2013 Triumph Street Triple Sheds Weight, Gains New Chassis

Not that the outgoing Triumph Street Triple was a piggish slouch, but the redesigned 2013 model promises a more focused handling experience with a package that weighs up to 13 pounds less than its predecessor thanks to a new aluminum twin-spar frame with a high pressure die cast rear subframe. Handling on the new bike has also been aided by low-mounted exhaust and redistributed weight balance; counteracting the mass centralization improvements is a reduction in rake (to 24.1 degrees) and an increase in trail by .5 mm.

Packing a liquid-cooled, 675cc triple that churns 105 horsepower and 50 ft-lbs of torque, the 2013 model has also been tweaked for better lower and middle-end power delivery. Though both models come with switchable ABS, the "R" version brings higher quality suspension with greater adjustability and revised chassis geometry for the different setup. And while poseurs might go for the R's red subframe, wheel pinstripes, and radiator shroud just because it looks cool, hardcore knee draggers will have their hearts (and pocket books) in the right place when the bikes become available in January, 2013.

What price (Triumph) glory? The Street Triple and Street Triple R's MSRPs won't be revealed 'till later this month.

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Photos © Triumph