The new Triumph Street Triple S variant is the lowest of the three Street Triple models. Yet, it has a lot to woo riders and naked-bike lovers. With its iconic twin headlamps, it is the perfect embodiment of what a street fighter should look like. The rear has a sleek tail lamp that tapers off towards the inside along the frame of the bike. The engine area is the only part that looks bulky, albeit well-built.
The only design choice that put me off was the side stand. It is placed very close to the foot pegs and is the same colour as them. Another thing that some riders with shorter height would struggle a bit with would be the 810mm seat height. Otherwise, the seat cushion is comfortable and the foot pegs have also been position well to provide a good riding experience for both long and short trips.
Unlike the outgoing model, this one gets a pillion seat for added convenience. The instrument cluster consists of an LCD panel and an analogue tachometer. You can view current speed, trip distance, toggle riding modes and check fuel level on the LCD panel, which is easily visible under bright sunlight.
The new Street Triple S comes with a new 765cc engine derived from the Daytona. This is definitely a step up over the previous incarnation of the bike that had a 675 cc engine. The engine delivers a thrilling performance and you get instant power at the slightest of inputs. The light weight also makes the bike very nimble. You can swivel in and out of traffic with great ease.
There are two riding modes — rain and road — which change the dynamics of the bike and how it responds to throttle inputs. There is switchable traction control and ABS to make your rides safe. The twin 310mm discs upfront combined with a single 220mm disc in the rear have a lot of braking power.
The new Street Triple S is pitted against other street fighters like the Kawasaki Z900, DSK Benelli TNT 899 and the yet-to-be launched Ducati 797. Personally, I feel the Street Triple S is one of the best looking naked two-wheelers right now.