Triumph Trident 660

TRIUMPH TRIDENT

80bhp 47lb·ft 189kg £7195

The £7000 sub-100bhp naked-bike market is packed with great bikes with lots of spec and performance options.

The Yamaha MT-07 is a cracking combination of a colourful, charismatic parallel twin that epitomises the sheer exuberance of motorcycling but it’s so diminutive it’s hard to take it seriously; that role is better filled by Honda’s capable, conventional CB650R. The stylish, high-revving and powerful inline four feels well-built and more of a proper, metal motorbike.

Into the game marches the £7195 Trident. With an 80bhp inline triple loosely based on a short-stroked 675 engine, plenty of tech tricks including traction control, rider modes and an optional up/down quickshifter, and a pleasing mix of retro and contemporary styling, it aims to challenge both.

And it partially succeeds. There’s no obvious sign of slacking in Triumph’s much-improved quality of finish and early reports (see p26) suggest its suspension and handling live up to Triumph’s flagship reputation. The same reports also suggest the Trident’s inline triple isn’t quite as carefree and buoyant as Yamaha’s MT-07 but not as revvy and top-endy as the CB650R’S four either.

The Trident sounds like a classic Triumph triple mix, incorporating the best bits of its rivals, and delivering them in a unique package.

‘The Trident sounds like classic Triumph’