2021 Triumph Trident 660 First Ride Review

The Styling

Just before we went for the media ride of this Trident 660, a few questions were asked by the readers and the most common ones were in reference to its size. So, is the Triumph Trident 660 a large motorcycle? The answer is no! So, it must be a small motorcycle then? The answer to that too is a big no! Well, then you may ask where does it fit in? To be honest, the Trident 660 is a compact motorcycle that benefits from some really smart design and engineering.

Being in the middle-weight segment, the Trident 660 manages to exhibit a big bike feel. The overall styling is a mix of modernity along with some retro aspects. The fascia with its round headlamp does make the bike connect with the Triumph’s modern retro range, but as you move away from the headlamp, you are greeted with clean and striking design lines. The fuel tank is large and has lots of space for knee recess. The rider’s seat is accommodating and gels well. The tail section with its rounded finish might look boring for some. But the large and angular grab rails enhance the style a bit.

The Package

The Trident 660 is neatly packed with some lovely features. To begin with, there are two rider modes – Road and Rain that can be accessed via an easy-to-use switchgear. The traction control system too has two levels – Road and Rain. So the change in rider modes also changes the way TC operates along with the power delivery, thanks to the presence of fly-by-wire throttle. The TC can be switched off completely, but it can’t be switched on the fly. You need to stop the bike and then make those changes.

There are more fancy equipment on this motorcycle and that includes the TFT dash. It is circular but looks really cool as the company has given it a nice backlight and font. This cluster gets Bluetooth integration as an option. Once bought and connected, the rider will be able to use various features like turn-by-turn navigation system and some more. Your GoPro can also be used with the same optional feature.

The Trident is equipped with 41mm upside-down separate function Showa forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear. The front doesn’t get any adjustability, whereas the rear gets only preload. The brakes are from Nissin. The front gets two-piston calipers biting onto 310mm discs at the front and a single piston at the rear with 250mm single disc. ABS is standard. The tyres are from Michelin and goes by the name Road 5. The bike also gets adjustable front brake lever and self-cancelling indicators

The Ride

The new 660cc inline-triple engine that does the duty on the Trident is stellar. It makes 80bhp of peak power, which is a pretty good figure for a motorcycle of this segment and at this price point. The nature of this motor is extremely likeable too. The power delivery is linear and there’s grunt available all through the rev range. This inline triple has plenty of pull in the mid-range and as it nears the top-end, you can see bike reaching 200kmph without much fuss. The other aspects like refinement and throttle response are enjoyable. We did find some amount of vibrations as it went above 7500rpm, but it was limited only to handgrips. The six-speed gearbox works excellent. The shifts are fast and accurate. And you can take things to a different level by opting for the optional quickshifter. But honestly, the standard gearbox will quench all your thirsts.

The Trident 660 was ridden over the beautiful roads of Uttarakhand and that means, we had hundreds of corners to deal with and we had zero complaints. The Trident 660, with its low kerb weight and roomy saddle, makes for a motorcycle that's extremely easy to tackle and move around the corners. And then there’s the combination of easy riding position, great motor and grippy Road 5 tyres that make the Trident slide into those twisties almost intuitively. The ride on the Trident 660 is slightly on the stiffer side and that’s understandable as it enables the rider to have a sporty experience. But we’ll talk more about it when we ride the bike on Mumbai roads. The brakes too work fairly well. It’s progressive and churns out good power. The feedback on the front brake lever is decent. The traction system, however, activates too quickly, especially in the road mode. While this behaviour works well for new riders, the experienced riders might want to turn it off.

The Conclusion

The Triumph Trident 660 checks a lot of boxes. It is accessible. It is friendly. It gets a motor that churns out really good performance along with a thrilling and fun riding experience. Plus, it is equipped with some modern equipment like riding modes and traction control system that make it extremely aspirational. For style conscious riders, the Trident 660 won’t disappoint, thanks to the combination of retro and modern style elements. In short, at Rs 8.11 lakh on-road, Mumbai, the Trident 660 is a great purchase. You moreover get to be a part of a great brand and also experience the claimed lowest running costs in the category.

Photography by Kapil Angane