Triumph’s entry-level roadster packs a ton of fun into a simple package.

By Chris Northover, cycleworld.com

Spec sheets can be a curse on the motorcycling world. It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of making an initial decision on a bike based on weight, power figures, or even whether or not it has adjustable suspension. Someone really should come up with a catchy idiom about not passing judgment on a book’s contents based on the appearance of the title page.

Triumph’s new Trident 660 has a nonadjustable Showa fork, a basic rear shock, only 80 hp, and weighs 417 pounds. In a world where 200-plus horsepower figures have become almost normal, and you can get suspension that adjusts itself as you ride along, the Trident isn’t going to grab any headlines with its spec sheet.

Its numbers and $8,095 price tag are, however, exactly on the money for an entry-level naked bike, a class currently dominated by Yamaha’s MT-07. So the Trident’s job is to be welcoming to new or nervous riders, forgiving of the mistakes made when enthusiasm overtakes experience, and capable of being fun and fast as experience and confidence grow. The Triumph makes 7 hp more power than the Yamaha, but less torque, and weighs 10 pounds more.

It’s also easy to compare the Trident 660 to the original 2007 Triumph Street Triple and wonder where the extra 25 hp went and why the Trident is almost 17 pounds heavier. But the Trident is doing a different job. The Street Triple was launched as a naked sportbike, a bit of a hooligan that just happened to be easy to ride and wound up as a great first bike for a lot of riders. The Trident has stepped away from the sportbike and hooligan thing, leaning into the easy-to-ride character even further. A lower seat height, more steering lock, softer power delivery, and modern touches like ABS and traction control mean the Trident is far less likely to bite back. In that sense, it’s a far better first bike than the Street Triple. It might not be as sharp for wheelies and track action, but it’s a more forgiving bike for developing riding skills.

Set before sufficiently stunning scenery, the Trident is a striking bike, a step beyond anything Triumph has previously launched. Parts of the bike are straight from the Street and Speed Triple range, while details like the two-tone tank make it look like a contemporary Bonneville. Details of the three-cylinder engine are instantly recognizable from the original 675s, albeit with a shorter stroke to drop the capacity to 660cc. Triumph is always keen to point out the attention to detail that goes into its bikes, as things like hoses, sensors, and wiring are hidden wherever possible. Compared to its competition, the Trident does stand out as being a very neat package. A few details let it down compared to the high standards set by its bigger brothers, such as the horn wiring, the basic steel rear brake pedal, and the old-school front brake master cylinder. But really, we’re splitting hairs here. Look at how these details are treated by the Trident’s competition and you’ll find more than a couple of bits to pick on.

Styling is personal taste; spec sheets will only say so much, and as always, it’s the ride that really matters. Click it on, wake it up, and the Trident settles into that familiar three-pot whirr, just like the old 675s. A light clutch and gentle throttle response mean the 660 will make it as stress-free as possible to pull away for a test ride while the salesman pretends not to watch. At low speeds the Trident is thoroughly unintimidating, with a light, flickable feel. The only nag with this low-speed stuff is a slight lack of steering lock; it’s better than an early Street Triple, but still could be improved.

Get rolling a little faster and the motor has a decent midrange punch; a good spread of power is available, so you’re not constantly looking for another gear. At a medium road pace the Trident is effortless, flicking eagerly from turn to turn and holding whatever line you stick it on. Enter a turn a little too fast, on the wrong line, or in a gear too high, and the Trident seems to always remain composed. More importantly, it lets you make mid-turn adjustments to keep it on the black stuff. And while it’s an agile bike, the chassis never feels too sharp or twitchy.ADVERTISEMENT

So far so good. But what really surprises about the Trident is just how well it behaves when you don’t. Pushing hard on technical, undulating roads, the Trident stands up to a ridiculous amount of abuse and lets you live out your Isle of Man TT racer fantasies with barely a murmur of protest. Land off rises into tight corners, brake hard over bumps, chasing gears along narrow straights; the Trident simply laps it all up. The suspension may be nonadjustable and the shock may look basic, but the work put into the base setting inside the suspension results in a bike that far outrides that spec sheet. Classic Triumph. If you compare the suspension performance to higher-end kit, it does feel a little harsh on small, sharper bumps, but that’s a small price to pay for how well it behaves everywhere else.

And while the 80 hp motor doesn’t blow your socks off, it gives you plenty of power to blat along a twisty road and absolutely loves to be thrashed. It feels a little muted high up in the rev range, but at mid-rpm it is willing, free revving, and just plain happy. After prolonged hooning, the Nissin brakes did start getting a little more lever movement as they heated up, but it was nothing that caused alarm and really something that would likely only show up under hard track use. That’s not exactly what the Trident’s aimed at. Again, the brakes and their non-switchable ABS are aimed at being user-friendly, giving decent power but not too much bite to look after newer riders. The traction control system was invaluable in keeping us from spinning up the rear tire even on gravelly tracks. And as much as Triumph is looking after the calmer riders out there, it’s nice to see it has kept the option to switch the TC off for those who need wheelies in their lives.

Triumph has a long-standing reputation for building bikes that handle incredibly well. The Trident is no exception. I kept thinking back to the original Street Triple while riding this 660. The family link between them is clear, and the Trident carries on the tradition of being a great-value, great-fun road bike. But the Trident has shifted to a softer stance, making it a better bike for building confidence, a perfect first road bike. That costs it some of the crazy one-wheel fun that made us love the Street Triple so much, but the chassis is more than up to the job of being ridden hard on any road.ADVERTISEMENT

It’s not merely newer or less confident riders who would love the Trident; it provides a perfect way to step back from 100-plus bhp bikes to something that doesn’t build speed so rapidly, but still puts a massive smile on your face when you’re in the mood for a blast. The Trident 660 may not have masses of power, but there’s something addictive about using every last one of those 80 horses, holding the throttle open to the stop between bends before hammering the brakes, dropping down the gears and pitching into the next turn. And anyway, when was the last time you held a 200 hp bike wide open on the road?

2021 Triumph Trident 660 Specs

MSRP:	$8,095
Engine:	660cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled, inline 3-cylinder; 12-valve
Bore x Stroke:	74.0 x 51.1mm
Compression Ratio:	11.95:1
Transmission/Final Drive	6-speed/X-ring chain
Claimed Horsepower:	80 bhp @ 10,250 rpm
Claimed Torque:	47 lb.-ft. @ 6,250 rpm
Fuel System:	Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection w/ electronic throttle control, ride-by-wire
Clutch:	Wet, multiplate, slip and assist
Frame:	Tubular steel perimeter
Front Suspension:	41mm inverted Showa separate function fork (SFF)
Rear Suspension:	Showa monoshock RSU, preload adjustable
Front Brakes:	Nissin 2-piston sliding calipers, 310mm discs w/ ABS
Rear Brake:	Nissin 1-piston sliding caliper, 255mm disc w/ ABS
Wheels, Front/Rear:	Cast aluminum; 17 x 3.5 in. / 17 x 5.5 in
Tires, Front/Rear:	120/70R-17 / 180/55R-17
Rake/Trail	24.6º/4.2 in (107.3mm)
Wheelbase:	55.2 in. (1,401mm)
Seat Height:	31.7 in. (805mm)
Fuel Capacity	3.7 gal.
Claimed Wet Weight	417 lb (189kg)
Contact:	triumphmotorcycles.com