2022 and it's "Everyday Street Bikes?"

Triumph Trident

 When you get in your 50's you're not as nimble as you once were, and riding motorbikes seems to get more uncomfortable when you have been on them for a few hours.

My reactions arn't what they used to be, and after recently damaging my arm thanks to the Fireblade my biking has been less enthusiastic. Myself and Col often discus the hand gripping the bars problem that many Sports bike riders get, its caused from your hands having to support your upper body weight the position also makes your shoulders and neck ache, then there's the legs, because of the tight angle your legs are in, after a while it seems hard work moving your feet off the pegs when you have to stop, and again from a previous injury my hip hurts after a few hours.

With that in mind I decided its time to try a different style. 

I wanted something that is different, not a superbike wanna-be, but something that arcs back to the Suzuki Bandit I once lusted after in the late 90s.  I read a few reviews and found myself in the Triumph dealer in Plymouth. They had the new Triumph Trident on display a rarity at the time as it was sold out everywhere.

I sat on it and instantly took a liking to its comfy seat and upright seating position. 

 When at the 2021 Bike show in Birmingham I put my name down for a test ride and it took until April 2022 for that to happen.

However I managed to get a ride on one. Thanks to the guys at Streetbike Halesowen for letting me have the ride. I rode the Fireblade to the shop so this test ride was back to back with the bike I am used to. 

I was shown the controls and off I went.

 The first thing I noticed was how thin it felt around the tank where your knees go compared to the fireblade. The mirrors are in a different place to what I am used too they seemed very close but the views behind are unobstructed and i quickly got used to them. 

  It picked up quickly from a twist of the throttle and for the first 10 minutes the ride was limited to just 30 mph as I headed up to Romsley. The clutch feels light and steering quick with a reasonable turning circle, better than a sports bike anyway.   While going along this stretch of road it gave me chance to think about how I felt on it - hmm! Comfortable. Arms felt in a natural position and legs with not a to sharp an angle, but feet were definately lower than that of the Fireblade and the hand controls all in the right place,   ohh and the seat, yes its almost sofa like compared to the fireblade.

 Out of Romsley the speed limit changes and you can get up to 60mph, the Trident was in 6th and pulled upto the speed limit with no problem and quite briskly, maybe dare I say as good as if not better than my fireblade if it was in 6th.

 The seat was soft and I felt myself slide back to the hump about half way along. A couple of twisty corners which it handled well around bring you to the end of the road and the first real use of the brakes.  The front dipped and the brakes gripped nicely.  The front suspension definitely travelled more than on a sports bike.  

 I pulled out onto the next road, nothing around so I tried a quick acceleration test - Quick!  OK its not Fireblade quick but I would say upto 70 you would not see a bunch of dots in the distance as your mates disappear on their sports bikes on the roads.

 After half an hour of riding I pulled into a layby to check it over and get a proper look at what I was riding.  It looks nice, if you like that type of thing. Bit of a strange rear number plate holder -  but you can get an after market kit to move it up higher if you dont like it.  I do like the short tail end and how the exhaust comes out infront of the rear wheel. It sounds different to what I am used to but it has 3 cylinders, its not unpleasant sounding.

  It has loads of features, such as ABS, Traction Control, Slipper Clutch, 3 cylinders, Nissin calipers, Showa 41mm upside down separate function forks (SFF)  unfortunately you cant adjust them.

 There is a fuel guage, it tells you your average mpg which told me 55mpg, it has 2 riding modes, 1 for rain and one for..... when its not raining. 

The engine is 80BHP but Triumph have made it so the power is delivered at the lower end of the rev range giving it pleanty of power from the get go which  dies off towards higher revs.  The front tyre width was 120 and rear 180 similar to the fireblades. Its bound to have other goodies I havent mentioned.

I rode it back to the shop not an ache or pain after an hour on it.  I stepped off with a smile under my crash helmet and gave it another quick look over. 

Some of the things I took away from this experience were it was nice to see over the car infront, and over hedges so the view is better, you can cruise comfortably, its fast up to the speed limit, has loads of infomation on the tft speedometer, it felt so easy to ride and looks great.

  You do feel the wind more than on my fireblade as theres no protection and the suspension seemed to travel more than what i was used to.  

  Theres some nice after market parts and on the triumph website you can build it how you want it which is always fun to see what it would look like with the added extras they sell.

The last ride Col and I went on we both commented about new speed limits cropping up on some favourite roads of ours, maybe a more easy going style of bike would make the ride more fun again?

What I do know is I like the Trident, I like it so much I am very tempted to buy one - watch this space! 

BUT I want to keep the Fireblade a bit longer yet.