Triumph Trident Makes A Comeback In An Affordable Avatar

India launch in early-2021.

The Purpose
2020 hasn’t been a great year for us as individuals as well as brands. Given the ongoing pandemic, many two-wheeler launches have been postponed and in some cases, even cancelled! However, among this negativity, Triumph Motorcycles has something to cheer us up. The British brand will be reviving the iconic ‘Trident’ badge. Now before you start day dreaming of a tearing-fast performance bike, like the original, Triumph has some other plans. The prototype you see is that of the 2021 Triumph Trident. The new bike will be positioned below the Street Triple as its new entry-level streetbike.

You might be wondering why the need for a new bike below the Street Triple? The answer is simple: accessibility. Currently, the entry-level Triumph bike is the Street Twin, a neo-retro classic bike that gels well with the heritage of the brand. However, the Street Twin will appeal to a mature audience and to get some young riders in the fray, the more modern Trident makes sense. Also, Trident owners in future will upgrade to the Street Triple or the Speed Twin, thereby keeping riders engaged within the Triumph portfolio.

Matured Minimalism

The styling of the Trident can be called minimalistic given its European flair and dash of American brawniness. The round LED headlight gives it a retro vibe, while the muscular fuel tank reminds us of the Harley-Davidson Bronx. The rear section is similar to the older Street Triple and to give the bike a clean look, the number plate bracket will be mounted on the swingarm. Unlike most Japanese street bikes (barring the CB650R), the new Trident looks more mature in terms of design with curvier lines.

Triple Delight

Since the upcoming Trident has just been teased, Triumph is tight-lipped about engine specifications. We expect the bike to be powered by the 675cc, liquid-cooled triple-cylinder motor seen on the last generation Street Triple and Daytona. The engine will be tuned to meet the new BS6 emission norms and it might deliver around 90PS and 65Nm of peak torque. The 675cc Street Triple which went on sale in India was a detuned one rated at 85PS, as opposed to the 105PS tune in the international-spec bikes.

Triumph officials have mentioned that the new powerplant will offer a linear power delivery, with a focus on bottom and mid-range for better tractability while riding in the city. Also, it doesn’t feature a T-Plane crank like the new Street Triple and the Tiger 900, so the typical triple-cylinder howl will remain intact. The 6-speed gearbox will also be equipped with a slipper clutch. The British brand hasn’t divulged any details about the electronic aids but we expect it to sport rider modes and a multi-level traction control system.

Groundup Changes

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Another big change on the Trident is its all-new tubular steel chassis to help save cost. Suspension hardware consists of a USD fork and a monoshock unit, which we think will be basic non-adjustable units. Brakes are also likely to be sourced from Nissin to keep costs under check. It will get dual-channel ABS.

Since the bike is focused towards beginner riders, the rake angle could also be more relaxed for better stability and the suspension setup might be on the softer side to offer a comfier ride. We also expect the seat height to be lower than the Street Triple’s 825mm. The British brand has emphasised that despite the new chassis, the Trident doesn’t miss out on the fun factor. The prototype was equipped with Michelin Road 5 rubber that offers a great combination of grip and longevity.

Matter Of Comfort

The Triumph Trident will also have a more upright and comfortable riding posture than the Street Triple. It’s being positioned as an urban slicker and also a competent tourer. Triumph will also be providing touring accessories with the bike. In terms of features, the bike gets an all-digital TFT unit. The switch cubes indicate it might also get a GoPro control system along with navigation.  

When Can You Buy It?

According to the British brand, the new Trident will take on the likes of the Kawasaki Z650, Yamaha MT-07 and the Honda CB650R in the international markets. Triumph will unveil the production bike soon and reveal more details. Global deliveries are expected to commence in early-2021 and it is likely to debut in India by the first half of next year. The motorcycle will be built in Thailand and brought to India as a CBU.

Money Matters

The key question is how much will the upcoming Triumph Trident cost? A realistic price of around Rs 7.49 lakh (ex-showroom) makes sense, in fact, the last generation Street Triple debuted in India at the same price a few years back. However, if Triumph wants to make the Trident accessible and shock its rivals, a price tag of around Rs 7 lakh (ex-showroom) will be just fantastic.