TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE 765 R
Is it good enough to make a switch from the Japanese icon?
‘It feels like a grown-up motorcycle...’
What’s good about the Street Triple?
“Compared to the Yamaha, the Triumph is far more composed. As soon as I sat on it I instantly felt at home and this made me much more confident in the corners than on the MT. The Yamaha can be a bit light and twitchy at the front but the Triumph is beautifully planted yet just as sporty. I like the slightly sportier riding position on the R, which is less upright than the MT, and you get more of a sense of speed on the Triumph. I find the Yamaha’s quick-revving triple is deceptively fast, so I appreciated the smoother Triumph triple; its throttle response is much better and gearbox smoother. I like the dash on the Triumph and the overall feeling of refinement. The MT can feel childish, the Street Triple is quite grown up.”
What’s bad about it?
“The MT is more exciting and in some ways, engaging to ride than the refined and smooth Street Triple, mainly down to its quicker-revving engine but also its slightly flighty chassis. Despite just 1mm difference, the Triumph felt like it had a higher seat, which is an issue for shorter riders like myself, and its sidestand was really hard to locate when you come to a stop. Looks-wise, I like the Triumph but it is quite common; you see them everywhere, where the MT is rarer and stands out.”
Are you convinced?
“In 2021 I was torn between buying a Street Triple R and the MT-09. However, after a bad experience at a Triumph dealer, I opted for the Yamaha, so I was very interested to see if I had made the right choice. I love my MT-09 and it is very thrilling to ride but its quirky look doesn’t make me smile. The Triumph, on the other hand, does as it is far prettier. When my PCP deal expires on the MT next year, I will probably buy a Street Triple 765, and it may well be the R. I’d be tempted by the RS because of the extra bling but if money is tight, the R is not a compromise: it is a great bike.”
Q What are its rivals?
113bhp 68lb·ft 183kg (claimed) The GP replaces the standard 890 as the middle-spec Duke model with the 790 the lower and the R the top. Although no adjustability in its WP forks and the shock only getting adjustable preload, the GP has angle-responsive electronics.
117bhp 69lb·ft 189kg (claimed) The MT-09 has always punched hard in terms of spec and price and you get angle-responsive electronics, adjustable suspension and a up/down quickshifter as standard. The CP3 triple is the star and, in its recent 889cc guise, is astounding. The chassis isn’t
