At a press launch event at the Design Museum in London, Triumph revealed a very stark prototype of their forthcoming A2 Licence compatible middleweight roadster. This will be the first Trident since the 900 and 750cc machines ceased production in 1998 and is slated to be available in dealers from Spring 2021.
Details about the machine were scarce, but it was revealed that it will be a triple and will have some sophisticated electronics. It is aimed squarely to compete with the Yamaha MT-07 which has been making headroom in the sales figures for the last two years. The Yamaha sells mainly on cost, at just under £6,700 it is a lot of bike for not a lot of cash. However the Yamaha doesn't have the refined nature of the Street Triple or the retro feel of the Speed Twin so Triumph can bring something unique into this sector.
The machine will be A2 Licence compliant, so should appeal to those who have just passed their test. This could mean that it will only have a maximum power of 47bhp (35kW) but the key figure is the power to weight ratio which can be no more than 0.26bhp per kilogramme so the bike will be a minimum of 175kg in weight. However that doesn't sound particularly appealing to the wider motorcycling market. Instead it is probably more likely that the machine will be available restricted using the ECU to provide the restriction via a tamper-proof mapping - and which can be derestricted by a dealership simply changing the mapping. We think the capacity will be 699cc but forget about it having market leading components such as Brembo Stylemas or Ohlins suspension. What you will get is the Triumph style and poise they have bred into the Street Triple with the classic looks you get from the Speed Twin. All this for a budget price too - we think it will be just under £7,000 and will have a good finance package.
Technology will feature prominently in this machine. The typical A2 Licence holder is generally younger than Triumph's current target market and they do like their gadgets. We think the new machine will certainly feature the now commonplace riding modes, cornering ABS, and lean-sensitive traction control but probably won't have active suspension. The new dashboard is split in two and we're fairly certain that the top-half will feature a rev counter, digital speedometer, and gear indicator - not that exciting - but the bottom half may well be more than just a place to put the coolant temperature or fuel level. We think it could feature various displays for a paired phone allowing turn-by-turn navigation on screen, current music track, and caller info.
The stark white paint scheme is more a nod to the venue than what to expect when it reaches the dealers. The prototype isn't road-ready, the chain is absent, the cables and wires are missing, and they have yet to attach indicators and a licence plate holder. It was a brave decision to paint it white and leave the engine black but it does show the sculpted outline of the brand new frame and the tank very clearly - there is no hiding behind funky paintwork and you can see the simplicity of the design. More information will be forthcoming in a few weeks and the bikes themselves will be in dealerships for spring 2021 - which is very quick. The brief was 'fun' and we expect this machine to be just that.
