The original T150 and T160 Tridents of the 1960s and ‘70s were Triumph’s answer to the onslaught of high-performance multicylinder motorcycles from Japan—motorcycles so affordable and reliable that they contributed to the eventual demise of the British motorcycle industry. So yeah, the original Trident may be best remembered for being too little, too late. While the circumstances are far less dire for Triumph these days (as in not dire at all, from where we sit), the revived Trident is nevertheless a response to the Big Four’s dominance—at least in the popular middleweight streetbike segment.
In its third life (the Trident name was first revived by Triumph resurrectionist John Bloor in the ‘90s), the Trident—now the Trident 660—is designed to be a dazzling entry to the brand, embodying all the style and three-cylinder charisma that Triumph is known for. The Trident’s 660cc triple has its origins in the modern 675 Daytona engine; in its current form it has a claimed max power output of 81 hp at 10,250 rpm and 47 lb.-ft. of torque at 6,250 rpm. Triumph says 90 percent of peak torque is available between 3,600 and 9,750 rpm. The Trident uses a nonadjustable Showa inverted fork, a preload-adjustable Showa monoshock, and Nissin brake calipers. It also has a slip-assist clutch, two ride modes (Road and Rain) that adjust the throttle maps and traction control settings, and ABS.
Compared to some of the anime-looking roadsters in its class, the Trident looks simple and elegant, and comes with premium features like LED lights, a small TFT display, and smartphone connectivity. The price is on point too. It’s worth remembering that the original Trident, despite its dubious legacy, is the reason why we’ve got all these three-cylinder Triumphs in the first place. The Trident 660 is a celebration of just how far Triumph has come.
The 2024 Triumph Trident starts at $8,595 for Sapphire Black. Additional colors add $125 to the base price. The Trident 660 Triple Tribute Edition, honoring the famous TT-winning motorcycle, Slippery Sam, includes a fly screen, quickshifter, bellypan, and special livery. Despite the extras, the price remains $8,595.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/octane/35LCAA6N45FYHKMY4KLXW5JMLA.jpg)
