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Triumph Trident

The Triumph Trident is a three-cylinder motorcycle of either 750 cc or 900 cc capacity. These bikes were produced from 1991 to 1998 at Hinckley, Leicestershire, England, by Triumph Motorcycles Ltd, the successor business to the defunct Triumph Engineering at Meriden Works, Warwickshire, England.

Overview

A range of new 750 cc and 900 cc triple-cylinder bikes (and 1,000 cc and 1,200 cc four-cylinder bikes) were launched at the September 1990 Cologne Motorcycle Show. The motorcycles used famous model names from the glory days of Meriden Triumph and were first made available to the public between March (Trophy 1200 being the first) and September 1991.

The Trident uses a modular liquid-cooled double overhead camshaft (DOHC) engine design in a steel frame (shared with the four-cylinder bikes) with a large-diameter backbone design. The modular design ensured that a variety of models could be offered whilst keeping production costs under control—an idea originally proposed, in air-cooled form, in the early 1970s by Bert Hopwood but not implemented by the (then) BSA-Triumph company.

Frame and cycle parts

The high-tensile steel tubular frame has a large diameter spine based on that of the Triumph Bonneville T140, though engine oil is not held in the frame. Japanese companies supplied cycle parts including Nissin (hydraulic disc brakes) and Showa or Kayaba for the front telescopic fork suspension.

Development

The modular range of engines lent itself to the creation of further models, including the Sprint (a sports tourer), Daytona (a fully faired sport bike), and Daytona Sprint (a café racer).

In 1993 a twin-headlight cockpit fairing was added to create the Trident Sprint, by 1994 the Trident name had been exchanged for 'Sprint S' and at the end of 1996 this model became the 'Sprint Sports'. The final development of the Trident range was the 'Sprint Executive' of 1998 which featured a hard luggage system. The Sprint was in due course succeeded by the Sprint ST.

Reception

Motor Cycle News declared in a 2010 review that the reborn Triumph Trident 900 "was one of the best of their early machines. The three-cylinder motor was distinctive, flexible and robust, the handling, though tall, better than the average roadster, and it was comfortable".

References

Notes

Bibliography

Clarke, David (2012). Hinckley Triumphs: The First Generation. Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1-84797-341-2.

Clarke, David (2021). First Generation Hinckley Triumph (T300) Motorcycles: Maintenance, restoration and modification. Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1-78500-943-3.