The Trident name has been a part of the Triumph family for six decades and many expected that when it was finally revived it would naturally take its place in the company’s all-conquering Modern Classic range. But when Triumph unveiled the new Trident at the London Design Museum, it was anything but a retro-remake, and frankly, it was the right move. The model has always bridged the gap between old and new, a triple designed to bring usable performance to the street. But as yet, the Hinckley manufacturer has yet to offer a high-spec version and it was an opportunity one custom workshop felt they couldn’t miss out on exploring. Enter the Triumph Trident RS by FCR Original, and they’ve created all the parts you need to create your very own.

Many have speculated about the use of the RS designation on the top-spec Triumph machines, like the Thruxton and Speed Triple. Some believe it means ‘Race Sport’ and a few have dreamed up ‘Rocket Ship’, but officially, Triumph say RS is not an abbreviation but signifies an even higher level of specification. And to date, Triumph are yet to release an RS version of the Trident, which got the team at FCR thinking. “When the Triumph Trident 660 was first released, it was praised for exactly what it is: a well-balanced, well-built, approachable motorcycle — perfectly suited to a new generation of riders. But at FCR Original, that “well-behaved” nature stirred a restlessness in us. Because beyond its technical harmony, we saw a base full of promise.”

The base definitely has big potential, a detuned 3-cylinder engine ready to be unlocked, quality suspension and brakes, and looks that can be built on to create something truly special. But clearly, Triumph has wanted to keep the price down to ensure they have an entry-level full-sized bike, so they don’t offer many accessories for the Trident either. “A solid foundation, yes, but one waiting to be pushed, sharpened, intensified. We imagined it living another life, one of more expression, more attitude, more soul. That’s how the Trident RS was born.” And this is not the first Rodeo for FCR Original, they’ve already built complete transformation packages for twelve other bikes.

So, now it was the Trident’s turn, and they sat down to design both a full suite of custom accessories for the mid-sized street machine, as well as a visual transformation kit that can be purchased as a package. It’s not a simple task, and given that most customers will be using new or near new Tridents as their donors, none of the modifications could risk voiding the warranty. One of the first options a client can pick is a simple graphics package. “Our in-house design team developed several graphic and colour variations, inspired by Triumph’s original Trident 660 colour palette. The idea? To allow each client to choose the version that best reflects their personality ranging from discreet and refined to bold and expressive.”

For those who want to go to the other extreme, and really enhance the visuals of their Trident, the RS kit is the thing to have. To capture a modern cafe racer vibe, the first piece in the kit is a bikini-styled front fairing. It neatly fits around the stock headlight, so there is no extra expense in replacing that vital component. The mounts are incredibly well thought out and the low-cut design means you can run it without a screen, or add a small smoked piece if that’s your jam. At that back of the bike, the big two-up seat is gone, and more fibreglass work sees a traditional humped tailpiece slot over the factory subframe; with no need to cut the stock steel.

Having cleaned up the backend so nicey, it would be a shame to go and bolt on the huge factory number plate holder, so FCR has designed a neat aluminium tail tidy that is also part of the kit. More aluminium is used to create the seat base, over which a neat two-part seat is bolted, finished in black with white stitching. The kit is 100% made in France at FCR Original and can be delivered painted to match the colour scheme of your Trident or as a raw kit for those looking to go down the path of a complete custom paint job.

Then you have the individual catalogue of parts, which are perfect additions either as one-off additions to any Trident or to build on the kit. The adjustable clip-on handlebars are ideal for those who want a sportier riding position, and they slot neatly into the recesses of the FCR fairing. To match up to these, FCR has created their own textured set of grips, and they ditch the passenger footpegs and offer SW Motech pegs for the rider instead. A custom radiator guard gives the bike a tougher, more aggressive look and a blacked-out aluminium engine bash plate and mini front fender further enhance that vibe. There are also neat LED lighting options for the tail light and indicators, a nice way to smarten up the look.

To provide an extra level of quality to the riding experience, the team has created an excellent package for the bars, consisting of Brembo adjustable levers, small brake fluid reservoir and bar end mirrors. The engine performance stays relatively mild, with a K&N air filter available and the option to have your exhaust ceramic coated, but expect more to come on this front, as that triple is dying for a full system. After plenty of testing, the guys have chosen the Michelin Power 6 tyres as the best rubber for the machine, and photos also show a set of stunning carbon fibre wheels being prepared for those who want the ultimate performance add-on. The Triumph Trident RS by FCR Original full kit and parts are available as of today on the French firm’s website, and finally, the mid-sized model in the middle has all the kit to turn the mundane into magnifique.

[ FCR Original ]