Bike magazine Commando & Trident road test

[BillWright]

I can’t believe it’s 50 years since the Bike magazine test of the Commando & T160..

I eventually owned a T160, and I still think it’s the best looking bike.

I’m not sure about owning a Commando, although I always fancied a late Mk3

I do wish I’d kept the poster that was inside, taken near Salisbury Plain I think

 

[Number 6]

The T160 is still registered on DVLA, the Commando is long gone.

 

[MILLE_RIDER]

Electric start Brits . Prefer the Norton myself but both are lovely

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

T160V for me

 

[Schtum]

I had a Mk3 Commando in the late 70's. It was slow, pissed oil out of a porous head casting, had a primary chain tensioner that didn't work properly and a feeble starter motor. I made the starter worse by fitting high compression pistons and a 3S cam. They were underdeveloped from the factory. I believe most of the issues have been resolved these days.

 

[casbar]

Just read the test review in Classic Bike, good read.

 

[ChazzyB]

One of the highlights of my otherwise uneventful life in the mid-70's used to be walking into town to Smith's every month to get my copy of Bike.

 

[EKIMYRF]

I remember that issue really well, and the poster
Heady days fantastic bikes
Having spent a fair bit of time riding both my opinion still stands

 

[The Other PaulG]

It occurred to me that as the Commando and Trident are both still current models, would it be interesting to do a modern side by side equivalent review?

However, I think they've drifted too far apart, and whilst the modern Commando is a clear evolution of the original, I'm not sure the modern Trident has much DNA shared with the 1970s bikes, just the name.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

To be honest a 2nd hand early Hinckley Trident from the 90's in either 750 or 900 guise would spaff a whole can of whoop ass all over a new Norton Commando

£1000 bike beats £17500 bike

 

[Number 6]

To be honest a 2nd hand early Hinckley Trident from the 90's in either 750 or 900 guise would spaff a whole can of whoop ass all over a new Norton Commando

£1000 bike beats £17500 bike

I bought a new 900 Trident in 1993 after having one of the very first Fireblades in 1992 and needing something a bit more sensible. I kept it for 20 years, 50,000 miles, and only sold it due to lack of garage space. Micron cans, Trophy rear suspension and pre-load spacers in the forks, it would hit the rev-limiter in 6th gear and surprised quite a few Sportsbikes. The build quality was fantastic and it sounded awesome, it would set off car alarms within 25 yards.







Check out the torque 'curve', almost a flat line from 3000 - 9000, bloody lovely thing to ride. I wish I'd kept it.

 

[The Other PaulG]

There is a lot of love for those early Hinckley bikes, seems Triumph were very keen to get the quality right, from the start.

 

[xsgraham]

Staying with the modern bikes.... I do like the body kits that came out for Hinkley triples I few years ago. Not sure my back could take the riding position or else I'd seriously be considering getting one and converting it

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Staying with the modern bikes.... I do like the body kits that came out for Hinkley triples I few years ago. Not sure my back could take the riding position or else I'd seriously be considering getting one and converting it

View attachment 382946

Just stick a high bar kit on it

 

[xsgraham]

Just stick a high bar kit on it

Shhhh - I'm trying to protect myself from another expensive adventure - especially as the available bike storage / workshop space is packed full already

 

[EKIMYRF]

Staying with the modern bikes.... I do like the body kits that came out for Hinkley triples I few years ago. Not sure my back could take the riding position or else I'd seriously be considering getting one and converting it

View attachment 382946

My fellow Lemon Drizzler is building a CRK Trident at the moment