Triumph Trident 660
New £7k Triumph has a compelling mixture of performance, fun and build quality
Middleweight game-changer
TRIUMPH’S NEW TRIDENT 660 is set to turn the budget middleweight-naked class on its head in 2021. It costs just £7195, or £75 a month if you go for a PCP deal with 25% down. Service intervals are a walletfriendly 10,000 miles and it does an easy 60mpg. But it’s more than just a cheapie.
It’s not so much about how much friendly power the triple churns out either, because its 80bhp is in the ballpark of its rivals. It has a little more than the 74bhp parallel-twin Yamaha MT-07 and 67bhp Kawasaki Z650 and slightly less than the 94bhp inline-four Honda CB650R. No, what makes the Trident 660 so special is how this seven-grand bike feels like one costing thousands of pounds more.
Developed by the same British engineering and testing team which created Triumph’s recent string of greatest hits, it’s no surprise the Trident 660 has the same easy poise and ability to get stuck into corners. Its ride, handling and stability are on another level compared to the Japanese competition and it’s so easy to get on with, you barely have to think about it. That makes it perfect for newer riders, but there’s still enough in the locker to keep the experienced smiling as well.
Not only does it ride beautifully, the Trident 660 is neatly finished with lots of ‘big bike’ attention to detail. Fuel tank cut-outs to give it an overriding feeling of slimness, its bodywork is lovingly sculpted and there are neat little badges and logos
everywhere that give you the sense this is no parts-bin special. You get rider aids, full LED lighting, self-cancelling indicators, an immobiliser and colour TFT instruments.
An accessory Bluetooth kit lets you pair the dash to a Triumph app on your phone to answer calls, play music and use a turn-by-turn sat nav and there are another 46 accessories available. But one of the most important is the 46bhp A2 licence restrictor kit to tempt in fresh-faced riders.
The observant among you will know Triumph already makes a new riderfriendly 660cc triple in the shape of the Street Triple S, but it’s sportier, has a peakier, shorter-stroke engine and costs £8100. So, the Trident 660 slips in at the foot of range as the more affordable, accessible entry-level roadster.
Despite being crammed with goodies the Trident 660 is stripped back and relatively small. You get a simple tubular steel frame, swingarm, minimal bodywork and that’s about it. As a result, it’s no tourer but it’s perfect for flicking through town, low enough for shorter riders to get their feet flat on the floor and still spacious so not to crush long legs. It’s a comfy machine to spend time on, too. The seat is plush, pegs are low (but there’s no issue with ground clearance) and its tapered aluminium bars swoop back towards you for easy control.
Much of the Trident’s magic comes from the way the engine compliments the chassis. The triple is friendly and docile from the moment you crack its smooth, ride-by-wire throttle and with its short first to fourth gear ratios and such a flat spread of torque, you don’t need to be gear-perfect to nip past traffic.
Work the Triumph harder and it’s undeniably quick with satisfyingly strong acceleration and a top whack of around 130mph. The low-slung pipe has a deep rasp to it but it’s quiet, which will please the neighbours and the engine has more character than the CB650R or Z650 but lacks the sparkle and grunt of the MT-07.
Until now, the Street Triple was the go-to bike for those who wanted something affordable, easy to ride, naked and fun. Now that honour definitely goes to the Trident 660.