The Motor Report Auto News Blog

Have you ever seen ducks being force-fed friends? It’s a slightly untidy business involving a funnel being inserted into the flat-footed little chap’s neck and a half-bucket of steroids and other ‘health foods’ (for ducks) being tipped therein. Certainly gives the duck a bit of edge in the ‘duck-house’… (“Holy sheee-itt, check out the giblets on Lenny.”)

This is what Triumph has done to its feisty little street weapon, the Street Triple 675, to make the new higher-spec 2009 Street Triple R. That ‘R’ signifies the addition of a measured cup of mongrel and two pinches of bastard to give the little brother of the knuckle-dusting Speed Triple some extra ‘mean-streets’ cred.

With fully-adjustable 41mm upside-down forks, a top-spec rear monoshock, and radially-mounted four piston calipers on twin 308mm brake discs (both brakes and suspension having been borrowed from the Daytona 675), the new 2009 Street Triple R promises handling and stopping power to rival bigger and nastier supersport machines.

Underneath is Triumph’s proven fuel-injected 675cc three-cylinder unit, producing 108PS at 11,700rpm. It’s a smooth enough unit and, for a smaller middleweight machine, well up-to-the-mark moving the Street Triple R’s 167kg. With wide, Magura handlebars, and a 5mm taller seat height, the Street Triple R should be a fun steer when out slicing the black-top.

There’s a new colour as well - Matt Graphite with orange graphics, or, come April 2009, Matt Blazing Orange option with grey graphics. (Steady. Don’t go too far over the top there Triumph with the colour choices.) Both colour options are set off with black anodised forks and a two-tone black and graphite seat.

So, look for it in dealers soon. Pricing? Triumph has announced a recommended retail price of $13,490 plus dealer delivery and the usual government on-road theft charges.

Ride free friends. The Dirk.

Here’s some specs to mull over.