Triumph’s Trident Or Kawasaki’s Zed? Battle Of Mid-displacement Naked Supremacy

  • Published April 6, 2021
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In which areas does the new Triumph naked outscore the current segment champ, the Z650?

Triumph has delivered a masterstroke with the launch of its entry-level naked: the Trident 660. The naked arrives at a sweet introductory price of Rs 6.95 lakh (ex-showroom India), making it the most affordable bike in the British bikemaker’s portfolio. What makes it even sweeter is that its price is not that much dearer than its main rival: the Kawasaki Z650. So, how do these two mid-displacement motorcycles fare against each other?

Engine

Specifications

Triumph Trident 660

Kawasaki Z650

Engine

660cc, triple, liquid-cooled, 12-valve engine

648cc, twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 8-valve engine

Power

81PS @ 10,250rpm

68PS @ 8,000rpm

Torque

64Nm @ 6,250rpm

64Nm @ 6,700rpm

Gearbox

6-speed

6-speed

Triumph wanted to bring accessibility to the masses without diluting the brand’s DNA with the Trident 660. Hence, in true Triumph fashion, you get a triple-cylinder motor here, the only bike in the class to offer one. Not only is it more powerful but it also has a wider powerband and makes its peak torque sooner than the Z650. Hence, the motor will not only be more lively but could also very well be easy to use within city limits. And no twin will ever sound as sweet as a triple. Fact.

Underpinnings

Specifications

Triumph Trident 660

Kawasaki Z650

Frame

Tubular steel perimeter frame

Tubular steel trellis frame

Front suspension

41mm Showa USD SFF

41mm telescopic fork

Rear suspension

Showa preload-adjustable monoshock

Preload-adjustable monoshock

Front brake

310mm discs, Nissin twin-piston floating calipers

300mm discs, Nissin twin-piston floating calipers

Rear brake

255mm disc, Nissin single-piston floating caliper

220mm disc, Nissin single-piston floating caliper

Front tyre

120/70R17

120/70R17

Rear tyre

180/55R17

160/60ZR17

Tyre Make

Michelin Road 5

Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2

The Triumph has the Kwacker beat once again over here. Offering Street Triple-esque handling experience, the Trident uses a similarly potent perimeter frame built from tubular steel. The Showa suspension units are certainly more sophisticated and the Michelin Road 5 tyres are a lot grippier based on our past experiences.

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Dimensions

Specifications

Triumph Trident 660

Kawasaki Z650

Wheelbase

1,407mm

1,410mm

Ground clearance

NA

130mm

Fuel tank capacity

14-litres

15-litres

Seat height

805mm

790mm

Kerb weight

189kg

191kg

Both these mid-displacement motorcycles are pretty evenly matched here. The two stark differences arise in the seat height and the kerb weight. On the Trident, you are sitting 15mm taller than you would on the Z650, slightly hampering manageability for short riders. What goes in its favour is that it is 2kg lighter, which should be evident in parking and low-speed riding situations.

Features

 

Triumph Trident 660

Kawasaki Z650

Ride-by-wire

Yes

No

Colour TFT dash

Yes

Yes

Traction control

Yes

No

Bi-directional quickshifter

Optional

No

Again, the Trident 660 has the Z650 beat in the features arena. While both motorcycles pack colour-TFT dashes, the Trident gets LED lighting all around, whereas the turn indicators on the Z650 use conventional bulbs. Furthermore, it gets a healthy amount of electronic rider aids such as ride-by-wire, two riding modes (Rain and Road), switchable traction control, and dual-channel ABS. The Kawasaki is raw and simple, with the only aid here being dual-channel ABS.

What’s more, Triumph will sell you a bi-directional quickshifter for around Rs 29,000 as an authentic accessory. Plus, the MyTriumph Bluetooth module, which costs an additional Rs 20,000, unlocks smartphone pairing, turn-by-turn navigation, call alerts, music controls, and even GoPro connectivity. The Kawasaki’s dash does get smartphone pairing but it is more of a data logger and doesn’t offer the experience the Triumph unit does.

Price & Verdict

Triumph Trident 660

Kawasaki Z650

Rs 6.95 lakh

Rs 6.18 lakh
(all prices, ex-showroom India)
 
 
For a mere Rs 77,000 over the Kawasaki Z650, the Triumph Trident 660 is a no-brainer if you are looking to graduate from sub-400cc motorcycles. It has the brains and brawns to keep you hooked, with an awesome soundtrack on every occasion. Plus, thanks to its class-leading 16,000km service intervals and a two-year unlimited-kilometre warranty period, the Trident 660 will be easier to maintain and spares will also be more affordable. There’s also an interesting Rs 9,999 EMI plan, which should make the bike a lot more accessible.

Triumph Trident 660 Video Review

Triumph Trident 660
Triumph Trident 660
4.5 18 user reviews
Rs. 8.24 Lakh
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