Triumph Trident

The full story of Triumph’s ground-breaking three-cylinder superbike. As it reaches the fiftieth anniversary of its launch, the Triumph Trident T150 is as appreciated today by its many owners and enthusiasts as it was in its heyday.

Felim Blake has a dream as a child as a result of which he becomes haunted throughout his adult life by the conviction that he has been commuted to a parallel universe. Partly because of this belief and frustrated with his mediocre and faltering career, he becomes jaded, embittered and destructive causing ripples of discord in an otherwise wonderful marriage to his beautiful wife Iseulte. He decides, while on a motorcycle trip, to write a book of his life as it was and how he would like it to become. He then builds a circle of standing stones on a magical glade and then the book becomes a spell, an extraordinary incantation that takes a grip on his life. Felim becomes thrilled at first, then terrified, then remorseful as events take place that create a mortal rift between him and Iseulte. He continues to write in the hope that he will be restored to his rightful universe and with his lost love. Little does he know, at that time, that terrifying answers await unasked questions while Felim is on his quest.

The 3-cylinder Triumph Trident and BSA Rocket 3 were developed to compete with Honda's forthcoming 750cc motorcycle. Initially they did not compare well – although very fast, they lacked sophistication and their quirky styling was offputting – and the decision was made to suspend production. This was not the most auspicious start, but a fightback was initiated and in 1971 the factory race team had a triumphant year including placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd at the Daytona 200. With over 250 photographs, the full rollercoaster-ride history of these bikes is described, including: how the bikes came to be, including a timeline of significant events; a year-by-year account of the evolution of the bikes, through the T150, T160 and Rocket 3; the story of the Hurricane; the full racing history and, finally, the Triumph 3-cylinder bikes today.