Triumphrat

Mingh · 08-13-2007, 06:40 PM

first post...

I'm interested in buying a 750 Trident.
what do i need to know about them? Weak points? items to check before I buy...
Currently there are 2 for sale in my area. One is a 73 with 5 speed gearbox, roundish tank, raygun exhausts and front disk brake.
the other one is a 72 with 4 gears, drum brake, and square tank.

Anything I need to know about these production years that can influence which of these to pick? The 73 hasn't had the best maintenance the last year or so, but it has front disks. Although it's not working very well, i'm tempted to think it's a safe idea for the 10000 km i'm planning to ride every year.

More general: to triumph standards, how good or bad are tridents compared to bonnies?

thanks,
Jan.

SKip · 08-13-2007, 08:07 PM

Mingh,
I have a 73 T150V myself and think the 73 is the way to go, the front disk brake on the one your looking at is probley working as good as it gets. How many miles are on the bike and how does it sound?
You might want to post this question on http://www.triplesonline.com, the site is all about Tridents and Rocket III's only!
Some of the quys on that site built these bikes at the factory and have been racing them and working on since they were new, I think you will get much more info there.
If you dont get anything on T.O.L e-mail me and I will get a list of things together that I would look for if I were to buy another .
Also try http://www.tr3oc.co.uk/ but this is a club site.

Good luck
Skip

skip.b@verizon.net

Mecchanica · 08-13-2007, 11:57 PM

By all means, the 73. The five speed is a great improvement and the disc brake is far better than the comical.....er, conical, front drum.
You can enhance the performance of the brake by fitting a 13mm bore master, a SS brake hose, EBC pads, and removing the chrome from the disc and drilling it with 3/16" holes in a swirl pattern. If you really want to do it right, forget the pads and buy a new alloy caliper, either a dual piston Lockheed racing caliper or a four piston billet Performance Machine item. They bolt right on. Also, get a fork brace.
The clutch set up can be problematical and the carbs need attention more regularly than twins.
Fitting a Trispark ignition will change your world. Aussie made.

triumphtimes · 08-14-2007, 01:19 PM

Make sure the oil pressure light is hooked up and MAKE SURE that light stays off after starting the bike and getting it good and HOT. Don't settle for a start and few minute idle when looking. If that light is on after the bike is good and warm, at idle or greater avoid the bike like the plague....Main shells are done and a total strip down is in order. A little flicker of the light may not be cause for alarm, but I'd still stay away. Don't ask how I know, but a hint is I have two of these bikes, both 72 5 speeds. There are some other problems, but that one is the one I wish I'd of known about. I'd also be a little hesitant of a high mileage example especially not knowing the history of maintenance. Do check out the Triples on line forum, excellent group and excellent info.

TT

Iceseven · 08-14-2007, 03:52 PM

I had a 1974 Trident and put a little over 50,000 miles on it over 20 years, I used to tour on this thing.
The thing about the Tridents is it has three of everything (coils, carbs, points) so more maintenance than the twins. The bad things that I found were mostly blowing holes in pistons. Someone once described the Trident as a thorobred and not a plow horse and I think that is correct, they take alot of involvement but are very enjoyable to ride and quite fast.

GrandPaulZ · 08-14-2007, 06:44 PM

I concur with that last post by Ice7, when you romp on the throttle of a Trident, you can tell instantly that you are not on a Bonnie. (I have a '74 and a '75)

The mechanical howl that is emmitted from the pipes makes the hair on my arms and neck stand up just thinking about it (I'm not kidding).

Any of you Trident owners get that same feeling when you think of that awesome sound? It's like few other machines...

Iceseven · 08-14-2007, 07:15 PM

Like GrandPaulZ said, the sound is amazing, I remember the first time that I really opened it up it sounded like a jet plane and it really fealt like I would come off the back of the seat!

That bike really had a soul to it, I sold it to someone that was going to restore it and I hope he did.

Mingh · 08-14-2007, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triumphtimes

Make sure the oil pressure light is hooked up and MAKE SURE that light stays off after starting the bike and getting it good and HOT. Don't settle for a start and few minute idle when looking. If that light is on after the bike is good and warm, at idle or greater avoid the bike like the plague....Main shells are done and a total strip down is in order. A little flicker of the light may not be cause for alarm, but I'd still stay away. Don't ask how I know, but a hint is I have two of these bikes, both 72 5 speeds. There are some other problems, but that one is the one I wish I'd of known about. I'd also be a little hesitant of a high mileage example especially not knowing the history of maintenance. Do check out the Triples on line forum, excellent group and excellent info.

TT

thanks everyone for the feedback. I'll specially look into this one. Anyone else knows of anything he'd wished to know beforehand?
how to recognize blown piston? How much mechanical noise or rattling are they supposed to make idling and at revs?

Iceseven · 08-14-2007, 07:32 PM

You can take out the spark plugs and use a bright flashlight, then use the kickstarter to turn the motor (pretty easy with plugs out) then look at each piston top, you will probably see carbon and hopefully no pock marks or marks in the aluminum. If it has a holed piston you will know it right away due to no or very little compression.

triumphtimes · 08-14-2007, 10:55 PM

GPZ, that snarling engine sound turning at 7-8K is an awesome sound!! I also really like the power delivery of the T150's as opposed to the twins. Totally different beast altogether.

TT