Triumph Trident 660 Track Review: BikeWale Trackday 2021

The Track

The Madras Motor Race Track is one versatile circuit based out of Chennai. While it’s tight enough to be apt for small-displacement motorcycles, certain sections and the main straight are adequately long and free-flowing to be suitable for middle-weight machines. This 3.7km circuit is a beautiful blend of 8 right hand corners, 4 left handers and 3 straights. That said, the MMRT has also been FIA and FIM certified with a Grade 2 license to host international racing events. And given our pleasant experience here during our previous trackdays, it was an obvious choice for this year as well.

The Ride

Having ridden the Trident 660 on a track before, I had a fair idea of what to expect from the motorcycle. However, since the MMRT is much wider and longer than the handling track was, the Trident would also have room to stretch its legs. As soon as you get astride the motorcycle, the upright ergonomics remind you that it is a proper streetbike. The footpegs, although rear-set isn’t too far back, the handlebar is considerably high and you sit slightly bent forward. However, once on the racetrack, the Triumph Trident 660 never felt out of place. Even with the nearly upright ergos, the bike offers ample room to tuck in completely on the straights.

And you wouldn’t have to wait much till the next corner arrives either. That inline-three cylinder motor might sound sweet but is a complete hoot once you whip the throttle. With no lag whatsoever, the Trident slingshots ahead, although in a composed manner. It never felt terrifying nor did it want to have its nose up while exiting a corner. You know the Trident wouldn’t dare to, with that TC light flashing so vigorously to keep it in check. And when it’s time to slow things down, the Trident’s brakes do a brilliant job. With little lever action, the brakes offer powerful bite and progression and never showed signs of fade even after laps and laps of heavy braking.

What also impressed me was the Trident 660’s handling abilities. The motorcycle is as simple as Triumph wanted it to be. Find your line, tip it in and the Trident effortlessly follows your bidding. No fuss. No twitching. It even holds the line impressively, with most of the credit going to the grippy Michelin Road 5 tyres. Although, since it’s a street bike after all and the pegs are not completely rear set, they did end up scraping earlier than I’d like.

Nevertheless, there wasn’t a particular corner that I felt the Triumph Trident 660 was at its best, because I was impressed with how it felt all around the track. Be it the chicanes, straights, or corners, the Trident seemed to have everything sorted out.

Chequered Flag

Would bringing the Trident 660, which is essentially a street bike to a racetrack make sense? More so, would it be entertaining enough? The answer to both of these questions is a resounding yes! The Trident 660 even with decent power on offer seems like a very likable and accessible motorcycle. It is simple in its ways with little drama, something that might not appeal to many. However, it is greatly enthusiastic and fun to ride on a racetrack. And while I was at it, I tried hard to nitpick and find flaws in the Trident on a racetrack yet again. And this time too, I couldn’t find any...

Photos by Kaustubh Gandhi and Kapil Angane