2026 Triumph Trident 660

The Trident 660 Finally Got Interesting

I rode the first Trident 660 back in 2021. It was fine. It started, it stopped, it went around corners, and I forgot about it about a week later. Nothing wrong with it. Nothing that made me want to get back on it either.

Five years later Triumph took the engine out of the Daytona 660, bolted it into the Trident, threw in a quickshifter and cruise control, and kept the price under 9 grand. It looks almost the same as it did in 2021. It rides like a different motorcycle.

Here's the thing. I shot this one while I was getting over the flu, sucking on cough drops, with maybe half a voice left. And the bike still had me yelling into my helmet.

Performance Highlights

The numbers: 660cc inline triple, 94 horsepower, up from about 80, and 50 lb-ft of torque. On paper that's a modest bump. On the road it changes the whole personality of the bike.

What I love is how the power shows up. An MT-07's parallel twin hits you the moment you touch the throttle, and you have to work to ride it smooth. The Trident does it the other way around. By default it ramps you into the power, smooth and easy in traffic, and if you want it to hit hard you have to go ask for it. That's exactly the right way around for a bike a lot of people are going to learn on. Then you keep twisting, it keeps revving, and suddenly you're giggling.

Case in point: the 40-80. I started in second gear and never left it. 3.09 seconds, and I was sitting there waiting for the revs to run out so I could shift. They never did. This engine revs way higher than you'd expect, and it gets better the higher it goes.

It's light, the bars are wide, and it drops into a turn without any drama. The suspension is firmer than most middleweight nakeds, which I'm into, since it makes the bike feel sportier than the soft, wobbly setups this class usually gets. Traffic kept me from really leaning on it, so I'm holding back judgment on how hard it'll go.

The brakes are where it falls short. Nissin calipers up front, and the bike stops fine, but there's not much feel at the lever. And then I noticed it has braided lines. Braided lines should feel like a lot more than this. I want a long-term loan just to figure that one out.

Rider Experience & Tech

I'm 5'10" with a 32-inch inseam, and I had both feet down with bent knees. With a 31.9-inch seat and 430 pounds, this is an easy bike to manage at a stop. The riding position is mildly aggressive: legs back a little, a slight lean forward, wide bars. Great in the city.

The seat is the catch. It wants you sitting in one exact spot and doesn't let you move around. And there's a weird bulge by the tank where your knees should go, so I spent half the ride trying to figure out whether my legs go under it or over it. On the highway you have zero wind protection. On a gusty day I was a big old sail, and I was dragging the bike around with me. If you're doing real highway miles, budget for a screen.

The tech list for $8,745 is wild. Up and down quickshifter, cruise control, cornering ABS and cornering traction control, all standard. Cruise control on a middleweight naked at this price is a big deal, and Triumph, I see you. Rain, Road and Sport modes are simple to cycle through, though Rain mode has more bite than you'd think, so respect it.

And now my standing complaint, which I'll keep making until somebody at Triumph listens: the dash still won't show you which mode you're in. You have to hit the mode button to find out. It's the same dash as the Trident 800 and the same complaint. Small thing, but you'll notice it on every single ride.

The Chase Score & Final Thoughts

With a Chase Score of 73/100, the 2026 Trident 660 lands at the top of the Good tier, two points above its own big brother, the Trident 800, which costs $1,000 more. Most of that comes from a 9 on fun for the money. Under 9 grand for a Triumph that actually gets me excited.

Who's it for? Two people. If you're new to riding and you know you want a Triumph, keep it in Rain mode while you learn and this is a great first big bike. And if you've already got something bigger and want a fun bike to beat on to work, this is a phenomenal second bike. Skip it if you spend most of your riding on the highway and don't want to bolt on a screen.

Five years ago this bike was just okay. Not anymore.