survey and there are not actual new bikes. That could be true, but chances are the new Street Triples are coming. The Street Triple is growing old and is under pressure from new rivals. The spec sheets promise a new all-digital instrument display and this has been captured in the spy shots already.

Image source: MCN