Trident something missing in the garage

Yo Toby, welcome aboard, there will be others along in a minute about sprag clutches. Well done, glad yer back, I often go and have a look in garage. I did this (and probably will again) with a 1966 Tiger 90, even tho I had a 2009 Bonnie as well. Still riding and an eye out for another 60's job.

 

Hi Toby and welcome back to the Triumph fold. We can't stay away for too long can we?

 

Hi Toby, and welcome!
I have had my '95 Trident 900 from new (20 years and counting!). Mileage is currently just shy of 49,500. As yet (and I may be tempting fate just a teenzy bit here) I have had no problems with the starter sprag clutch. They were uprated around '95 I do believe, though I've no idea if mine is one of them. Earlier (grey) engines had a cover above the crankcase to give access to the sprag, later one do not and thus cost a fortune to repair (engine out and pull it to bits I believe). The secret is to keep the battery in good condition, as the engine may kick back against the starter if the battery is week and only spinning the engine slowly (imagine kickstarting an older bike - if it kicks back it may break your ankle, so it's the same with leccy starters. And Triumph are not alone in this!).
Other than that, change the oil and filter regularly (mine's on Halfords fully synth at the moment) and mix Redex, or similar, with the petrol to keep the carbs etc clean, especially for over wintering - works for me!
If you can get into the air filter box, and they are VERY brittle, stick a K&N filter in as a 'fit and forget' measure. If you do it, you'll see why!! And if you do, it may be worth changing the carb rubbers at the same time! This is a fiddly job - on a good day!
Some have had problems with the front fork seals, though again I've been lucky. Just keep the forks clean and well polished.
I have a Hagon rear shock on mine with Hagon front fork springs. Seems good to me.
Hope that is helpful ... no doubt I've forgotten summat!!

 

Agree with everything Steve says about the Trident. Mine is an earlier one with the grey casing and the access panel but has had the sprag replaced anyway. Keep the battery charged, pull in the clutch when starting and you should have no problems.
(The airbox is a bugger though!)

 

http://www.gmecmotorcyclesplus.co.uk/used-motorcycles/

2 Legends and an Adventurer here, keep looking at that green legend myself. Good shop, use them all the time for all my bike needs. Down near Scarborough, good cafe as well.

 

Wow Bikerman, the same bike for 20 yrs - you really must love it !

 

Blimey!!! I could have written that (and indeed have done so in the past) about my Trident!!
There must be something about these early triples which compels some of us to hang on to them. I think the longest I'd owned a bike previously was just under 4 years with a Suzuki GT550J and about the same with a BMW R100RS.

So it would seem that Bikerman and I are in a 20 year ownership rut (bought my bike around mid August 1995, all lovely and new and shiny), but is there anyone else out there with a similar/longer length of ownership?
Just curious/nosey!

 

Thudderbirds/Leg Ends have 69 bhp, Thudderbird Sport has 89 bhp, Trident has 98 bhp!! Fnaaarrrrr Fnaaarrrr!! (All approximate figures, but you get the picture!).

Just saying!

 

You just can't get the staff nowadays - youngsters eh?

 

I was thinking along those lines (Smartarse? Moi? Oh, fairy nuff!! ) myself!!
The Trident engine is a beauty for an all rounder, though how it compares on the road to Thunderbirds I know not! If it gives pleasure, then all is well.
And yes! Over the last couple of years I have slowed down quite a bit. My 'need for speed' disappeared with my Daytona 955i Centennial. Long story, but poor health meant I couldn't do it justice (assuming that I ever could - which I couldn't!) and my riding was heavily curtailed as a result, so it was totally wasted on me. It now lives happily in the Severn Valley area.
My first ever state pension payment is due next week, so old fartism is upon me, though I haven't slowed down THAT much!