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Need Feedback-Possible Purchase '98 Trident

2K views 15 replies 7 participants last post by  PA_Robert 
#1 ·
So I'm looking for another bike. Either a sport bike (600-900 Ninja type) and/or a late 70's KZ1000.

I came across this on Cleveland craigslist:

https://cleveland.craigslist.org/mcy/d/hudson-98-triumph-t300-trident-custom/7005581729.html

I'm not too familiar with Triumphs. I'm a new owner, 800 miles on a 2018 Street Scrambler.

But this bike looks good. and might "tick the boxes" for a sport bike- sport look, 885cc, etc. Added bonus is that it is also a sport tour with the back rack/trunk.

My first choice in a new bike is the old KZ. But if anyone has any feedback for whether or not I should look at this one, please let me know.

If there's someone here interested, don't be shy, pull the trigger. I'm still debating it.
 
#2 ·
I'm not impressed with the bike. Trident's don't have a front or side fairing. The luggage rack is a Givi from earlier single headlight Trophy. Those wheels are not 1998 wheels. You've a Scrambler so get a touring bike with a full fairing. Trophys are excellent, but they feel top heavy when pushing around the driveway nor garage. 900 or 1200 both are great. High mileage is not a problem if it is maintained correctly. Price is usually close to $2000. Dual headlight models came out in 1996.
 
#3 ·
Interesting...IF I lived near Cleveland and IF that bike is as advertised, I would pick it up in a heartbeat for that price. Although as Greg stated, the Trident isn't a touring bike like a Trophy (I've owned two 1200 Trophy's, a '95 and an '01) it's a very good all 'round daytrip/weekend bike. That fairing add-on will cut a bunch of wind. Trident's were marketed as naked bikes. I own a '98 and at age 65 it is my hooligan bike. Can't do true sport bikes anymore due to ergonomics. The Trident has a pretty upright seating position. For what it's worth, in the group of guys I've been riding with the last 17 years or so, 6 of us have a Trident in the stable. They are a fantastic bike, reliable, pretty rare and handle well. Anyway, definitely worth taking a look at if you live close enough.
 
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#10 ·
Hi Glenn, That's a good pictogram explaining the Johnson Jolt. May I elaborate on it a bit? The 6 wires that come out of the main wiring loom for the coils has 2 wires for each coil. One wire for each coils is supposed to be a positive 12 volts, the other wire that connects to the negative side of the coil goes to the ECU and fires the spark at the right time. Notice how I said the positive is supposed to be 12 volts, well it isn't. Put a volt meter on the wire and it will come out close to 10.5 to 11 volts. If you add up all the connections for that 12 volt wire inside the schematic, and each time there is a connection a little bit of voltage is lost. Being that our wires are close to 20 years old doesn't help matter either. So the Johnson Jolt bypasses all those connections. Power from the battery goes straight to the relay. Any one of the 12 volt coil wires goes to activate the relay. The relay gets activated when the key is turned on, so power goes from the battery thru the relay and then to the coils. Turn the key off and the relay opens and the power to the coils is turned off. If you really want to get fancy, get rid of the coils and spark plug wires and go to coil over plugs (COP's) from the 1600 or 1700 Triumph Thunderbirds. But that is for another post.
 
#12 ·
Of course you may elaborate Greg. Yes, the harness loses at least a volt from the battery to the end. I am just going through that now with my alternator overcharging (lost voltage in the sensor wire). I did the Johnson Jolt first and it made a noticeable difference in starting and smoother running. Then I thought I had a bad coil some time later so went COP with TT600 coils. Placebo effect or not, it feels better than ever. No worries about tiptoeing around parking lots now - zero hiccups.

Cheers,
Glenn
 

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#14 ·
Hi Glenn, Glad to read you're having success with the Johnson Jolt and the COP's, me too. Turns out the TT600 and the Thunderbirds use the same COP's. The only reason I'd go to the Thunderbird COP's is they would be newer. I've bought many used parts for Ebay, in fact both my bikes the 900 Sprint and the 1200 Trophy turned into a Trident are Frankenstein bikes ( built from dead parts ).
I just wish some one would come along and show me how to configure the COP's for the 1200 engine.
 
#15 ·
Yeah, glad to hear the TBird option for the coils, too. Coils do get old just sitting around sometimes so newer models are the better choices.

The 1200 does seem to be a problem for COPs. Quite a few guys tried, but just couldn't make it work. I think Ed tried, too. Some guys with the old V4 Hondas (Magna & Sabre) have done the COP mod. They are a 4 cylinder with wasted spark ignition system just like our 1200's. I don't know what the problem really is for the 1200's.

Cheers,
Glenn
 
#16 · (Edited)
I put a few miles on the Trident and I have to say...great bike. Very happy I bought it.

I got the Givi side bags and I can pack a lot of stuff if needed. Only issue was the speedo cable broke.

I also found a 1977 KZ1000 LTD over the winter.

I went to a Triumph Best of British tour in Pittsburgh last November. I need more. A speed triple or Daytona is in order and a z900


1998 Trident
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