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Is Triumph’s Delightful New Roadster Now the Best-Looking Modern Motorcycle Under $10,000?

The head-turning middleweight street bike checks a lot of (potentially more important) boxes without breaking the bank.

Close-up of a motorcycle engine with a white and black fairing piece labeled "800" under colorful red and purple lighting.Triumph Motorcycles
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By Steve Mazzucchi

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Having recently spent hours drooling over a gold mine of gorgeous old bikes at Hill Country Motorheads Museum in Burnet, Texas, I’ll be the first to say there’s no styling like retro styling.

However, if you seek a moto that deftly blends dazzling contemporary aesthetics and modern performance features, look no further than the latest from Triumph, the 2026 Triumph Trident 800.

Red Triumph Trident 900 motorcycle with black seat and gold rims parked on a concrete surface.
Though some styling cues harken back to Triumphs of yore, the 2026 Trident 800 is a thoroughly modern motorcycle.
Triumph Motorcycles

In contrast to the admittedly beautiful new Bonnevilles I wrote about last week, the most throwback thing about this bike is the price tag.

Without further ado, let’s take a closer look.

Style points

Longtime Triumph fans may be transported back in time by this new Trident’s appearance — just not to the midcentury period from which so much retro styling is derived.

Rather, the bike boasts some touches, including the muscular silhouette and classic round headlight, that recall Speed Triples from the 1990s.

Two motorcyclists wearing black helmets and jackets sitting on a white and a red Triumph Trident 660 motorcycle in a tunnel.
The Carnival Red/Graphite color scheme (left) supercedes both the Ash Grey/Diablo Red (right) and Jet Black options.
Triumph Motorcycles

That’s not a bad thing, as it strikes a pretty compelling balance between the old-school Bonnevilles and the more aggro current Speed and Street Triples. 

As the slightly bigger brother of the Trident 660, the new 800 carries a similar painted fuel tank and black side panels.

Still, it easily manages to distinguish itself with such elements as the little flyscreen above the headlight and larger tail panels, not to mention the color schemes.

Close-up of a titanium Akrapovič exhaust with carbon fiber tip on a Triumph motorcycle rear wheel.
Akrapovič makes some of the best and best-looking silencers around. This beauty is just the latest example.
Triumph Motorcycles

While it will hit the US market with three options, including Jet Black and Ash Grey/Diablo Red, the dazzling Carnival Red/Graphite combo is the clear winner for yours truly.

The most standout feature at a glance, however, is that snazzy Akrapovič exhaust, with sterling looks matched only by the goosebump-inducing rumble they help bring to life.

Performance bonus

Speaking of which, let’s get into the power plant for this street beast. Derived from that of the Tiger Sport 800, the liquid-cooled, 798cc inline 3-cylinder makes 113.4 horsepower at 10,750 rpm and max torque of 61.9 lb-ft. at 8,500 rpm

Those are pretty stirring numbers for a sub-$10,000 bike, only matched by the delightful high-rev roar awaiting the rider at a firm twist of the throttle. 

Person wearing black gear and helmet riding a red Triumph Trident 800 motorcycle with gold wheels.
The Trident 800’s bigger and more powerful motor promises torque-y delight is just a twist of the throttle away.
Triumph Motorcycles

Said throttle is ride-by-wire and offers three pre-set modes with dialed-in throttle response and traction control — Road, Sport and Rain — monitored and controlled via a round 3.5-inch TFT screen with Bluetooth connectivity for navigation, tunes and calls.

Leaning modern, the Trident 800 also boasts an IMU (inertial measurement unit) that converts real-time data into responsive traction control and ABS. These rider-friendly features are complemented by a bi-directional quick shifter and cruise control.

For suspension, the 800 borrows the 660’s inverted 41mm Showa Separate Function Fork Big Piston (4.7 inches of travel) and gets its own Showa rear monoshock with adjustable preload and rebound damping.

White and black Triumph Trident 900 motorcycle with gold wheels parked indoors.
It’s tough to find an angle where this bike doesn’t look tip-to-tail fantastic. This sure ain’t one of them.
Triumph Motorcycles

Brakes-wise, the bike boasts dual four-piston radial-mount calipers with 310mm discs up front and a single-piston caliper with a 220mm disc at the rear.

Just keep in mind, once this rousing roadster gets rolling, you may never want to stop.

Availability and pricing

The 2026 Triumph Trident 800 is expected to roll into US dealerships next April at a starting price of $9,995.

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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