1975 Triumph T160 Trident 750cc Motorcycle

Description

1968's Triumph Trident was to be the last major motorcycle to be developed by the original Triumph Engineering Co Ltd business. Designed to be badge engineered with co-owned BSA (who sold the bike under the 'Rocket Three' nameplate, though with the engine slanted) it presented quite an upgrade for the company with the installation of a vertically installed 750cc 'Triple' cylinder motor to assist it in the bike power race against the Japanese and American bikes of the era. This motor produced some 58bhp (43kw) and were considered the first mass-produced, multi-cylinder motorbikes, though it lacked the OHV and electric start technology of the Honda 750cc released later that year. From 1972 a front disc brake was introduced to the Trident but BSA's financial troubles put paid to any further significant development. The T160 was the ultimate evolution of the Trident nameplate, a true 'last ditch' effort designed to overcome the poor sales of the T150 that preceded it. It arrived in 1975 and incorporated over 200 detail changes with the most important being an electric starter for the now-canted version of the Triple, shared with the BSA Rocket 3. By then, though, the writing was on the wall and the public had moved on to predominantly Japanese bikes. Norton Villiers Triumph went into receivership at the end of that year, closing a chapter on the once-great British-built big bike industry.