Triumph Trident 800

July 2026
There’s a new resident in the garage, and she’s a bit of a stunner.

Say hello to Boudicca, my new Triumph Trident 800 in Diablo Red. Yes, she has a name already. When a bike turns up looking this good, red bodywork, gold wheels, black frame, she was never going to be “the Triumph”. She needed a name with a bit of attitude, and what better fit for a fiery red British machine than the warrior queen herself? Boudicca took no prisoners, and something tells me this bike won’t either.

Why the Trident 800?
Anyone who’s followed my recent ramblings will know I’ve been deep in research mode for months. Spreadsheets, dealer visits, late-night scrolling through listings, the whole obsessive routine. There were some strong contenders in the mix, but the Trident kept pulling me back.

On paper it’s an easy bike to make a case for. Triumph’s 798cc triple gives you proper real-world punch without being intimidating, and the spec list is generous for the money. Showa suspension, quality brakes, a full electronics package, and those class-leading 10,000 mile service intervals that make your wallet breathe a sigh of relief.

But the truth is, the paper case only gets you so far. What sealed it was simpler than that. Every time I looked at one, I grinned. #GarageWood That’s the test that matters.

First Impressions
She’s barely run in yet, so I’ll save the full riding review for when we’ve properly got to know each other. But a few things stand out straight away.

The triple is the star of the show. It’s got that lovely character that sits somewhere between the smoothness of a four and the punch of a twin, with a soundtrack all of its own. Even at gentle running-in speeds it feels eager, like it’s politely asking when we can get on with it.

The riding position is spot on too. Upright, natural, and comfortable, but with enough of a sporty lean to remind you this is a naked roadster, not a commuter. And coming from bigger adventure bikes, the Trident feels light and flickable in a way that takes a few miles to recalibrate to. In a good way.

And then there’s the way she looks. The Diablo Red paint is deep and glossy, the gold wheels are a masterstroke, and the round headlight with that neat little cowl gives it just enough retro flavour without trying too hard. It’s a modern bike with a nod to Triumph’s history, which feels right.

What’s Next
The plan for now is simple: rack up more miles and then start properly exploring what this triple can do. There are some favourite roads around North Warwickshire that are overdue a visit, and Boudicca seems like exactly the right companion for them.

I’ll post a proper review once we’ve covered some real miles together. Until then, if you see a red and gold Trident buzzing around the Midlands with a rider grinning inside his helmet, give us a wave.

Kitting Boudicca Out
She’s not been standing still for long. With the first few miles under her belt, it was straight on with turning Boudicca from showroom stock into something a bit more mine.

First up was a trio of bits from Evotech: a radiator guard, a Quad Lock mount, and a USB power cable. Sensible additions for any bike that’s going to see proper road use, and all three went on without much fuss. I did drop Evotech a technical query about the torque values for the Quad Lock mount, wanting to make sure everything was tightened up properly rather than guessing. Credit to them, they came back to me quickly, but they weren’t able to give me the torque figures I was after. A bit disappointing given how straightforward the question was, so if anyone reading this happens to know the correct values, do get in touch.

Alongside those, a set of Triumph paddock stand bobbins have gone on, which makes getting her up on the stand a much tidier job.

A pair of Grip Puppies from grip-puppy.com have gone on for a bit of extra comfort and grip at the bars, and from SportsBikeShop I’ve picked up a replacement Oxford paddock stand, the old one having finally given up after years of faithful service on various bikes before Boudicca.

A Givi BF02 tank bag mount has also gone on, which should make life easier for the days when I want to carry a bit more than pockets allow.

Nothing dramatic, just the usual round of sensible early additions. More to come as the miles rack up and I work out what she actually needs versus what I just fancy fitting.

One temptation I’m still resisting is the Official Triumph Slip-On silencer by Akrapovič. I’m lusting after it, but for now the wallet is winning that particular argument….

A couple more bits have gone on since the last update. A set of Evotech Bar End Weights are now fitted, which have taken a bit of the buzz out of the bars at higher revs, nice when you’re covering a few miles at a time. Alongside those, a Triumph tank pad has gone on to keep the paintwork safe from belt buckles and general fidgeting while I’m getting on and off.

Small additions, but that’s how it goes with a new bike. A bit at a time until she’s properly sorted.