1973 Triumph Trident

T150VXH00768

1973 Triumph Trident, 750cc 5-speed Triple Engine and Frame: T150VXH00768 The Triumph Trident was the first true modern superbike and the last major motorcycle developed by the original (Triumph Engineering Co Ltd) Triumph company. It was badge-engineered to be sold under both the Triumph and BSA marques, the latter as the Rocket 3. The Rocket3/Trident was the first-step development of Triumph Motorcycles' plan to move on from the basic vertical twin. The engine was to give the 750 cc power required by the US market while avoiding the vibration associated with an increase in capacity of the existing parallel-twin design. Over the course of the official seven year model run approximately 27,480 Rocket3/Tridents were produced. The 1973 bike offered is a penultimate year of the T150V iteration, before going to the T160V in 1975. The ‘V’ denotes a 5-speed gearbox. A one local California registered owner bike from new it is in good, solid, original condition throughout, and shows 19,313 miles. The bike was discovered in a garage in Southern California and a restoration was started. The engine was gone through by marque guru Rob North. He found the bottom end of the engine to be sound and reworked the top end with a valve job and thorough going through. The bike then sat for some timeawaiting the rest of the restoration. And sat. And sat. The bike is now offered as a restoration project. Tank is in good condition, but the paint is dead. Sidepanels are in slightly better condition, as is the seat, handgrips, etc. Brightwork and wheels are in pretty good condition, as are the fenders. Tires are old, but hold air. The forkes and suspension feel ok. The 3-cylinder motor has lots of compression and I’m sure would run well after some recommissioning, carb rebuild/cleaning and tune up. This bike is a good basis for restoration. It is complete, in solid condition and with a California blue license plate. With BSA Rocket 3s in similar condition fetching $7000+, this is a good opportunity for one of the first real British Superbikes. Sold on a Bill of Sale, although I can get a title for the bike for overseas buyers.