bombproof on the 750s.CertainlyI’ve never had
anyproblems with anyofmyown or the dozen-
plus othersI’ve borrowed.
Andthe gearshiftise xcellent, neutral easy
tofind,and...hang on.I’ve not eventold you
whatthe test victim is! OK!It’s a1975T150V
Trident. Built at BSA’s plantatS mall Heath, after
production had been haltedforawhile by
the closureofMeriden.Although all the triple
engines had been builtat Smal lHeath, the
Trident’sframe andrunning gearweremadeat
Meriden and when the plantwas blockaded,
production stopped.I’venever understood why
when NVTretooledto restartTrident production
they didn’t make thechangeto the T160, which
must have beenwell in to itsdevelopmentcycle
by then.If youknow, please enlightenme!
Andofcourse the momentyou sit on a
UK Trident, with its lowbars and slabbytank,
with the engine churningawayat asteady
1000rpm tickover, youknow–you simplyknow
–thatyou’regoingto have aspecialriding
experience. Andyou will.Ipreferthe UK tank,
because the shapely slim US alternativefeels
far tooUSBonnevilleto me.Alwayshas.The big
widebrea dbin is hardly the most handsome
tank (discuss) but it’s certainly differen t, viewed
from anyangle.
Enough of that. Into gear.Rightfoot shift.
Click.Thatisn ice. Andthen... it’s easy,open
throttle,catchthe revs with theclutch andaway
yougo. There’sadeepvroom from belowyou.
No needto revit–eventhough peaktorque
(45lb-fitisu sually quoted) is deliveredat ahigh
6900rpm, it’s notatall easyto stall atriple at low
revs.Thisisp ossibly downto the considerable
inertia of theconsiderable mass of thegreatbig
crank,three pistons androds –and possibly no t.
Delightint he smooth, because smooth it is,all
the wayuptomaybe 5500rpm, when it does get
alittle tingly.Nothi ng destructive, but it’s there.
Triumph offered rubber-mountedfootrestsforthe T160, so theywereplainlyaware. Ithink I
have apair, somewhere...hreecylinders,threecarbs.Thesearenot theoriginalAmals;
heseareMikunis,made in Japan. Expertviewsoncarbsare...
omplicatedAllBSAandTriumph triplescarryalargeoil
radiator. The reason is plain: the engines run
hot,and this is alsoagoodwaytokeepahigher
volume of oil incirculation The oilfillerandits dipstick liveunder the seat. It’s agoodideatocheck the levels regularly
This is not,repeatnot,acreativeplacetomount a
pillion rest.It’salifting handle–agooduse for a
pillion rest.Also observetheposition of the choke
lever. Handy(not)toreach from the saddleTRIUMPH T150 TRIDENT
Subscribe and save:www.Real-Classic.co.uk/subs AUGUST 2019 I