Triumph Street Triple Gains from Moto2 Tech

Winning on Sunday and selling on Monday might not be such a catchphrase anymore, but surely a manufacturer stands to gain a certain something if their engine is tried and tested on the MotoGP race tracks and then becomes the basis for a road bike. In this case, Moto2, where Triumph has been providing the MotoGP feeder class with engines for the past few years. That 765 tech will soon become available in the 2023 Street Triple range.

There hasn’t been a new Street Triple 765 since the deal was done but there will be soon for Triumph is set to release its updated three-model middleweight road range. Unsurprisingly, it will be the most powerful 765 line-up to date. Triumph describes the RS model as “the definitive new streetfighter…which sets a whole new benchmark for performance naked sports”. Fightin’ talk that.

But wait, there’s more. The British firm is also introducing a limited-run Street Triple 765 Moto2 Edition, said to be the highest spec and “most focused Street Triple ever”. Think Moto2 tech for the road. There will be 1330 in total, 765 in each of the two colour schemes. They also come with a unique Moto2 start-up screen and an individually numbered top yoke. A modernised Daytona 675 then.

We’ve long believed that the middleweight sector is ideally suited for local conditions; we just don’t have the right types of roads where you can legally unleash the litre-plus weapons. But the middleweights genuinely work well here, humming along happily at 100km/h. And being lightweights, the serious ones at any rate, they’re perfectly at home in the cut and thrust of our more interesting backblocks roads, you know the ones we mean. Here lightweight agile bikes like Triumph’s 765 RS are right at their tastiest.

Anyhow, the Moto2 experience means Triumph has been able to increase torque and throttle responsiveness across all three of the 2023 Triumph 765 models. 

With the engine upgrades, which include new components and a higher compression ratio, the base R model now pumps out 88kW (120PS) while the two other models get 96kW (130PS). All three come with peak torque of 80Nm at 9500rpm, a noticeable kick beginning at 7500rpm.

With shorter gearing they also promise to be sharper performers, the quickest Street Triples yet. Helping with power delivery is a less restrictive exhaust system that highlights the distinctive soundtrack of the IL3 engine. Triumph says the traditional low end grunt and high end power that are part and parcel of the Street Triple experience are amplified for 2023. 

There are four ride modes for the R model, Road, Rain, Sport and Individual, while the RS and M2E benefit from a Track mode with electronic intervention set into the background. 

All three also benefit from a standard bidirectional quickshifter mechanism, with an engineered throttle blip during downshifts, improving stability when downshifting into corners. Helping to get the most out of the engine are cornering ABS and cornering traction control, the latter switchable. The chassis has also been uprated for enhanced agility, particularly for the top models, while handlebars are also wider by 12mm. 

A new gullwing swingarm is said to improve stability at speed, while providing precise predictable chassis behaviour. The Moto2 Edition benefits from fully-adjustable Öhlins suspension and clip-on handlebars. Showa BPF forks and an Ohlins shock grace the RS. Both the M2E and the RS get sharper steering rake and a raised back end for faster turning. They ride on Diablo Supercorsa SP V3 rubber, a road legal tyre that’s said to be equally at home on track. The R variant comes with ContiRoad tyres.

Street Triple R comes with radial-mount M4.32 calipers. The big boys have Brembo Stylema brakes (four-piston front calipers and 310mm rotors). Linked brakes and adjustable brake levers are standard.

Each model features a TFT display, the top two getting larger five-inch instruments. LED lighting is a given, the RS and Moto2 Edition with distinctively shaped DRLs. A lap timer is included on the RS and Moto Edition for track day use.

Finishing off the upgraded range is more aggressive bodywork and race-derived 765 livery.

The Moto2 Edition alone comes with carbon fibre bodywork. Seat heights range from 826 to 839mm but a low seat option is available for all three, cutting 28mm from ride height. If that’s insufficient the top two models can have their rear suspension lowered by a further 10mm.

The Street Triple R is available in grey and white colours, the RS in silver, red or yellow base colours, and the M2E in yellow and silver or white and yellow. More than 50 accessories will be available, including cruise control (RS and M2E only), fly screens, heated grips, pillion grab handles and luggage options.

The bikes come with a two-year unlimited mileage warranty and 10,000km service intervals. Expect the new range here early next year when pricing will also be announced.