Triumph Trident T150 for sale
SELLER SAYS: 1969 Triumph T150T Trident. American restoration, imported in 2012 with papers included. Matching numbers, standard bore, original four-speed, light clutch, Trispark ignition, first-kick start, near new Avon tyres. Rides great for a 56-year-old bike. Contact Phil on 0419 918 404 (Hervey Bay, Queensland)
EDITOR TERLICK SAYS: This is the bike that nearly saved the British motorcycle industry. Nearly. Legend has it that Triumph was ready to release the three-cylinder Trident — a very fast, sweet-handling step-up from the British twins it would make redundant — in 1966. That’s right, 1966. If Triumph had gone ahead with that release, it’s very likely that the arrival of Honda’s CB750 in 1969 would not have had anywhere near the market impact that it ultimately did. Truth be told, the Trident was faster and better handling than the Honda. (There was a rather famous Trident race bike that did the rounds back in the day, known as Slippery Sam, which proved just how competent the Trident was.) But when Honda unleashed the 750 Four, it was competing against the Triumph Bonneville, Norton Commando and BSA Lightning — and it made them look archaic! When Triumph finally released the Trident, along with BSA’s Rocket 3, the momentum was overwhelmingly behind the exotic new machinery from the far east. The moment had been lost. Fortunately, the Trident (and Rocket) did make it to market, and sufficient bikes were sold that you can still find a marvellous example, like this one of Phil’s. The Tri-spark ignition is a bonus, making many old Brits a whole lot more cooperative at start-up, but I’m delighted to see it still wearing a pair of Amal carbies. And how cool are those Raygun mufflers? Lovely stuff.
