While the Trident name is historically significant for Triumph – it was first applied to their first three-cylinder model in the late 1960s and again used during the company’s relaunch some 20 years later – the latest machine is more or less a ground up new model, aimed to capture sales in the mid-price middleweight division.
At the heart of the Trident is a 660cc three-cylinder engine derived from the Street Triple’s venerable powerplant. While it’s the first 660 to appear on a Triumph here in the UK, it’s a capacity that’s been used on Australian spec Street Triples for restricted licence holders for the past few years.
While the Euro5 compliant engine can trace its lineage to existing model, the chassis of the Trident is all-new. While it has clearly been built to a price, at first glance the spec sheet does suggest it will be a step above the Japanese competition. We also know that the Thailand built Triumph will cost £7195 when it goes on sale in January, in line with Honda’s four-cylinder CB650F and around £500 more than the twins from Kawasaki and Yamaha (although Suzuki’s bargain SV650 V-twin is currently priced at a discounted £5649). It makes the Trident the cheapest bike in the Triumph range, at £900 below the previous entry level model, the Street Twin.
The heart of the Trident is, of course, that triple engine and in this tune it pumps out some 81bhp, with 90% of the 64Nm peak torque spread across the majority of the rev range. With the Trident being aimed at new riders looking for their first big bike, Triumph are also offering an restrictor kit, which limits peak power to just under 48bhp for A2 licence holders but can be removed when the rider moves onto a full A category licence.
Where the other Triumph roadsters use aluminium twin spar frames, the Trident 660 runs a less expensive tubular steel item to save the pennies, and the two-piston sliding caliper Nissan front brake set up looks more adequate than amazing, but there are plenty of places where the British company has splashed some cash around.
An electronics package with two riding modes, Road and Rain, also includes adjustable traction control, which can be switched off if desired. The all-new TFT dashboard, not shared with other models in the Triumph range, looks cool and has plenty of additional features when paired with the optional ‘My Triumph Connectivity System’, which can be connected to a smartphone to give integrated sat-nav, phone and music control, while action camera users can pair their GoPro to the system and control it through the left hand switchgear.
Other nice touches include full LED lighting throughout, while the fitment of Michelin Road 5 tyres is a welcome addition. Manufacturers can often cut corners by fitting budget tyres to their entry level models, so the inclusion of the very decent Michelins should inspire confidence with riders new and experienced.
As a brand which trades heavily on its heritage, Triumph has walked a fine line between modern and traditional when it comes to styling the Trident 660. The lines are, on the whole, modern, but retro touches include the sculpted knee cut outs on the fuel tank and the classic round headlamp. The design language is certainly softer and more traditional than that of its more aggressive rivals, especially the Z650 and MT-07, and that’s complemented by a whopping four colour options. Giant Triumph tank logos dominate the matt black/matt silver and the silver/red combos, and come at a £100 premium, while more subtle black or white liveries are the standard options for the £7195 entry level price.
The rear of the Trident 660 has a really minimalist look to it. There’s only a slither of a seat unit, into which the LED brake light is integrated, while the number plate hanger, mudguard and indicators are mounted on the fabricated steel swinging arm to create the ‘floating’ effect which tends to polarise traditional motorcyclists.
It’ll be a few weeks before we get a chance to try out the new Triumph Trident 600 for ourselves but, on paper, the new contender would appear to have what it takes. It’s likely to appeal to a wide range of riders, from relative newcomers through to everyday commuters and older riders looking for an easy-to-manage all-rounder.
