Motorcycles

The new Moto2 engine is a Triumph 765cc triple

The new Moto2 engine is a Triumph 765cc triple
From streetbike to supernova: Triumph's 765cc triple is set to take over as the sole engine for Moto2 from 2019 onwards
From streetbike to supernova: Triumph's 765cc triple is set to take over as the sole engine for Moto2 from 2019 onwards
View 16 Images
Triumph's Street Triple family
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Triumph's Street Triple family
Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: the new spec engine for Moto2
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Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: the new spec engine for Moto2
Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: revised narrower engine cases for Moto2
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Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: revised narrower engine cases for Moto2
Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: three cylinders for the #2 class in GP
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Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: three cylinders for the #2 class in GP
Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: intakes
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Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: intakes
Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: Keihin injection
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Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: Keihin injection
Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: significant changes will be made to develop the motor for Moto2 use
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Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: significant changes will be made to develop the motor for Moto2 use
From streetbike to supernova: Triumph's 765cc triple is set to take over as the sole engine for Moto2 from 2019 onwards
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From streetbike to supernova: Triumph's 765cc triple is set to take over as the sole engine for Moto2 from 2019 onwards
Triumph's Street Triple family
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Triumph's Street Triple family
Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: the new spec engine for Moto2
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Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: the new spec engine for Moto2
Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: revised narrower engine cases for Moto2
11/16
Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: revised narrower engine cases for Moto2
Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: three cylinders for the #2 class in GP
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Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: three cylinders for the #2 class in GP
Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: intakes
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Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: intakes
Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: Keihin injection
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Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: Keihin injection
Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: significant changes will be made to develop the motor for Moto2 use
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Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: significant changes will be made to develop the motor for Moto2 use
From streetbike to supernova: Triumph's 765cc triple is set to take over as the sole engine for Moto2 from 2019 onwards
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From streetbike to supernova: Triumph's 765cc triple is set to take over as the sole engine for Moto2 from 2019 onwards
View gallery - 16 images

The MotoGP paddock will soon ring with the whistling tune of three-cylinder engines, as Triumph has announced it will take over from Honda as the sole supplier of Moto2 spec engines from 2019.

It's a step up in capacity for the Moto2 class, which until now has used a modified CBR600RR engine. The new engine will be based on the 765cc motor from Triumph's 2017 Street Triple, which will make race teams happy, as it's much narrower than Honda's 600cc 4-cylinder.

Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: significant changes will be made to develop the motor for Moto2 use
Triumph's Street Triple 765 engine: significant changes will be made to develop the motor for Moto2 use

Modifications to the donk will include revised inlet and exhaust ports for optimized gas flow, titanium valves and stiffer valve springs to lift the rev limit, a lower output race kit alternator, a taller first gear, a tuneable slipper clutch, a Magneti Marelli race ECU, narrower engine covers and a slightly modified sump for improved header routing.

Final power figures haven't been announced, but current Moto2 bikes make upwards of 140 horses, and Spirit Motorcycles is making more than 180 out of a stroked-out Triumph 675 for its ludicrous GP Sport R.

Triumph's Street Triple family
Triumph's Street Triple family

It's an interesting choice – the Street Triple isn't even a sportsbike, it's a naked roadster developed for real-world torque not crazy racetrack horsepower. That will all change, with ExternPro preparing to work the engine over for Moto2 use.

Initial feedback from test rider Julian Simon is good: "The engine feels strong and in particular the mid-range is very impressive," Simon said after testing the new engine at Aragon. "The feel between the throttle and the rear wheel is very direct and controllable. The general feeling is very good and the engine already shows great potential."

Check out a video animation below.

Introducing the Triumph Moto2 765cc triple engine

Source: Triumph

View gallery - 16 images
2 comments
2 comments
KirkHarrington
The article is an odd mix of staff writing, press release and quotes. Reality is, the engine has roots in the Daytona 675 supersort bike. When the Tiger XC was developed Triumph modified that 675 into a version of the engine you see here. It was after that development that the Street III got the engine and it's current state of tune. I would have thought that the writer may have been more willing to go through those development steps but maybe there was a word limit and editing scrapped that info.
Martin Hone
Not a 'sportbike' engine ? Sorry, meant motor or donk......