It all started in 1968 when “Triumph Engineering” and “Birmingham Small Arms Company” (BSA) debuted their technically advanced and high-performance work of art – The Triumph Trident, which was also known as the BSA Rocket 3. The Trident was a powerful roadster that boasted a 58bhp 740cc air-cooled OHV straight three-engine. It was a four-speed motorcycle with a conventional chassis and an exceptional suspension. The 1968 Trident marked the birth of the “superbike” era. After significant motorsport success, Triumph introduced the legendary race variant of the Trident known as the “Slippery Sam”, which was 5 times consecutive Isle of Man TT Production winner from 1971 to 1975.
In 1990 Triumph made a comeback with the Trident Triple. It was the successor to the 1968 Trident and it was offered in two variants:
In 1990, the Trident was reborn with an all-new heart, a DOHC inline 3-cylinder 4 stroke engine. It gained a lot of attention and garnered fans because of its free-revving nature, capability, and budget friendly pricing. Moreover, its engine was amongst “the top 10 motorcycle engines of all time”. Trident Triple was a very comfortable motorcycle however, the comfort didn’t mean that there was a slight compromise in its performance. It was very versatile, robust, and portrayed a distinctive character.
The all-new 2021 Triumph Trident falls under the middleweight roadster category. It carries forward the legacy of the 1968 Trident and the 1990 Trident Triple. The new Trident is a completely unique take on the roadster segment with distinctive style and Triumph’s roadster Attitude.
The new Triumph Trident will also debut as Triumph’s entry-level motorcycle in India and it also redefines the capabilities of the triple engine whether it on the track, urban jungles or countryside elevated curves.
We can speculate that the 2021 Trident should put a grin on your face with its linear power delivery and supreme performance. It is a very dynamic and agile motorcycle which will make the riders feel confident.
The 2021 Trident’s torque-rich 660cc liquid-cooled, 12 valves, DOHC Inline 3-cylinder engine is inspired by the original 1968 Trident which was also known as the BSA Rocket 3. The triple engine is designed in such a manner that there is a perfect synchronization of the low-down torque, mid-range, and top-end power, which makes the engine smooth with linear power delivery on offer.
Trident offers thrilling performance with 81PS of peak power at 10,250rpm and a thrusting 64Nm of peak torque at 6,250rpm. Triumph claims that 90% of the peak torque can be utilized from 3,600RPM to 9,750RPM. Moreover, the Trident has a very unique sound and its engine is dedicatedly tuned.
The all-new Trident features a purely British design with minimal lines and distinctive Triumph DNA and silhouette. The design also puts forwards ergonomics and rider’s safety to the utmost priority.
This well-engineered motorcycle hosts some of the best-in-class equipment like the SHOWA upside-down forks and SHOWA preload-adjustable mono-shock rear suspension unit.
The Trident also features Michelin Road 5 rubber with a 5-spoke design alloy offering precise braking mechanism with twin Nissin 310mm discs with two-piston Nissin sliding front caliper a single-piston Nissin rear caliper.
Trident’s instrument cluster is multifunctional with color TFT and is ready to welcome new accessories with “My Triumph” connectivity.
The Trident has a 14-liter tank capacity and a low ride height of 805mm and a curb weight of 189 kilograms which makes it agile and easy to direct. Road and rain modes are on offer with integrated traction switch according to mode set respectively. It also hosts ABS and post dusk, the Trident is all visuals with its all-led lighting.
The Trident boasts a smooth 6-speed gearbox with the ride by wire throttle technology with slip and assists clutch which is SPAN optimized making it ideal for the city rides. Trident’s main aspect is a short underslung exhaust with a stainless-steel finish with a crisp and deep triple engine sound. It also has a contemporary fuel tank design with Triumph signature knee cut-out. It also features a swing arm mounted number plate with rear indicators.
There are 45 dedicated Trident accessories to add to the comfort, styling, luggage, convenience, and security. All the dedicated accessories are engineered side by side with the motorcycle and are tested to the alike standard. Triumph also offers a two-year unlimited mileage warranty on all genuine accessories. Triumph also claims to offer the lowest workshop time in the segment with a class-leading 16000-kilometer service interval. It is offered a two-year global warranty with unlimited mileage cover.
The Triumph Trident comes in four exceptional finishes that look phenomenal and adds up to the glamorous looks of Trident. The four finishes are:
The Trident Color palette
The Trident will be brought to India via CKD (completely knocked-down) unit in India which means it will a bit more affordable in the Indian market. It is up for a direct challenge against the Kawasaki Z650 and to some extent, the fully-faired Honda CBR650R. In the international market, it also challenges the Yamaha MT07. The Trident has advantages concerning the accessories and their warranty in the specific segment moreover their lowest workshop timings and service intervals give them the upper hand as of now. Also, it’s a unique triple engine and ergonomics while throwing up a challenge for its competitors.
This is the most fun part of this article, the Trident in the UK is priced at 7,195 Pounds which roughly translates into INR 6.95 Lakhs. This roadster will reach the Indian shores via the CKD route and hence we expect that the Trident will be priced around 7 Lakhs or it may even be launched with an introductory sticker price of 6.99 Lakhs, making it the entry-level or the most affordable Triumph in India.
So, do you think that the Trident which is representing the British brand will successfully make a mark in the segment? Let us wait and watch!
Written by – Jitarth Trivedi
Edited by – Tirth Pandya
