Triumphrat

gallowglass · 03-15-2005

G'day
this is my first post so a brief intro if you'll indulge me a moment.
I'm 44yo married with two adult children and I live in beautiful Tasmania a bit south of Oz (great riding roads) Started riding 27 years ago - fortunately for me my wife and both my kids love bikes (my son has a custom F4 750 MV Augusta) so I've always been able to ride. Started on Brits, went to boy racer Japs then retro Italian (still have an 80 SP Guzzi) and about six months ago I purchased a 95' Trident only one owner great condition (wonderful!!). So my question is this : 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

TexasTri · 03-15-2005

Go to the Photo Albums section, then look under the Hinckley Triumph Albums, each model has it's own folder with plenty of pics. While this does not explain the Trident history or evolution question, it does show what a Legend and Adventurer is.

As for the evolution, I am not sure, I don't think the Trident evolved into anything, but I could be wrong and will let the experts tell you differently.

A question I have is about the Hinckley Trident 750. I've seen posts about the 900's and have seen classified ads for the 900's, but have never seen a post for a Hinckley Trident 750, or one for sale. Anybody got one? :???:

gallowglass · 03-15-2005

thank you Russ,
the photo's were a great help. I just realised too that I had posted in the wrong forum as I said confused
thanks again

GeoffE · 03-15-2005

Quote:

TexasTri: A question I have is about the Hinckley Trident 750. I've seen posts about the 900's and have seen classified ads for the 900's, but have never seen a post for a Hinckley Trident 750, or one for sale. Anybody got one?

The only visual difference I can think of is that the side panel transfers have the word Trident running into a trident symbol, rather than the 900 symbol.
This being the case, then the current last two pictures (18 & 19) in the Trident Photo Album (e.g. 1993 Trident - Owner J Cerilli - Germany) shows a very nice example of the 750 Trident.

Ciao,
Geoff

Les · 04-11-2005

Hi Russ,
Quote " A question I have is about the Hinckley Trident 750. I've seen posts about the 900's and have seen classified ads for the 900's, but have never seen a post for a Hinckley Trident 750, or one for sale. Anybody got one?" Yup just bought a nice 1996 one, you can see 2 pic's of it in the Trident album. I heard some where that Triumph didn't send you the 750 for some reason. Lots of peeps actually preferred the 750 to the 900 it seems. :hammer:

Foxee · 05-02-2005

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

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.

Les · 05-02-2005

Oh yes and I have a 1996 750cc Trident in British Racing Green with some sensible uprated mods. Take a look in the Trident album its the last one in it I think. The bike is in great condition and goes very well. This British motorcycle press rated the 750 motor over the 900 when it was launched.

mhaythor · 06-20-2005

As far as I'm concerned, the exact reason that *I* bought mine is the reason the Trident was terminated. Sales were sluggish; people either wanted sport bikes, big cruisers, or retro. The Trident is none of the above - but that's exactly why I bought it. To *some* degree, it has the pep of a sportbike, the feel of a cruiser, and classic stylish appearance. Maybe not 'retro', but 'classic' for sure. I still think it's one of the more beautiful bikes around, though I think Triumph really did an extra great job on fit-and-finish back in the late 1990's. The gold swirl outlining the paint on the gas tank was brushed-on by hand. Truly custom.

Alas, the Trident failed because it wasn't one of the 'desirable' types of bikes. But, the whole T3 series of bikes was one heckuva re-introduction for Triumph and I think they did a great job.

Any time I think of selling my '96 Trident, I think of how few were actually produced. Then I look at it, then ride it, then am quickly reminded of why I bought it in the first place

[ This message was edited by: mhaythor on 2005-06-20 16:56 ]

Les · 06-20-2005

Completely agree with mhaythor here. The Trident is quiet a rare bike even here in old blighty. I go to a regular Sunday bike meet called "The Barn" here in Horwich, Bolton most Sundays. There are regularly 100s of bikes gathering there and I have only ever seen 2 or 3 Tridents and none have been the 750cc. There are lots of Jap plastic rocket ships but unless they have been customized then most don't attract a second look. However thats not the reason I bought my Trident. I bought it for the full package.

1/ Cheap to buy.
2/ Easy and cheap to service.
3/ Hey its a Brit bike and I'm a Brit.
4/ It says Triumph on the tank in BIG letters.
5/ yup its does stand out from the crowed.
6/ its cheap to insure.
7/ Its rare.
8/ People say "I thought Triumph stopped making bikes long ago" Mostly I don't have the heart to tell them the story.
9/ Hey this bike is FUN with a cap "F"
10/ Well there just has to be a 10 don't they. its a Triumph Trident and few have one or even seen one it would seem.

OK so now then why did you buy yours.

:wink:

smaughazard · 06-21-2005

Les is right- fun, fast, and you sure don't find yourself parked next to another just like it. I got mine due to unfortunate circumstances- the former owner (my boss at the time) was killed when his Sprint met an 18-wheeler head-on. The family sold off most of his 30-odd bikes, but the Trident sat there for over a year with no takers. I decided I'd like another bike just so I didn't have to choose between my full-dress Harley or one of my old BSAs, so I made an offer. I've had a lot of positive comments from all kinds of riders, and the Trident has been extremely dependable. While i've made lots of changes to fit the bike to my size (it wasn't designed for someone 6'3"!) and riding style, it's definitely a "keeper" and I look forward to enjoying it for many more years!