Triumph Trident 660, Track Test

The Triumph Trident 660 is a wonderful compact naked sports motorcycle. When we first rode it on the beautiful hills of Uttarakhand, we were blown away by its impeccable handling capabilities. The Trident is the smallest and the most accessible bike from Triumph, and it’s aimed primarily at amateur riders. That is why it feels very light and is easy to handle. Despite its small size though, it is still a good option for tall riders. Adding to its excellent confidence-inspiring manoeuvrability and overall performance is the brilliant 660cc triple engine from the legendary Daytona. The engine is good for 80bhp and 64Nm, and while these figures may not sound very exciting on paper, they are exactly the opposite on the road, thanks to the bike’s lightweight construction.

Triumph’s brilliant ride-by-wire technology and instant acceleration further make the Trident a fun motorcycle to ride. It offers both beginners and professionals an exhilarating experience. And that is why the Trident scores very well in terms of ride and handling, practicality, and drivetrain. It’s also not overpriced, which warrants some extra points in terms of value for money.

There is only one problem with a bike like the Trident in a complex market like India – it doesn’t have a very appealing nature – not because of any fault of its own. The Trident sits in the middle-class segment of motorcycles, and usually, it’s always the bigger and more expensive bikes that sell well. The Trident also has a pretty basic design and falls short of looking like a big bike on the road – in fact, don’t blame yourself if you mistake it for a regular small-capacity commuter motorcycle.

In short, it seems to lack the X-factor. That said, it does well in other departments. Even on the track, it offers a fun experience, and you can assess from its lap time that it’s also pretty quick. Serious and experienced riders, however, will find it lacking in a few places. The traction control, for example, sometimes kicks in, and the power loss is admittedly annoying, especially when you are trying to ride hard out of a corner. Still, as an overall package, the Trident 660 is one of the most fun motorcycles we got to ride this year. But unfortunately, it’s not a serious contender for the title of ‘the best of the best’.

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