2026 Triumph Trident 660 Review: More Power, Specs and South African Price
The Triumph Trident 660 has been the easy recommendation in the middleweight naked class since 2021: a three-cylinder engine with real character, a low seat, a sensible price and a badge people want. Its one weakness was that it had less power than the twins it competed with. For 2026 Triumph has fixed that, with 17 percent more power, a higher rev limit and a full electronics package, and Triumph South Africa lists the new bike from R180,000.
This is what has changed, what three first rides in Spain found, and how it stacks up against the Honda CB750 Hornet, Suzuki GSX-8S and KTM 790 Duke on the South African market.
This is a research based review. Scooter125 has not ridden the 2026 Trident 660 and the bike was not supplied by Triumph or a dealer. Specifications come from Triumph’s global and South African model pages. Riding impressions come from first ride tests by Cycle News, Visordown and Rider Magazine, all ridden at the launch in Spain. The running cost sums are our own, at the October 2026 fuel price. The price quoted is Triumph South Africa’s indicative figure and excludes delivery and factory extras.
What you need to know first
The 2026 Trident 660 is a 660cc inline three-cylinder naked bike making 70 kW (95 PS) at 11,250 rpm and 68 Nm at 8,250 rpm. It weighs 195 kg with a full tank, has an 810 mm seat and a 14 litre tank, and Triumph claims 4.9 litres per 100 km.
Triumph South Africa lists it from R180,000 in Snowdonia White, with Cosmic Yellow and Stone Grey R4,000 more. It comes with a two-year unlimited-distance warranty and 16,000 km service intervals.
All three tests say the same thing. The engine is now the best in the class, the bike is as easy to ride as ever, and the suspension and brakes, which are largely unchanged, are the limit when you use all the new power.
What is new for 2026
The headline is the engine, but the list is long:
- Power up 17 percent, from 60 kW to 70 kW, and torque up 9 percent, from 64 Nm to 68 Nm. The rev limit rises to 12,650 rpm.
- Three throttle bodies of 44 mm in place of one, a bigger airbox, larger exhaust valves and a higher-lift camshaft. The engine is now essentially the Daytona 660’s.
- Revised gearbox and slipper clutch, with a taller first gear and sixth working more as an overdrive.
- Cornering ABS and cornering traction control from a six-axis sensor, where the old bike had neither.
- Quickshifter and cruise control as standard. The quickshifter was an option before.
- A wider handlebar (10 mm each side), a broader tank with sharper knee cut-outs, and a new split seat.
- A rear shock adjustable for rebound as well as preload.
- New colours, including Cosmic Yellow.
Weight is up by about 5 kg to 195 kg. The frame, the fork, the brakes and the round dash carry over.
The 660cc triple
Triumph’s 660 triple has always been the Trident’s reason to exist. A three-cylinder engine sounds and pulls differently from the parallel twins everyone else uses in this class: smoother at the bottom, with a howl at the top that a twin cannot make. What it lacked was the top end to match the noise. The old bike made 60 kW and signed off early.
The 2026 engine fixes that. With three throttle bodies, more airflow and a hotter cam it makes 70 kW at 11,250 rpm, revs 1,000 rpm higher, and still delivers 80 percent of its torque across the rev range according to Triumph. Visordown said the engine comes alive near 13,000 rpm and may be the most entertaining in its class. Cycle News found it happiest in the midrange, pulling cleanly from low revs, and said it does not need to be chased to the limiter to be quick. Rider Magazine called the throttle response precise and linear, and the bike “a real hoot” at nearly 100 hp in a 195 kg package.
The gearbox is new and the quickshifter now works both ways as standard. All three tests liked it. Visordown noticed a slight flat spot around 6,000 to 7,000 rpm and said it is barely noticeable.
At Highveld altitude a naturally aspirated engine loses roughly 15 percent of its power, so in Gauteng this is about a 60 kW bike. That is roughly what the old Trident made at sea level, so the upgrade matters more here than anywhere.
