Triumph Triple

The Triumph Triple is an inline three-cylinder motorcycle engine made by the Triumph Motorcycle Company. It is credited with "bringing Triumph back from the grave".

Bike, the British motorcycle magazine, ranked the Triumph Triple as the 10th best motorcycle engine of all time. The Triumph Triple motorcycle engine has been used in the Thunderbird, Adventurer, Legend, Tiger, Speed Triple, Sprint ST & RS, Sprint Executive, Trophy, Street Triple, and Daytona motorcycles.

First generation

The 1st generation motor from the reborn Triumph company in 1989 was available as an inline 3-cylinder carbureted 4-stroke of either 748 cc (45.6 cu in) called 750 cc, or 885 cc called 900 cc. The primary difference between the two engines was the stroke. The shorter stroke, higher revving 750 used a bore/stroke of 76.0 x 55.0 mm while the 900 used a longer stroke of 65.0 mm. The 750 engine with its eager revving performance was initially believed to be a finer machine, but time and customer's money soon proved that the longer legged 900 was the favourite. As a result the smaller triple was quickly relegated to a budget bike status and was eventually phased out in the late 1990s, while the larger engine proved popular and was used in a number of different models.

1990s variants

The first variation on the 900 triple theme appeared in 1992 with the Tiger 900. This made use of softer cam profiles to produce a less powerful engine but with an even broader spread of torque. Further changes appeared a few years later with the Daytona Super III. This time Triumph collaborated with the tuning gurus at Cosworth to produce the first high performance variant of the triple. Using higher compression pistons and a redesigned cylinder head claimed power was increased from 97 bhp (72 kW) to 115 bhp (86 kW).

In 1995 another variation of the 900 triple engine was introduced in the Thunderbird 900, a model intended for Triumph's first foray back into the US market. It had softer cam profiles and new carburettors, so power dropped again in favour of docility. The engine also received a cosmetic overhaul, by adding polished alloy covers and fake cooling fins on the barrels. In 1997 a sportier machine was produced, the Thunderbird Sport, using the Thunderbird engine with 6 speed gearbox and unrestricted air intake to give more power, 82 bhp (61 kW) as opposed to 69 bhp (51 kW), twin front discs and other details changes to produce an engine in a remarkably similar state of tune to the original Tiger.

Fuel injection redesign

The triple received its first major update in 1997 with a ground up redesign to produce the fuel injected 955 cc (58.3 cu in) T595 Daytona engine, and the 885 cc (54.0 cu in) T509 Speed Triple engine, the latter using the original bore and stroke of the first generation engine. The claimed power outputs for these engines were 128 and 108 bhp (95 and 81 kW) respectively. Over the next few years the 885 engine grew to 955 cc and was used in the newly launched Sprint ST and the later Sprint RS. In this updated form it was still claimed to produce 108 bhp (81 kW), the more powerful 128 bhp (95 kW) being kept for the Daytona. The injected 885 cc triple lived on for another couple of years in an updated Tiger. Triumph made minor updates until 2001, when it performed a major update, first debutting in the Tiger 955i and soon spreading across the rest of the range. Power and torque was increased across the range and this updated model was meant to remedy the faults apparent with the earlier 955 engine. The most lively performer to use this updated triple was the Daytona 955i, in this form claiming 147 bhp (110 kW), the most powerful triple to emerge from Triumph. The 900 triple in its original form lingered on until 2002 in the form of the Trophy 900, being outlived by its four cylinder relative, the Trophy 1200.

1050 cc redesign

In 2005 the next generation of the triple emerged in the form of the Sprint ST 1050, swiftly followed by the Speed Triple 1050. The last of the 955 engined bikes—the Tiger—was updated, receiving the cases of the 1050 engine and other small changes although staying at 955 cc capacity until replaced by an all new Tiger 1050 in 2006. 2006 also saw the last year for the Daytona 955i, ending the production of big bore sporting triples. Coincidentally, this year the Sprint 1050 engine received a higher state of tune by lifting the max torque to occur at 7500rpm, closer to the now discontinued Daytona's 8200rpm point.

Rocket engine

In mid-2004, Triumph introduced an entirely new triple for use in a new heavyweight cruiser motorcycle, the Rocket III. The engine is 2294 cc, the largest purpose-built mass-produced motorcycle engine in existence. It is liquid-cooled and mounted inline with the frame. As a first for Triumph it was paired with a shaft final drive. It produces 140 hp (104 kW) at 6000 rpm and 147 lb·ft (199 N·m) of torque. In 2006, the Rocket III was joined by the Rocket III Classic, a more conservatively styled cruiser.

New 675 cc sportbike engine

In 2006, Triumph unveiled a third different triple engine to power the all new middle-weight Daytona 675 Triple sport bike, replacing the marque's previous flirtations with four cylinder middle-weights. The engine is 675 cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, transversely-mounted and produces 123 bhp (92 kW) at 12,500 rpm and 53 lb·ft (72 N·m) of torque at 11,750 rpm. This makes it more competitive with the Japanese 600 cc inline fours that dominate the market.

A de-tuned version of the same engine was used in 2007's Street Triple 675, with a less eccentric cam and slightly lower redline.