In 2017 news got out that Honda was pulling out of Moto2. Fast-forward to 2019, and Triumph was there to replace Honda's 600cc four-cylinder with their new 765cc three-cylinder engine. And it has proven to be fertile ground for the British manufacturer to test the performance and reliability of the triple. At the same time, it's crazy to think that for a manufacturer with so much racing pedigree, Triumph, has no bikes in the ultimate Motorcycle race: MotoGP. When asked if the motorcycle company would ever consider having a team, Triumph CPO Steve Sargent basically said 'nope'. And as amazing as it would be to see a Triumph team down at the MotoGP paddocks, fans will just have to settle for the Triumph engine being used in all the Moto2 bikes.

The good news is that a limited amount of motorcycle fanatics just got one step closer to being on a Moto2 bike themselves. Triumph had recently announced an ultra exclusive, limited edition version of their popular Street Triple 765. The best part is that it will be using everything Triumph had learned from Moto2. It will come in two color schemes and with a host of premium, track-ready features and only 765 of them will be made.

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Highest Spec Street Triple

Triumph street-triple
Triumph Motorcycles
Motorcycle on stand facing right in dark room.

When it comes to special, exclusive motorcycle models, what you typically see is a splash of new color, some carbon fiber work and a unit number stamped somewhere on the chassis. That's not what you get with the Street Triple Moto2 Edition. To be fair, you do get all of that, however it'll all be packed into an already impressive package of the RS model. So let's get all the technical bits out of the way.

This Moto2-derived, inline triple, liquid-cooled engine will give you 128 bhp and 59 lbs of torque, with a wet weight of just 414 lbs. The frame and swingarm are made from lightweight aluminum. Front and rear suspension come courtesy of Öhlins, allowing for adjustable compression, rebound damping and preload. Brakes are top of the line Brembo systems, which have dual front floating disks with 4-piston radially mounted calipers and a single disc at the back. Optimized Cornering ABS and Cornering Traction Control is included, along with Front Wheel Lift Control. Beyond all the safety stuff, the Moto2 Edition has a slip & assist clutch, 5 ride modes (Rain, Road, Sport, Track and Custom), LED lighting and a TFT display.

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Unique Racing Touches On The Moto2 Edition

Triumph street-triple-moto2 fork
Triumph Motorcycles
Close up of the motorcycle steering column and handlebars

So what makes the Moto2 Edition of the Triumph Street Triple 765 really that different? To emphasize its racing pedigree, and differentiate it from the RS model, Triumph changed its stance thanks the Öhlins suspension components front and back. A different set of handlebars further drive the racing point home, they are a full 3 inches lower and 2 inches further forward compared to the stock bars. Triumph also shorted the wheelbase to 55 inches to improve the turn-in rate. There are two color variants, Triumph Racing Yellow and Crystal White, that essentially flip the colors from the frame and accents to the tank and rear seat cowl. The 5-inch full color TFT display has a unique Moto2 startup and Pirelli Supercorsa SP V3 tires come as standard. The rest of the bike is decked out in Moto2 branding, which includes the logos in the cockpit and on the body, along with the unique, limited edition model number.

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A Triumph Forged By The Race Track

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Triumph Motorcycles
Motorcycle riding into camera on race track

Triumph went all in on making the Street Triple Moto2 as track-ready as possible. Make no mistake, this is not the kind of bike you get as a daily commuter, though it is more than capable of handling the streets. Nor would you want to take it on a cross-country trip. Your back and arms would give out on day one. No, this motorcycle has one purpose, and one purpose only. It is a plutonium grade track weapon. Consider the amount of racing tech Triumph crammed into its lightweight chassis, and the adjustable Cornering ABS is there to handle optimum braking at the highest levels of lean angle. Switchable Cornering Traction Control is so advanced it continuously calculates your lean angle to ensure proper torque and slip rate control. The Öhlins suspension is premium and fully adjustable. The speed of the triple is matched only by its Brembo stopping power, linked with Cornering ABS. And the steeper rake and raised back end forces the rider into an aggressive attack position. Finally, to complete the race package, Triumph added a dedicated track mode, lap timer and a Shift Assist up-and-down quickshifter.

Short of giving us another Daytona, this is Triumph's best effort to get us off the streets and onto the racetrack. But even though that's where the Moto2 Edition of the Street Triple will feel most at home, pointing it at curvy road instead won't lessen any of the thrill. Yes, racing has been spliced into its DNA, but the word 'Street' is still in its name and at its core. So the bike shouldn't be relegated to the garage, while waiting for track day. It is a street fighting roadster that Triumph designed for everyday fun, just like the rest of the triples in its stable. It just so happens, that it has Moto2 genetics coursing through every carbon fiber of its being.