Chassis, suspension and brakes
The chassis is the 2021 bike’s, with small changes to the top rails to clear the new throttle bodies. It is a tubular steel perimeter frame with a steel swingarm, a 1,402 mm wheelbase, 24.5 degrees of rake and 108 mm of trail. Those are quick-steering numbers, and the bike is light for the class.
The fork is a 41 mm Showa upside-down unit with 120 mm of travel and no adjustment. The rear shock has 130 mm of travel and now adjusts for rebound as well as preload. The brakes are Nissin: twin 310 mm front discs with two-piston sliding calipers, a 255 mm rear disc, braided lines and a span-adjustable lever, all governed by cornering ABS.
This is where the testers’ reservations sit. The suspension is set soft, which makes the bike comfortable and friendly, but Cycle News found the fork rebounds too fast when pushed and that feedback from the front tyre fades. Visordown added rear preload to improve stability and ground clearance and still wanted more control at the limit. The brakes were described as progressive and adequate rather than strong, and Visordown wanted more power into tight hairpins. The tyres are Michelin Road 5, which Rider praised for consistent grip and Visordown found short of feel at the edge.
None of this bothered the testers at the pace most owners ride. It is a note for anyone who intends to use all 70 kW on a mountain pass.
How it rides
All three tests were run on the mountain roads around Alicante and Benidorm in southern Spain.
The verdict on everyday riding is unanimous. The seat is low, the clutch is light, the throttle is smooth and the steering is light, so the bike is easy in traffic and easy for a newer rider. Visordown said it suits new riders and licence-restricted riders in Europe without feeling like a beginner’s bike. Rider found it noticeably lighter and more flickable than its Tiger Sport 660 sibling, and felt faster on it.
Pushed harder, the Trident rewards a smooth style. Cycle News put it plainly: the chassis is compliant and stable when ridden smoothly and does not like being rushed. Ridden that way it is quick, comfortable and fun, and with the new engine there is a lot more to enjoy before the suspension becomes the limit.
There is no wind protection at all. Rider rated it less comfortable than the Tiger Sport on a long day for that reason, and Cycle News made the same point. A colour-matched flyscreen is an accessory.
Electronics and equipment
The 2026 bike brings the Trident’s electronics up to the class standard:
- three riding modes, Sport, Road and Rain, which change throttle response and traction control
- cornering ABS and cornering traction control, both driven by a six-axis sensor
- a quickshifter for clutchless changes up and down
- cruise control, set with one button
- self-cancelling indicators and full LED lighting
- a round instrument with an LCD main display and a colour TFT section for menus and navigation prompts
- My Triumph connectivity for turn-by-turn navigation, calls and music through a phone
Two gaps were noted. Traction control cannot be adjusted within a mode and can only be switched off at a standstill, which Visordown found limiting. And the dash, shared with the Trident 800 and dating from 2021, looks dated next to the big TFT screens on rivals. It works well enough; it just does not impress.
Seat height and comfort
The seat is 810 mm, and the bike is narrow at the waist, so most riders get both feet down. Triumph offers a 785 mm low seat and a taller seat as accessories. Cycle News’s tester, at 1.85 m, found the bike a little small; Visordown said it suits riders of many sizes and was comfortable over a full day.
The riding position is upright with a slight lean forward, the new bar is wider, and the split seat is new. Cruise control takes the strain out of a highway stretch, but with no screen you will feel the wind above about 120 km/h.
Price and availability in South Africa
Triumph South Africa lists the new Trident 660 from R180,000 in Snowdonia White. Cosmic Yellow and Stone Grey add R4,000. The figure is indicative and excludes delivery fees and factory extras, so get an on-the-road price from the dealer.
That is a strong price. In Britain the bike costs £8,095 and in America $8,745, and the rand figure is well below the British price and close to the American one at today’s exchange rates. It is also below the Honda CB750 Hornet (R198,799) and about the same as the Suzuki GSX-8S (R179,950), with more power than either.
