Triumph Trident 660

[KungFooBob]

This is the C&F... but 20 years ago.

[Skub]

So, i've had the Trident just over a month now. Almost time for the first service, just shy of 500 miles on the clock now.

Really enjoying it, it has two sides to it. Very happy to potter about and be civilised, but it's also happy to get up on its toes and enjoy the turns. I like the firm handling, it's light, and it's easy to ride. No issues at all yet, so hoping this is how it continues. I have a few more accessories that will be added at the first service so looking forward to that. Oh, and the gearbox is breaking in nicely, not as notchy and i'm getting muscle memory for it now.

Was up to the Cat'n'fiddle this morning. Pretty technical road and the weather was great!

IMG_1570edit by Colin, on Flickr

That's a fine looking bike and a great backdrop.

[tricol]

Maybe one day I'll get home with it to get myself up the Antrim coast on it! For now the Peak District will do.

[Scuffmark]

Was up to the Cat'n'fiddle this morning. Pretty technical road and the weather was great!

IMG_1570edit by Colin, on Flickr

Was it late morning you were on the cat&fiddle as I may have seen you stopped at the side of the road ?

This was taken a few hundred yards from your picture Saturday ....

[tricol]

Yes, that was me. I remember you going passed. Hope you had a good ride. MT10 sounds fantastic!

[tricol]

Well, over 2000 miles completed now, actually almost 2500. Bike has been going well. I'm still learning on every ride and hoping I haven't developed too many little bad habits. I think my overall conclusion is that it is a great bike for a first big bike, but maybe not for long days in the saddle. But for a quick B road blast, it is a lot of fun.

Getting frustrated at the lessening number of dry days to ride. Here is a quick photo from a recent ride out.

1440p Trident edit by Colin, on Flickr

[weeksy]

Welcome back stranger... get used to the weather as you know, we're likely to not see our bikes for months now.

[Numnut]

I find that through the spring/summer I don't mind whether I get out in the evenings/weekends as there's usually another sunny day... This time of year though, it's almost a panic to try and get out as much as I can as the good days are really running out!

[tricol]

Yea, I have tomorrow and Monday off and I'll be making the most of the slightly warmer few days and drier roads.

I have a couple of stupid questions on winter storage.....but I don't want to embarrass myself.

[KungFooBob]

Fit some heated grips and put the lining back in your jacket

Or even better, get a winter bike you don't mind getting dirty.

[Ditchfinder]

The looks of the trident are growing on me - especially the ones I've seen with a tail tidy instead of the low mount plate, when you look at prices of 2nd hand street triples the trident starts to makes a lot of sense.

[tricol]

Yea, I did ponder the Evotech tail tidy. It's the one big aspect of the design I'm still not sure of. The rear of the new Tiger 660 would have been much better suited.

[Supermofo]

I have a couple of stupid questions on winter storage.....but I don't want to embarrass myself.

Ask away!

I fill up with Esso super unleaded (no ethonol) for the last few tanks, wash the bike properly, cover in FS365, take the battery out and put that under the stairs in the house and then cover the bike up in the garage for the duration. I charge the battery every couple of months just in case.

[Ditchfinder]

If mines stood for more than a few weeks I move it about so it's not sat on the same patch of tyre all winter. Also as my garage floor is concrete I have some off cuts of carpet or artificial grass that I stand it on to insulate the tyres from the cold a bit.

I replaced my battery with a lithium one and it's stood over two winters now without needing a top up or optimate running.

Apparently you can get big vacuum bags for bikes now if they are going to be stored in the damp - given how well they work for storing ski gear in our loft might be worth a punt if your storing outside.......

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I chuck my 30 year old bike in the garage in October and get it out again April, no arseing about draining fuel or shit, it's been fine for the last 5 years, a new bike should be able to cope with the same treatment.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Yeah that.

My 25 year old CBR sat unused for more than 3 years. Charged the battery and away she went!

[Deadpool2]

Well, over 2000 miles completed now, actually almost 2500. Bike has been going well. I'm still learning on every ride and hoping I haven't developed too many little bad habits. I think my overall conclusion is that it is a great bike for a first big bike, but maybe not for long days in the saddle. But for a quick B road blast, it is a lot of fun.

Getting frustrated at the lessening number of dry days to ride. Here is a quick photo from a recent ride out.

1440p Trident edit by Colin, on Flickr

You need half a day with Kevin (survival skills)

pretty bike just did not fit me very well

[tricol]

Thanks for the replies all.

On the winter storage thing, I don't have a garage. At the moment, just an Oxford Stormex cover. Thinking of building a little shelter off the fence posts to help keep the rain off. I will probably get the odd short ride in on the dry days I can find, just to keep it ticking over. I would probably make a mess of doing something like removing the battery etc. I'm a bit OCD about keeping it clean, and I hope I don't get too much corrosion over winter. I'll be applying some protection a few times throughout.

My stupid questions were about the chain, both in terms of lubrication and tension. I don't have the tools or confidence to adjust the tension myself. Does it need done every few thousand miles, or is that something covered at servicing? I have bobbins, but I can't see how I can get the bike onto a paddock stand by myself.....

[weeksy]

I use the strap at the back on seat if you don't have any grab-rails. Standing on RHS of bike, i use my right hand to pull upright, then my left hand to put stand under and then lift. It's something that seems a lot more daunting in theory than it is putting it in practice.

I'd certainly be thinking every 1000 miles yeah.

Regarding winter corrosion, ACF-50 is VERY good. Some people use a spray system, i simply soak a microfiber cloth with it and cover it as much as possible with it, anything metal gets a decent wipe over with it. (not discs or chain). Get under the bike, get the engine bolts done, any lower exhaust bits etc.

Where are you based ? I'm sure someone here can give you a hand for 20 mins.

[Supermofo]

With the paddock stand try and get someone to be there holding the bars or ready to catch it for the first few times till you are confident.

I get mine on level ground use my left hand on the top box bracket (you can use seat grab handle) to get the bike upright and then line up the paddock stand prongs with the bobbins and lift up. It can be a bit daunting first few times hence might be best with 2 until you are confident.

Re: chain a lot depends. If you ride in the wet then you'll need to lube more, I don't and lube probably ever 300 miles or so. Depending on lube you'll be able to tell. I don't like Wurth dry lube as you can't see it, so I don't know when it needs doing. I use Castrol race lube and you can see it's dry when it needs doing. Until the 690 I never cleaned a chain ever, but since getting the 690 I clean the chain probably every 1k miles. Either with GT85 and a rag if not too bad or paraffin and a paint brush if it's a bit minging.

Re: adjusting a lot depends on how you ride, how well lubed the chain is, what the weathers been like etc. Your manual will tell you how to check the tension, typically this will be X-Y slack at a certain point in the chain. On the 690 it's odd as it's 5mm from the swingarm when you push it up rather than measuring the slack as such so each bike might be different. Once you have how to do it then again your manual will tell you the steps to adjust. Typically something like undo the rear wheel spindle nut so it's loose (not off though), then move the adjuster nuts in the right direction until tension is in spec then redo every up. Set tension at the tightest spot in the chain, as chains wear there will be tight/loose spots. Make sure you adjust each side equally else your rear wheel will be wonky. You can do this via the adjuster marks or do equal movements of the nuts each side. Remember to re check the tension once you've done everything back up though as it can tighten up a little. If you take a look on youtube there are loads of how to vids that should help.

Or if you really aren't sure find a local mechanic/dealer who'll help you through it. But I doubt you'll get full service intervals out of 1 chain adjustment.