So You Want To Own A Classic Triumph Trident?

Its three cylinders make a magnificent sound, but what are the ups and downs of owning this 50 year old classic bike? Wobbly Phil reflects on owning a 1975 Triumph Trident, the last gasp of the British motorcycle industry in the 1970s. Just how much did it cost to fix that oil leak?

Since publication a number of people have pointed out that I’ve fudged up the Norton featherbed frame with new isolastic frame for the Commando. Sorry about that and I’m happy to put the record straight, having written myself a stern note along the lines of ‘must try harder’.

Link to So You Want To Own A Classic Motorcycle video:

#classicmotorcycles #triumph #triumphtrident #1970s

[richardsimpson]

Former staff writer on Classic Bike magazine here: you are spot on with this.
The best Trident ever made was the Les Williams Legend

[marco-]

While i had a Commando, my mate had a T150. It had a 3-1 Piper exhaust and howled like an old Formula 1 car. Fantastic. He knew the bike inside out, as it WAS usually inside out, if you get my drift. Great vid, thanks.

[TrustyZ]

My neighbor has a '73 T150 he's had since '75. Was in storage for 15 years and has been repainted and sorted out. One of the coolest sounding machines ever built. Runs very nicely when we ride together on my Z900. I had a '71 CB750 K1 when he 1st bought it. Had more fun back then with no traffic, cops and nutsos on the road. Really have a soft spot for T160's. Exquisite motorcycles.

[rickconstant]

£11, 000? Are you sure they didn't just go out and buy you another one, change the plate over and keep the change? That is a truly horrendous bill, especially if they didn't get prior authorisation. I'm a retired car mechanic, who has done a fair amount of work on bikes, too, and my customers would have strung me up if I'd tried to pull that stunt.

[joeblow]

Bought a brand new '75 T160 in OKC in 'Feb of '77 after I got offthe USS Nimitz 7 month Med Cruise ($1895 lol).Burgandy, just like in the picture. Outside of a wire rubbing against a coil spade and burning up a points harnass (quickly repaired by Rex and Leroy at Triumph of Oklahoma City RIP) that thing was the model of reliability.
Drove it back to Beaufort S.C. (1350 miles) amd up and down the easter seaboard my last 2 years in the Corps. Back to Oklahoma then out to Tuscon to see my grandpa before he died.
Fast, fun, and different. I still have it, but its kinda wored out. Think I ended up doing 4 top ends on it. Never had to touch the bottom end. Probably have 60k+ miles on it, as its hard to tell because that stupid rear wheel speedo cable was broke most of the time. hahaha
Never got the Triumph bug out of my system. Saved a '72 T100 Daytona from a Kawasaki dealer 30 years ago. (blue and white) Drove it to the bank yesterday.
cheers

[julianp]

Quite simply the most beautiful motorcycle ever made!

[chrisheggie]

Thanks Phil, I had lusted after a T160 for decades since I first saw one parked on the street in '77 and heard it roar off into the distance. I soon owned a nice '69 T120 and a long string of Yamahas since but the yearning remained until '15 when a tasty looking '96 T'Bird Triple landed in the garage. And yes I know it's only a vague homage to a proper Trident but it doesn't leak oil, sounds fabulous and goes like stink by comparison with most old Trumpys, so yes I'm happy and content, but gee, your Trident does look good...

[kevink]

Bought my T160 in '76, my first bike. Converted to a Boyer Ignition to eliminate points maintenance, and it improved idle and made it easier to kick start, as I had removed the heavy electric starter that may have come from a British dump truck. The exhaust header looked nice, but was not buit for power ... replaced with a 3 to 1 option. The bike ran a bit like a 2 stroke with power coming in above 4k rpms, so I installed Norris B cams for a big, broad power improvement. Had a head gasket leak, the copper one, and replaced it with conventional material, thinner one. Stopped the leak and increased the compression ratio. Had a leak at the tach cable-to-engine joint, and a mistery leak that dripped off the engine's bottom screen filter. This bike was a great corner carver ... just fell into corners with a little coaching. I wore the ends of the foot pegs at a 45 degree angle, on the curvey roads in W. Va, using contact between my sneakers and the road to find the limit. Also bought an 81 Suzuki GS750, great for reliable, comfortable touring but not like the T160 when pushing the corners. I think this Trident was one of the best looking bikes ever made, especially with red/white tank and viewed on the side of the engine with the timing gears ... beautifully cast aluminum covers. I put 19, 000 miles on it, mostly doing week long tours with 3 or 4 friends, including bike week at Daytona . It's still in the family.

