2021 Triumph Trident 660 Test Ride Review

2021 Triumph Trident 660 Review

Bike Tested: 2021 Triumph Trident; Road Test No. 1306; Test Location: Dehradun

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 8,11,000/-

The Triumph Trident is the most affordable triple-cylinder bike available in India

Triumph has finally launched its most-awaited and affordable bike, the Trident 660 in our country. It surely reminds us of the sweet memories we had with the Street Triple *as it was a 675, this is a 660*. The Trident carries the classic British design and it is one of the most simple looking motorcycles. It is an entry-level motorcycle from the British brand while it packs all the bells and whistles. In the beautiful city of Dehradun, we try to find out what it packs under its flesh for us.

MotorQuest: Triumph came to India and launched their complete line-up back in 2014 and they had everything from street naked to adventure motorcycles. For 2021, the line-up has become a little small but a bit more accessible with the launch of the Triumph Trident. It is the latest addition to the portfolio while the most affordable inline-3 cylinder motorcycle in India.

Styling – The design of the Trident revolves around minimalism. It is a beautiful creation of traditional British design with modern finishes. Triumph proudly says that this bike is simple yet attractive and we couldn’t agree more. The round LED headlamp and instrument cluster brings the retro charm while the chunky USD forks certainly look modern and add to the beefy character of the bike. Moving on, the humble-looking tank has grip pads with Trident branding which look good. The contrasting radiator cowls look quite cool too. The bike has very few body panels in the top half and the motorcycle seamlessly ends before the rear tyre giving it a very distinctive look. It looks very compact and the dimensions say that too.

The build quality is flawless while the Silver Ice and Diablo Red combo looks sophisticated to say the least

The single-piece seat ends with a beautiful tail tidy. The grab rails are smartly integrated with the frame of the bike. Interestingly, the number plate mount and the indicator housing is placed on the mudguard. Triumph has tried retaining the design language of the Street Triple which is quite evident as there is some resemblance between the two. The Trident is available in single as well as dual-tone colour options. However, the bronze underbelly exhaust is standard across all colour options and it looks pretty dope. Overall, the Trident is a splendid looking motorcycle.

Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – The upper part of the instrument cluster is a semi-circular negative LCD unit that houses a tachometer, speedometer and fuel gauge. Just below that is a TFT display which is the main highlight of this instrument cluster. This TFT has a plethora of features like navigation, music controls, and SMS and call alerts, and GoPro controls which work via Bluetooth. Although the display is quite small, it is still manageable and there is nothing to complain about. One can even set the brightness of the LCD up to 7 levels.

The combination of the complete joystick on the left and the minimalist yet loaded cluster justify the bike really well

The left switchgear has four directional switches to browse through the TFT cluster and a “select” or “clear” button. There are two riding modes on offer – Rain and Road, which can be toggled by using the dedicated “m” button placed right beside the horn button on the left switchgear. The right switchgear has a three-step starter button and a hazard light button. The quality of the switchgear is top-notch yet the positioning of the switches on the left might take time to get used to.

Ergonomics – The Trident is a street bike and the ergonomics also say so. The riding posture is very upright with centre set footpegs. The handlebar is neither too wide nor too short which makes it easy to move around. As the seat height is 805 mm, it best suited for people below 5’8″ and if you’re any taller than 5’10” this motorcycle will feel cramped because the bike is very tight on dimensions. But for the average Indian, it is decent. The mirrors are easily adjustable and are wide enough to offer a good view of what’s behind. However, the pillion won’t have a good time as the cushioning isn’t much and there’s no room to move around. The grab rails are perfectly placed and the pillion will feel confident while holding onto them. Nevertheless, the Trident is a good choice for solo riding.

Performance – The heart of the matter is an inline triple-cylinder 660cc motor that churns out 80 BHP at 10,250 RPM and 64 Nm of torque at 6250 RPM. This motor is quite tractable and the bike picks up pace effortlessly. The throttle response is sharp, while the mid-range is the most potent and the engine is very rev-happy and enjoys being redlined. However, we noticed that the engine feels the liveliest between 6000 to 9000 RPM. The clutch is decently heavy and the weight is felt on your fingers. However, the shifts are crisp and the gears slot in perfectly. Sadly, the bi-directional quick-shifter isn’t part of standard equipment and is offered as an optional extra. Nevertheless, one can easily ride this machine on 6th gear at 40 km/hr without any knocking.

