BSA Rocket 3/Triumph Trident

The BSA Rocket Three/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 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.

During its production run BSA fell into financial troubles, and over the course of the official seven year model run approximately 27,480 Rocket3/Tridents were produced. By comparison, around a quarter of a million Honda Goldwing motorcycles were manufactured during its first seven years.

Development

Although designed in the mid-1960s, the engine of the BSA Rocket3/Triumph Trident was based heavily on Edward Turner’s Triumph two-cylinder 500 cc Speed Twin of 1937 and the next year's sports model Tiger. Because of this, the three-cylinder Trident is sometimes known as the “Tiger 100 and a half”. However, when the bore and stroke are considered it is actually more like three C15 engines: the unit-construction T100 has a short stroke, unlike the triple's dimensions. The pre-unit 500 was , as was "P1" - the first prototype Triple. When the rest of the engine layout is...
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