Changes to the Triumph line-up for 2009

-- Changes to the Triumph line-up for 2009
By, Trevor Hedge

Triumph has unveiled a number of changes to their line-up for 2009.

The highly acclaimed Street Triple has been joined by a hotter sibling dubbed the Street Triple R.

More performance is promised due to the addition of higher specification inverted 41mm forks fully adjustable for preload, rebound and compression and a more sporting oriented piggyback shock absorber also offering the full gamut of adjustment.

Also borrowed from the fully faired Daytona 675 machine are radially mounted four-piston calipers and 308mm disc rotors.

A 5mm higher seat height and Magura handlebars change the rider angle of attach.

The Street Triple R also scores new livery with a Matt Graphite and orange graphics colour scheme or Matt Blazing Orange with grey graphics.

Completing the Street Triple R’s distinctive look are two all-new exclusive colour schemes: Matt Graphite with orange graphics and Matt Blazing Orange with grey graphics. Both colour options are further enhanced by black anodised forks and a two-tone black and graphite seat.

The fully faired Daytona 675 has also come under the microscope with a host of improvements aimed at increasing the performance of Triumph’s most cutting edge sportsbike. This really is a triple treat with three more horsepower and three kilograms less mass to transport. The baseline figures are a claimed 128hp and 162kg.

Daytona 675

The weight loss is mainly thanks to a remarkable 2kg weight saving in the exhaust system and new rims while the extra neddies are thanks to a revised cylinder head sporting new combustion chamber shape and valves.

In the whoa department Nissin have provided uprated monobloc calipers.

The engine now revs 450rpm higher and the once race-kit only hydraulic cam chain tensioner and higher ratio first gear are now on the standard production bike. One optional extra likely to be ticked on the order form of many buyers this time around will be the optional ‘plug and play’ quickshifter.

Styling has also been tweaked with a new headlight, screen and cockpit giving the machine a more aggressive face than seen before. Jet Black or Tornado Red are the colour options.

Triumph Australia are as yet to advise the arrival date or prices for the new Street Triple R or revised Daytona 675.

While Triumph has obviously spent a lot of time on their middleweight sports machines they have also been hard at work developing an all new Thunderbird Cruiser that is sure to be somewhat of a bruiser.

A 1600cc parallel twin provides the motivation for the Thunderbird Cruiser and transfers its grunt via a six speed gearbox and belt drive system. Triumph have advised that an ABS option will be available for the new cruiser but have not released any detailed technical specifications for the new model which is expected to be a 2010 model released in the latter half of 2009.

The highly successful Bonneville celebrates fifty years since inception and scores new alloy rims and shorter mudguards while the megaphone silencers have been robbed from the Thruxton parts bin.

Ergonomics have been addressed with the bars positioned closer to the rider and the seat height reduced by a full 25mm.

2009 also brings a new Bonneville SE model to the iconic range. A tachometer, chrome tank emblems and brushed alloy engine casings combine with a Jet Black or two-tone scheme mixing dark Pacific Blue with Fusion White to produce what will be no doubt yet another success story for the revitalised British brand.

Those after the true retro look will plump for the wire rimmed T100 model which scores new bar clamps, footpegs and minor detailing changes to differentiate it from its highly successful predecessor.

Triumph aficionados will want to get an order in quick to score one of 650 Anniversary Bonnevilles to be produced in recognition of the fifty year life of the model. Sporting a Meriden Blue and Exotic Orange colour scheme as per the original 1959 model designated the ‘Tangerine Dream’. Hand painted gold pinstripes complement the look along with an individually numbered brass place affixed to the bar clamps.

For higher quality images of the new and revised machines click the link below. Further below are also links to 1280x1024 desktop wallpaper of the new machines.