Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1543816
Those used to the Street Triple's sharper tank lines will notice the Trident's almost pea-shaped tank gives a pretty different rider stance. The tank sides are wider and don't allow as much tuck-in as the Street Triple's, but it keeps you a little more up - right and in not quite as aggressive a rider stance. The Trident looks traditional without being old, thanks to the big, classic-looking single headlight and the back end, which has a few modern race- bike cues, meaning the designers have struck a pretty funky balance in how the Trident presents itself. Think bruiser streetfighter in the traditional sense, not a stripped-back supersport bike. Once you're underway, two things immediately stand out. The first being how soft the suspension is set as standard, the second is how much of a blast that 798cc inline three-cylinder engine is. The 41mm Showa Big Piston Fork comes with full adjustability, but it's the rear shock that will require some preload if you're north of 160 pounds dripping wet, which I most certainly am. At con - ventional road speeds, like puttering around inner city streets, the settings are fine, but as soon as you want to wick the pace up, you'll want to give the rear suspension a bit of preload for some extra support. Do that, and the Trident will hold its line beautifully, and its sub-440-pound wet weight means agility is never in question. The Trident retains the beautiful agility that's a genetic trait of the Street Triple lineup, but the slightly more relaxed riding position means it doesn't feel quite as urgent. There's a more chilled-out vibe to the Trident's per- sona, which is added to by how comfort- able that seat pad is over a long day (a small detail, but important). An area the Trident is lacking is front braking feel. Power is reasonable, but the cheapie master cylinder doesn't give the deft-feet-on-the-first-quarter-of-brak - ing-pull want. It's an easy fix; just throw a race-spec master cylinder at it (and maybe some higher-spec pads), and the braking will be transformed. You've got cornering ABS inside the electronics at any rate, so you're halfway there already. ing-pull want. It's an easy fix; just throw a race-spec master cylinder at it (and maybe some higher-spec pads), and the braking will be transformed. You've got cornering ABS inside the electronics at any rate, so you're halfway there already. The dash is good but not great. It's easy enough to operate and use, but it looks pretty dated. P128 RIDE REVIEW I 2026 TRIUMPH TRIDENT 800 (Top) Fully adjustable 41mm Showa Big Piston forks up front provide stable handling, but they're a touch on the soft side as standard. (Bottom) See that big ol' clutch cable? Its routing looks like an afterthought.