Quote:
On 2005-03-15 06:45, gallowglass wrote:
I've been lurking for a short while and now I'm a bit puzzled by the evolution of certain models particularly the rise and fall of the Trident. Did it become something else; like the Speed triple or Thunderbird perhaps, or did it just disappear ? and lastly what is an Adventurer or a Legend ? are they American released models only I don't think I've ever seen one.
Please someone explain to a thickheaded newbie. :-D
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The Trident was one of the original six models from Triumph. The original line up was the 750 & 900 Tridents, 750 & 1000 Daytonas, and the 900 & 1200 Trophies.
After a couple of years an additional Trident model appeared, the Trident Sprint. This had a half fairing for easier high speed riding. This quickly became the Sprint 900, which evolved into the Sprint ST we know today. Other models then came along which ate into the Trident's market place. The first was the '94 Speed Triple 900, which is visually similar to a Trident, but was derived from the Daytona 900. Then in '95 came the Thunderbird. With these two new bikes catering to the Trident's dual markets of naked muscle and retro less and less Tridents got sold. Shame, because they are good bikes, but Triumph aren't going to let a poor selling bike take up valuable production time. I think the last year for the Trident was 1997, although they hung around in showrooms for some time, when the price became too good to be true! (£4500 otr). The 750 Trident engine was donated to the "budget" Speed Triple 750, which also shared the same suspension and brakes as the Trident 750.
The Adventurer was a tart's handbag adaptation of the Thunderbird that arrived in '96. Essentially a Thunderbird with more chrome, higher bars and a few other styling changes, specially for the partially sighted. On the up side some of the paint schemes are beautiful, if garish. The Adventurer was another adaptation of the Thunderbird, aimed at being an entry level Triumph. It got 17" wheels front and rear, a lowered rear sub frame for an even lower seat height, a black finished engine and single colour paint jobs. Jolly nice too, although both were replaced in the line up by the Bonneville.
