TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE HISTORY: Streetfighter Saga

The 102,807 examples of the Triumph Speed Triple in all its myriad guises which Triumph has built from 1994 up to November 1st, 2021, mark this as one of the most successful of the many highly individual models which John Bloor’s engineers have concocted since he relaunched the historic British brand exactly three decades ago, when the first Hinckley Triumphs were produced for the 1991 model year.

Yes, folks – that’s how many Triumph Speed Triples have been built in the past quarter century-plus of sweeping streets and terrorising traffic-lights, while making such a key contribution to Triumph’s bottom line in doing so.

From being a somewhat crude concoction when first created in 1994 by simply deleting the bodywork from the threecylinder Daytona 900 sportbike, the Triumph Speed Triple was transformed into a serious streetrod with the introduction two years later in 1996 of the T509 version complete with John Mockett’s so-distinctive goggle-eyed styling, and a fuel-injected 885cc motor. This was replaced in 1999 by a new-generation 79 x 65 mm 955cc engine producing the same 108 bhp dyno readings, but with much improved torque. This had a makeover in 2002, with the introduction of a power-up version of the 955cc motor, delivering a boost in power to 118 bhp, plus increased peak torque of 100Nm. Then in 2005 Triumph delivered heaps more power as well as acres more grunt by stroking the engine to produce 79 x 71.4 mm dimensions, and a claimed 128 bhp from the resultant 1050cc motor, as well as a nice increase in torque to 105Nm.