Blog: Riding the Triumph Trident 660 at NATRAX

On a sunny morning that felt pleasant considering the torrential Mumbai rains that preceded, Pratheek and I rode out to Madhya Pradesh. It would be a 580km journey on the NH3 with the two bikes we chose for the trip, one of them being the Triumph Trident 660. But why were we headed to MP, you ask? Well, we were on our way to visit the NATRAX.

For the uninformed, let me give you an introduction, for it is something we as Indians should be immensely proud of. Just 50km before Indore is the National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX)- one of the largest in the world with a facility spread over a massive 3000 acres. It is also home to Asia’s largest high-speed track that can be used for testing at speeds up to 375kmph.  

We knew that the speed limit was out of reach for the Trident 660. But as we crossed the Kasara ghat and twisted the throttle to head towards Nashik, I knew the real fun with the Trident was to be had at the NATRAX handling test track. While I could tell you how the Trident behaved on the highway and when riding at night, I’ll leave that to Pratheek who has talked all about it in the video you’ll find on BikeWale’s YouTube channel. So let’s cut to the chase.

The Natrax handling track is 3.6km in length; slightly longer than the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore. It has very few dashes of straights with the rest of the track being technical and tight. To my delight, the Trident 660 shone through it all.  

With the 660cc, inline-three motor purring between your legs and the electronics set to Sport mode, the Trident 660 is a total blast to ride on a track. Now it does not shoot off in a blink of an eye or have the front wheel up in excitement each time you twist the throttle. Expert riders might find that boring, but on the flip side, it would be less daunting to newer riders, and that is exactly where Triumph wants to hit the nail with the Trident 660. The throttle response is crisp and I was floored with the slick-shifting precision of the clutch.

Although, what impressed me the most was the Trident’s handling. The suspension setup that felt stiff out on the highway, was suited perfectly for the track. Now, this handling track, as I mentioned earlier is technical and there’s little to no room for error. However, the Trident tackled it with ease. The bike felt effortless while switching sides into chicanes and leaning in. 

And the grippy Michelin Road 5 tyres just drove in more confidence to push harder into the tight sections of the track. Moreover, the brakes, even with constant hard braking, never seemed to fade under pressure, delivering consistent performance all through the eight laps I rode.

By the end of the session, I was in complete awe of the Trident 660 and even considered getting one for myself. It is light, compact, and a wonderful handler. Although not high on performance figures, it manages to put a smile across your face. And for anyone moving up displacements, the Trident 660 would be the perfect motorcycle to start with. 

On our return leg, sitting on a cot waiting for the smoking hot aaloo paratha to cool down a bit, I admired the simplicity of the Trident 660. Everything is kept simple- from the design and engine to the electronics and pricing. And if you are wondering, I did try hard to nitpick the Trident 660 but found it difficult to pick a flaw that would keep me from riding it on a race track. Seems like Triumph has another Daytona-like runaway success after all...  

Photos by Kapil Angane