All these accomplished machines prove you don’t need to spend big money to nab yourself an amazing new bike…
44 Triumph Street Triple R £9595 118bhp 189kg
46 Ducati Scrambler Icon £9995 72bhp 185kg
47 Kawasaki ZX-4RR £8806 76bhp 189kg
48 Husqvarna 701 Enduro £9799 73bhp 147kg (dry)
50 Royal Enfield Interceptor £6599 47bhp 217kg
51 Suzuki GSX-8S £8199 82bhp 202kg
52 KTM 790 Adventure £9999 94bhp 218kg
53 Triumph Tiger Sport 660 £8945 80bhp 206kg
54 Yamaha MT-09 £9810 117bhp 189kg
‘No other £10k bike has a higher level of equipment’
9 Triumph Street Triple R
THE LITTLE TRIUMPH fizzes with joy underneath me as we chase the sun, basking in the final glowing embers of an Indian summer. Driving hard from deep within its midrange, it fires out of the sunlit corners, sonorous at low rpm, high-pitched and aggressive as revs rise.
The nasally snarl, the hunger for revs and the elongated powerband all take me back to the Triumph sportsbikes that helped shape my motorcycling existence. The Street Triple range doesn’t run the same off-beat T-Plane crank set-up like bigger Triumphs, but it sounds and feels much better for it – this is a Trumpet that properly, erm, trumpets… It’s a glorious sound.
This particular bike has already covered itself in glory. The day before my ride it was crowned RiDE’s People’s Bike of the Year, voted the most enjoyable out of a line-up of some excellent 2023 bikes. It’s easy to see why – everything about the Street Triple R is exploitable and there are few bikes you gel with as easily, as instantly. For £9595 it’s blinding value for money.
The level of equipment is as impressive as it gets with a sub-£10k bike. The aluminium frame and swingarm are delicately cast, as are the sculpted aluminium wheels with their slim-waisted spokes. The Showa Big Piston Forks are fully adjustable, supple in their action but ultra-supportive, as is the fully adjustable Showa piggy-back rear shock.
The monoblock Brembo calipers are like something we’d have seen on a superbike a few years ago, but they are progressive and friendly in their action. There’s also a slipper clutch, full traction control and cornering ABS, an up/down quickshifter and an easy-to-read LCD/TFT hybrid dash.
It’s impressive – and when combined with excellent build quality, fit and finish you end up with a bike that feels truly special.
Built down to a price? Not a bit of it – it even makes you wonder why you would spend the money on the posher £11,295 Street Triple RS with its fancy Öhlins suspension and a modicum more power. Everything you need is right here.
Best of all is the democracy