Triumph covers the bike with a two-year unlimited-distance warranty and services it every 12 months or 16,000 km, which is among the longest intervals in the class. Triumph’s dealer network in South Africa is smaller than Honda’s or BMW’s, so check where your nearest dealer is before buying if you live outside the main centres.
There are no Trident 660s on Scooter125 at the moment. See the Triumph motorbikes for sale and the naked bikes for sale to compare.
What it costs to run
Petrol is at a record. The October 2026 adjustment, effective 7 October, took inland 95 unleaded to about R30 a litre.
Triumph claims 4.9 litres per 100 km. A triple revved to 12,000 rpm will use more than that, so budget for 5.5 when the road is good.
- A full 14 litre tank costs about R420.
- Range is roughly 285 km at the claimed figure, about 250 km ridden hard.
- Fuel costs about R1.47 a kilometre.
- A 40 km round-trip commute costs about R59 a day, or roughly R1,300 over 22 working days.
The 14 litre tank is the smallest among its rivals and the reason the range is modest. Tyres in 120/70 and 180/55 sizes are common; the 180 rear costs a little more than the 160 on a Hornet.
Licence requirements in South Africa
South Africa has two motorcycle licence codes. Code A1 covers bikes up to 125cc from age 16. Code A covers everything else from age 18. The Trident needs a full Code A, and a car licence does not cover it.
In Europe Triumph sells an A2 version restricted to 35 kW. South Africa has no such class, so the local bike is the full 70 kW. It is still one of the friendlier bikes of its size for a rider moving up from a 125 or a 300: light, low and soft, with Rain mode and traction control to lean on. Our guide to what a motorbike licence costs in South Africa covers the fees and the tests.
Trident 660 versus the alternatives
South African prices are the importers’ list prices at the time of writing and change often.
Honda CB750 Hornet
Listed by Honda South Africa from R198,799. A 755cc twin with 67.5 kW, 190 kg and Honda’s E-Clutch option on the way. The Honda is the smoother commuter with better brakes; the Triumph has more power, a better sound and costs about R19,000 less. Read our CB750 Hornet review.
Suzuki GSX-8S
R179,950, a 776cc twin with 61 kW and about 202 kg. It is the comfortable, grown-up one, with a quickshifter and a big TFT. The Triumph is lighter, has 9 kW more and is the more exciting bike at the same money.
KTM 790 Duke
R169,999, 77 kW, fully adjustable WP suspension and a sharper edge than any of them. It is the one to buy if handling matters more than refinement. Read our KTM 790 Duke review.
Yamaha MT-07
The 689cc twin with about 54 kW that defined this class. It has less power than the Trident and simpler electronics, and the Y-AMT automated gearbox is its party piece. Check current pricing with Yamaha South Africa.
Triumph Trident 800
Triumph’s own 800cc triple, with about 85 kW, is the new bike above the 660. Cycle News made the point that in America it costs only about $1,000 more and may be the better long-term buy. Triumph South Africa had not published a Trident 800 price when we wrote this, so ask the dealer for both before you decide. The Street Triple 765, pictured below, sits above both as the track-bred option.