[daves]

Marshall let me ride that 1975 model still new in 1981 from his showroom floor during my senior year in high-school in Wisconsin. Fell in love with it but had to say no for money reasons and, more importantly, I needed something to get me around for several more years cheap. My then first bike was a Trophy 250 so reliability standards had to be raised for me. I happily bought a neglected 77 CB750F . No regrets through the following 6 or 7 years. I still have a grin though from that test ride on the Trident. 😁

[pauloakes]

The CB 750 four f2 was my first bike I had after passing my test in the early 90s.So forgiving so reliable and still not as slow bike.Great day and still living the dream on my 2004 Daytona of ten years.Great content!

[alfajuj]

You mentioned the Norton "new Featherbed frame" in the Commando, but the new frame was not a Featherbed, rather it was the replacement for the Featherbed, which was the Commando Isolastic frame. The Commando frame was NOT a Featherbed.

[priesty]

I've watched a thousand Trident videos; some good, some average, but most absolutely terrible. This is by far the most entertaining - thank you 👍

[johndesmond]

I have one of these lovely bikes, and I have to say you have an accurate view of the T160. As well as being the prettiest motorcycle ever made, it is an absolute joy to ride when it's in a cooperative mood, the sound the best ever, especially with my Dunstall replicas. Sadly it is often less willing to cooperate, and has a high fettling overhead. A good summer is one where more time is spent riding than wrenching.
If you do not see an oil leak, I would immediately check that you do indeed have any oil in the bike!

[GrtSatan]

I bought a 73 750 Commando when I was 18 years old and I still have the special tools required to keep it running. It taught me a lot but I am more than satisfied with my current ride, a KTM 890 Duke R that I don't have to tune after every second ride.

[CobraVeight]

Hi Phill, I have a T160 in very tidy condition, same red, it is my first Triumph and I've only own it 1 ½, my motor goes pretty good I have made some improvements to the later oil tank screen and larger oil pump inlet, it is a lot better, oil pressure no cavitation and oil pressure goes up when the revs increase, what a bonus, my engine is quiet and uses virtually no oil, but one day I will freshen and regrind the crank, to make sure it keeps on living, they Definitely sound awesome and they feel solid on the road and go well with my odd collection, 49 matchless g80, 54 b33, 73 norton 750 and a 76 Honda gl1000, good video hope you get some good enjoyment from your T160. Cheers.

[Cruel_Shoes]

$11, 000 for a rebuild> But I know the type of people the owner is talking about. And it’s not just restricted to motorcycles but basically any type of repair service. But ripoffs are one reason I got out of cycling.

[Banditmanuk]

I'm enjoying your films so have subscribed. You definitely bring a dose of reality to owning and 'investing in' a classic motorcycle.
At 60, I keep looking at bikes from my youth. A CBX1000 appeals (yes can you imagine the pain of 6 carburettors!!) I owned an RD250LC back in 81 and still lust after a 350.
Luckily, 8 years ago, I bought a new Yamaha MT10. 35, 000 miles later, it still only needs routine servicing and lots (and lots) of petrol.

[neilcrumpton]

Yep a classic reflection. I bought a T160 Trident back in 1979. Awesome sound on my long distance commutes. Turned up at Norman Hyde's counter, handed over lots of cash for his 1, 000 cc conversion which I did in front of a warm open fire in Snowdonia. Took the leccy start off - saved weight (inc smaller battery). Stunning lines - if only they had tiny LED indicators back then. Sold it ( cheaply ) to buy a house. Forgot about biking for 38 years until the sloping block of a RE Interceptor caught my eye.. Bought Interceptor - no oil leaks, starts first time, doesn't shake - wot. Hmm, maybe with 2020s bits and Youtube vids.... bought T160 Trident. Currently handing over lots of cash for CNC bits, electronic bobs and building a shed for my second secular conversion... looking forward to some more Misty Mountain Hops - with reverb without vibration.

[mikeleckey]

Been lusting after one of this for as long as I can remember (59 yrs old). Recently bought one locally for 5K. The chap selling in was renovating his barn and wanted rid of it. After a carb clean (blocked idle jets) it now starts and runs magnificently. It has lived up to my expectations unlike a Laverda Jota that I had a few years ago which I hated. It sounds glorious and the occasional, Amal induced misfire just adds to the soundtrack and takes me back to watching the Rob North examples being thrashed around the race track. It will no doubt spend as much time in the workshop as it does on the road but, fortunately I can wield a spanner and enjoy tinkering as much as riding. Can't recommend one enough - the pinnacle of British Motorcycle manufacturing????

[christianpaoloni]

Very nice and appealing bike! And nice and honnest video! (from a Darmah owner spending and working on an "all you have to do is travel!" bike!)