Triumph’s final 350 twins have plenty to offer. Find out exactly what right here
Steady and character-laden 3TA or sporty Tiger 90? Triumph’s final 350 twins have plenty to offer...
The trick to enjoying one of Triumph’s delightful little 350 twins is to not dwell on what it can’t provide, but to appreciate what it does bring to the party. So, ignore the fact that a 3TA – or even a Tiger 90 – won’t pull your arms out of their sockets with manic acceleration or run all day at 80mph. Instead, relish the supersmooth engine, revvy power delivery and ease of handling – all accompanied by that unique Triumph twin rasp. It’s time to consider the lightweight end of Meriden’s C-range twins. When it was introduced in 1957, the 348cc T21 was a thoroughly modern motorcycle. Its twincylinder ohv engine featured unit construction (years before Triumph’s 650cc twins) and all the style of its bigger stablemates. And the practical enclosure of the rear end and ample front mudguard afforded the rider much of the weather protection offered by the increasing popular scooters of the day, but with the power, handling and character of a motorcycle. The new ‘21’ – a moniker adopted to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Triumph Engineering Company – was the best of both worlds. Supposedly.
The truth, though, was a little different. In fact, the rear ‘bathtub’ enclosure wasn’t well-received, and the fact that the compact frame was based on that of the 200cc Cub ensured that handling was less than razor-sharp. The result was that, while the T21 (renamed the 3TA for 1959-on models, though sales literature still alluded to the ‘Twenty-one’ for a number of years) initially sold reasonably well on the home and general export market, it failed to catch the imagination of the all-important American buyer.
If you wanted a practical, economical and affordable middleweight, though, the T21 and 3TA provided just that. The engine, which only received minor updates and improvements throughout its 11-year production life (though it survived another three years in Tiger 90 form), proved
exceptionally reliable. It reportedly cost Triumph less in warranty claims than any other twin – probably because, with just 18.5bhp on tap, it was a pretty understressed unit. And, if you value classic character, durability and affordability over out-and-out performance, that makes a T21/3TA worth looking at today.
Back in the day, young bucks who could only afford a 350 stripped down T21/3TAS, scrapping the bathtub enclosure to make their steed look more like Triumph’s sporting twins. That means original bodywork is rare – a shame as, with the passage of time, that unpopular enclosure has acquired a period charm of its own. But most other parts are readily available, and keeping a 350 twin on the road shouldn’t be too problematic.
The 1963-on Tiger 90 offers a bit more pep for around the same money these days. High compression pistons and a bigger carb provide a boost in power to a claimed 27bhp at 7500rpm – good enough for a top speed of around 80-85mph. The T90 has 18in wheels, too, so it’s a better bet for the taller rider. And the new frame for 1967 also offers greatly superior handling.
For retro panache and a gentle pace of riding, a 3TA is great. For a bit more zip and sharper
roadholding, a late Tiger 90 is a better bet. A good one makes a surprisingly enjoyable B-road hustler.
THE RIDE
You won’t have your heart in your mouth riding a T21 or 3TA – unless you’re relying on the barely-acceptable 7in sls brakes to stop you in a hurry from top speed. And you probably won’t even on a Tiger 90. But the little twins do provide a surprisingly rewarding ride. Around 65-70mph is about the sensible limit for the T21/3TA, while a good T90 should top 80mph. But the secret to enjoying these bikes at their best is to ride within their limitations.
For pottering along at 50-55mph, the base model is ideal. Relax and enjoy the ride from its supersmooth engine, positive gearbox and more than decent clutch. Everything about the T21/3TA works well together, making the most of the modest power of the softly tuned engine. Push on a bit and the shortcomings of the frame will become apparent, but that’s not what these bikes are all about. The low seat height (due to the 17in wheels on all but the final year, 1966 models) makes the bike ideal for shorter riders and, together with a modest 340lb dry weight, makes slow manoeuvres a pleasure.
If that light weight and ease of handling appeals, but you want a little more zip, look for a Tiger 90 – preferably a 1967-68 model with the better handling frame. Enjoy zipping between B-road corners at 60-65mph and you’ll have a heavyweight grin on your face for middleweight money. Only the 7in brake spoils the fun slightly.
C-series 350 twins are easy to start, relatively simple to maintain and a hoot to ride, on the right roads. A Triumph twin doesn’t have to be a 500 or 650 to be fun.