Middleweight motorcycles get meaner as they get cleaner
Triumph has added a new RS model to the Street Triple range, taking the total to three.
Recent streetbike releases from Triumph, Aprilia, and Kawasaki highlight the trend of mid-sized motorcycles snuggling up to the 1000cc barrier that used to confer a bike with full superbike status.
The coming Triumph Street Triple 765, Aprilia Shiver 900, and Kawasaki Z900 are all MY2017 models that take an existing 2016 bike and fit it with an enlarged engine so that meeting Euro 4 - which came into effect on January 1 this year - results in no loss of performance.
For the extra cee-cees easily compensates for the heavier, more restrictive exhaust and intake systems required to meet Euro 4, and this triumvirate of new streetbikes is following a similar emission standard strategy adopted a year earlier by the Ducati 959 Panigale and Hypermotard 939.
Ohlins rear shock, Pirelli Supercorsa tyres and Brembo's best brakes: RS the Street Triple most suited to track days.
As with the latter, the engines of the three bikes retain their top-end architecture, but enlargements to size of the cylinders create improved combustion gas pumping velocities through their cylinder heads. This helps improve throttle response and torque output, especially in the middle of the rev range, and buyers of all three new streetbikes from Triumph, Aprilia, and Kawasaki can expect them to be livelier rides than the models they replace.
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Base Street Triple 765 S has lower suspension and a 20mm-lower seat that'll make it more suitable for urban use.
Triumph has added an extra model to the new Street Triple 765 range, with an RS version added to the R and base specification tiers.
Where the previous two-model Street Triple 675 range used the same powertrain and only had relatively minor changes to separate the R version from the base, the three new 765 models each produce different power and torque outputs, feature different electronic riding aid packages, different cockpits, and are also defined by their brake and suspension differences.
Starting points for all three models include a 166kg dry weight figure (2kg less than the Street Triple 675 R), increases in both bore and stroke that take total engine capacity to 765cc, and shorter gearing for the first and second ratios of the six-speed gearbox.
R and RS Street Triple 765S get colour TFT screen along with self-cancel indicators, and a 'joystick' to change riding modes.
New bodywork gives the 765 'Striples' a more nose-down stance, while the one-piece seat looks more superbike-like than before. A flyscreen is fitted to all three models and now incorporates an air intake to improve engine breathing. Along with the new radiator cowls, side panels and tail-piece, this gives the 765 models a more aggressive attitude.
It's the new aluminium twin-spar frame that allows the ST 765 models to carry heavier exhausts and catalytic converters while being 2kg lighter. The new alloy 'gull-wing' swingarm also contributes to the weight saving along with a host of lighter components fitted elsewhere on the bike. The latter includes the 17in wheels fitted to all three models. These wear a 120/70 front and 180/55 rear tyre on all versions, with the base S and R getting Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa tyres, while the RS gets the traction enhancement of Pirelli Supercorsa SPs.
Engine tunes, electronics, and brake/suspension specs define each of the models. The S produces 83kW (111bhp) and 73Nm, and gets basic traction control/ABS, and lower preload-adjustable suspension that reduces travel to 110mm at the front and 124mm at the rear.
Piston stroke increase has added another 8Nm of torque to Aprilia's V-twin streetbike.
The R is likely to be the best seller with its 87kW/77Nm outputs, four riding modes, self-cancelling indicators, DRLs, 5in full-colour TFT instrumentation screen, and Showa Big Piston forks and rear monoshock that offer 115mm and 134mm of fully-adjustable travel. Where the S gets twin-piston Nissin front calipers, the R upgrades to four-piston Brembo M4.32 monoblocs.
The RS takes this stopper hardware upgrade a step further, moving to Brembo's best M50 front calipers. Which is fitting as it's the new 'Striple' most likely to see some trackday action with its 90kW (121bhp) power peak, and Ohlins STX40 rear shock that extends wheel travel to 134mm. A 'track' mode is added to the electronics suite of the RS as well, along with a lap timer.
The new Street Triple 765s should arrive in New Zealand showrooms in the second quarter of 2017, wearing prices that reflect their added hardware and software. The outgoing 675 models occupied prices positions of $16,990 to $19,450.
Most powerful of these new streetbikes, the Kawasaki Z900 ABS, might also be the most affordable in NZ.
This is pricing territory likely to be shared by the new Shiver 900 and Kawasaki Z900.
The former V-twin features an 11mm piston stroke increase that will take total cubic capacity to 896cc, and place 90Nm of thrust on the riding menu. New, more adjustable Kayaba front forks, traction control, and lighter wheels are other new features of the MY2017 Shiver. The outgoing Shiver 750 occupied a price position of $14,990, but don't be surprised to see a couple of grand added to the tag of the new 900.
Pricing has yet to be announced for the Kawasaki Z900 ABS, which brings back one of the most famous model names in the history of Team Green.
The new 948cc inline four should out-punch its Aprilia and Triumph competition with its 94kW (126bhp) of peak power, while a new steel-tube trellis frame and Nissin four-piston front calipers are budget-friendly features that hint that the newest Zed could offer the best bang-for-buck of any of the new MY2017 streetbikes.
- Stuff
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