Triumph Trident’s exhaust note is very melodic while the signature purrs and whistles from the inline-triple motor are back for good

There are two ride modes on offer – rain and road. These modes alter the traction control, ABS and power. Traction control is less limiting in the road mode but in the rain mode it is very intrusive and it limits the power quite a lot to ensure safety. The tingling vibrations find their way to the handlebar after 7000 RPM which don’t bother much. Sadly, we were not able to reach the top speed of this motorcycle. However, we can assure you that it will reach 160km/h without any stress and can actually hit the 200 km/h mark on a full empty stretch. While tacking the scenic ghats, we got 18-22 km/l while you can expect a healthy number up to 25km/l. Lastly, with a 14-litre fuel tank, the range lies at 350 km which is amazing for an urban streetfighter.

Riding Dynamics – The Trident wears non-adjustable USD forks up front and a preload-adjustable mono-shock at the rear by Showa. The suspension setup feels comparatively hard at the front while the rear is softly sprung. However, the stock setting isn’t fit for two-up riding as the rear tends to bottom out. Also, on patchy roads, the suspension has a bounce-back effect which might hurt your back. Our suggestion is to set it up according to your weight. The chassis of the Trident is a brand new tubular steel perimeter frame that has adequate flex and after adjusting the suspension, the Trident shall handle like a charm. At 189 kgs, the Trident is quite light yet it feels incredibly stable on the straights and tips into corners very quickly and holds its line very well. Overall, the Trident is agile as well as nimble at the same time.

The Triumph Trident 660 has the most forgiving riding dynamics of any motorcycle in its category

The Michelin Road 5 tyres offer incredible grip on the tarmac and have great water channelling tread patterns. The tyres are of the right size and they make cornering even more fun. However, if you encounter dusty patches, they tend to lose grip and this results in the bike sliding out and the traction control system kicks in to get things into control. The twin 310 mm discs at the front are backed by Nissin callipers, there is abundant feedback on the lever which is adjustable and adds to the confidence of the rider. However, the rear brakes work decently well but they jitter around under heavy braking situations. The ABS gets even more intrusive in the Rain mode. To sum it up, the overall braking feedback is very engaging and confidence-inspiring as well.

Verdict – At Rs. 8,11,000/- (on-road, Mumbai) the Triumph Trident screams value. Not only do you get a wonderful looking motorcycle, but also the brand image of the Triumph brand. It is an excellent choice for someone looking to buy their first big bike. Triumph claims an unbeatable low cost of ownership which is certainly appealing. The Trident is a compact bike that offers the feel of a big bike which is appreciated. There is an array of customisation with 45 dedicated accessories. The direct competitor is the Kawasaki Z650 which is a bit cheaper but, it’s a twin-cylinder while the inline-four competition is the recently launched Honda CB650R which is just way too overpriced.

What’s Cool

* The bike is quite light at just 189 kgs
* Premium build quality and exceptional durability
* Longest service interval of a whopping 16,000 km

What’s Not So Cool

* Pillion comfort could have been better
* Ergos are cramped for people taller than 5’10”
* Triumph’s service network is limited to big cities only

2021 Triumph Trident 660 Specifications

* Engine: 660cc, Liquid-Cooled, Triple-Cylinder
* Power: 80 BHP @ 10,250 RPM
* Torque: 64 Nm @ 6250 RPM
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Fuel Consumption: 22-25 km/l
* Frame: Tubular steel perimeter frame
* Gearbox: 6-Speed
* Tyres: 120/70/17 (Front), 180/55/17 (Rear)
* Suspension: USD Forks (Front), Pre-load Adjustable Monoshock (Rear); Showa
* Brakes: Dual 310 mm Discs (Front), 255 mm Disc (Rear); Dual-Channel ABS

2021 Triumph Trident 660 Dimensions

* Length x Width x Height: 2020 mm x 795 mm x 1089 mm
* Wheelbase: 1401 mm
* Seat Height: 805 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 14-litres
* Kerb weight: 189 Kgs