When Triumph began manufacturing motorbikes again in the 1990s, it brought out a range of striking machines based on great models of the past. But the company wasn't steeped in nostalgia; it also focused on producing new, world-beating bikes that hadn't been seen before in any form. One of these was the Triumph Speed Triple, a brand-new motorbike that capitalised on the growing trend for €streetfighter' bikes.

Streetfighters were originally the preserve of motorcycle enthusiasts, who would modify their own bikes to achieve a more aggressive look. The Triumph Speed Triple, first manufactured in 1994, was one of the first - if not the first - factory-built streetfighter bike. By manufacturing its bike early on, Triumph gained an advantage in this market - though other companies soon followed suit, including Honda, with its X11 in 1999. A more contemporary example is Ducati's aptly-named Streetfighter, which was launched in 2009.

The original customised streetfighters were essentially sport bikes with their fairing removed. The fairing is the shell placed over the frame of a motorcycle that reduces air drag, protects engine components from damage in the event of an accident, and stops the rider from getting too cold. By taking the fairing off, the engine components are exposed, giving the bike a less sleek, more powerful appearance. In addition to this, larger headlights were often added, along with upright, motocross-style handlebars and louder mufflers - all of which contribute to the €mean' look of the bike. This customisation could be time-consuming, so factory-built streetfighters such as the Triumph Speed Triple offered a quick, cost-effective way to achieve the popular look - with the assurance that comes with owning a brand-new bike.

Later on, streetfighters began to be produced with customised frames as well, because the tubular steel frames used in early superbikes in the 1970s and 80s tended to be quite weak.

These tough-looking bikes were popularised in Europe, initially, although they went on to be fashionable throughout the world. Inspired by the beautiful Japanese bikes that were produced in the late 1970s and early 1980s, streetfighters were produced by hard-up UK bikers in an effort to replicate this style on a budget - possibly in part because they couldn't afford to replace fairings that had been damaged in accidents. Huggy Leaver, who sang in a punk band and - more recently - acted in UK soap Eastenders, is a motorcycle enthusiast whose admiration for these bikes may have contributed to their popularity in Britain.

In London, in the late 1980s, €ratted' streetfighters were a common sight. A rat bike, in rider terminology, is a bike that has been damaged or has fallen apart with age, but has been kept running with a succession of quick, botched repairs. The emergence of mass-produced bikes in a similar style such as the Triumph Speed Triple meant that a comparable aesthetic could be achieved (though with a much €cleaner' look) without having to know how to carry out these €kludge' repairs.

As for the name, it is believed that a British bike builder and photojournalist first used the term to describe a customised Harley-Davidson sports bike. Considering the continued popularity of bikes such as the Honda X11 and the Triumph Speed Triple, the name has stood strong over decades of biking progress.