Full specifications
| Engine | 660cc inline triple, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 12 valves |
| Bore and stroke | 74 mm x 51.1 mm |
| Compression ratio | 12:1 |
| Fuelling | Multipoint sequential injection, three 44 mm throttle bodies, ride-by-wire |
| Power | 70 kW (95 PS) at 11,250 rpm |
| Torque | 68 Nm at 8,250 rpm |
| Rev limit | 12,650 rpm |
| Gearbox | Six-speed with up and down quickshifter |
| Clutch | Wet multi-plate, slip and assist, cable |
| Final drive | X-ring chain |
| Frame | Tubular steel perimeter, fabricated steel swingarm |
| Front suspension | Showa 41 mm SFF-BP upside-down fork, 120 mm travel, non-adjustable |
| Rear suspension | Showa monoshock, 130 mm travel, preload and rebound adjustable |
| Front brakes | Twin 310 mm discs, Nissin two-piston calipers, cornering ABS |
| Rear brake | 255 mm disc, single-piston caliper |
| Wheels and tyres | Cast 17 inch; Michelin Road 5, 120/70 and 180/55 |
| Rake and trail | 24.5 degrees, 108 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,402 mm |
| Seat height | 810 mm (785 mm low seat optional) |
| Wet weight | 195 kg |
| Fuel tank | 14 litres |
| Fuel consumption | 4.9 l/100 km (claimed) |
| Riding modes | Sport, Road, Rain |
| Service interval | 12 months or 16,000 km |
| Warranty | Two years, unlimited distance |
| Colours | Snowdonia White; Cosmic Yellow and Stone Grey (+R4,000) |
| South African price | From R180,000 (indicative, excluding delivery) |
| United Kingdom price | £8,095 |
| United States price | $8,745 |
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Triumph Trident 660 in South Africa?
Triumph South Africa lists the 2026 model from R180,000 in Snowdonia White. The yellow and grey colours cost R4,000 more. The figure excludes delivery and factory extras.
How much power does the 2026 Trident 660 have?
70 kW, which is 95 PS, at 11,250 rpm, and 68 Nm at 8,250 rpm. That is 17 percent more power than the previous model.
What changed on the Trident 660 for 2026?
A new intake with three throttle bodies, a hotter camshaft and a higher rev limit; a revised gearbox and clutch; cornering ABS and traction control; a standard quickshifter and cruise control; a wider bar, broader tank and split seat.
Is the Trident 660 good for a new rider?
For a rider moving up from a small bike, yes. It is light, the seat is low, the power delivery is smooth and Rain mode and traction control help. It is not a first bike for a complete beginner.
Does the Trident 660 have a quickshifter and cruise control?
Yes, both are standard on the 2026 model.
What is the seat height of the Trident 660?
810 mm as standard. A 785 mm low seat is an accessory.
How far will the Trident 660 go on a tank?
About 285 km from the 14 litre tank at Triumph’s claimed consumption, and about 250 km ridden hard.
Should I buy the Trident 660 or the Trident 800?
The 800 has more power and costs more. If the price gap in South Africa is small, the 800 is the stronger long-term buy; if the 660 is well under R200,000 on the road, it is the value choice.
The verdict
The 2026 Trident 660 keeps everything that made the old one easy to recommend and adds the one thing it lacked. With 70 kW, a higher rev limit, a quickshifter and cornering electronics as standard, it now matches or beats its rivals on paper while still sounding like nothing else in the class.
The compromise is honest and the testers all named it: the suspension and brakes are the 2021 bike’s, set soft, and they run out before the engine does if you ride hard. For the rider who commutes, rides on Sunday and wants a bike with character, that will not matter. For the rider who wants to use every one of those horsepower on a mountain pass, the KTM 790 Duke or the Trident 800 is the better tool.
At R180,000 it is one of the best-value new middleweights in South Africa, and a long way below the Honda it competes with. Ride it against the GSX-8S and the Hornet on the same day, ask the dealer for the Trident 800 price while you are there, and compare all of them with the naked bikes for sale on Scooter125.
Sources referenced
- Triumph Motorcycles South Africa, Trident 660 model page: price, colours, warranty and service interval
- Triumph Motorcycles, Trident 660 global model page: specification
- Cycle News, Rennie Scaysbrook, “2026 Triumph Trident 660 Review”, 5 April 2026
- Visordown, Adam Child, “Triumph Trident 660 (2026) review”
- Rider Magazine, Paul Drevenstedt, “2026 Triumph Tiger Sport 660 and Trident 660 Review”, 16 April 2026
- Honda South Africa, Suzuki South Africa and KTM South Africa price lists
- Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, October 2026 fuel price adjustment
