I spent a good amount of time trying to figure the Triumph Trident 800 out around on the roads of Cyprus. Now, the bike wasn't tough to understand because it was complicated; the difficulty lay in its simplicity.
The motorcycle doesn't excel or have major faults in any one area. It's just very good everywhere, but that doesn't exactly make for great reading. While trying to explain why this bike is "very good," I completely overlooked how its styling could mean it's out for Yamaha and Kawasaki's lunch money, somewhat indirectly.
See, Kawasaki and Yamaha jointly dominate the modern-retro roadster performance market with models like the Z900RS and XSR900. It's a good thing those bikes exist, too, as the MT-09 and Z900, which are the Trident 800's direct rivals, are pretty divisive in terms of styling. I think the MT-09's front looks like Iron Man's helmet, while the Z900 looks like a Predator—not bad things, just violent impacts to your pupils.
Meanwhile, the Trident 800 is a much more gentlemanly-looking motorcycle than its direct competitors from Japan, but Triumph has also done enough to ensure that it's not boring. The design appears flighty thanks to its compact frame and wheelbase. The standard belly pan and fly screen serve to give it some flair, and that's before you set eyes on its gold wheels. An almost retro-styled round headlight, burly gas tank, and high, wide bars give the Trident modern roadster energy, and that's a rare aesthetic.
These days, we call standard motorcycles 'nakeds', although they're technically roadsters too. The thing is, when you hear someone say "roadster," it conjures images of old-school or modern-retro bikes, regardless of what the word means on paper. And if I asked you create a modern roadster, not a modern-retro roadster, then you'd have created the Trident 800.
The Trident 800 is both a half-step away from being a modern-retro and a half-step from being a standard naked. It's in its own niche, but I'm sure it will pull riders who sit on adjacent fences. The Trident should draw attention from those who find the likes of the MT-09 or Z900 too polarizing and also who like the style and somewhat laid-back energy of bikes like the XSR900 and Z900RS, but don't want to commit to the full retro-modern styling all the time.
You wouldn't look strange in an old-school jacket and retro-styled helmet on a Trident, but likewise, you'd look just as good in modern gear. The Trident doesn't pigeonhole you one way or the other. And for all this versatility, including how good an all-round motorcycle it is, you'll pay less than if you opt for any of the other motorcycles mentioned.
In the US, you can pick up a Trident for $9,999, and the closest you'll get to that in terms of performance is the fantastic Yamaha MT-09 for $10,899. Only, with the MT, you'll still have to put up with its styling, even if you're not a fan.
On the flip side, you could get one of the best-looking retro-moderns in the form of Kawasaki's Z900RS, but that'll set you back $12,899 for the ABS variant. So if you've been on the fence about buying any of the Japanese models, I'd heavily suggest waiting until you can test a Trident when they hit dealerships in March.
