Swapping to triumph trident 660 bar end mirrors is almost a rite of passage for new owners of this middleweight roadster. Let's be honest, the moment you roll that bike out of the showroom, those stock mirrors sticking up like antennae are probably the first thing you want to change. While the factory-fitted mirrors do a decent job of showing what's behind you, they sort of ruin the sleek, "minimalist-cool" vibe that Triumph worked so hard to achieve with the Trident's design.
Dropping the mirrors down to the ends of the bars doesn't just change the look; it completely alters the silhouette of the bike. It makes the front end look lower, wider, and a lot more aggressive. But before you go out and grab the first pair you find online, there are a few things worth chatting about regarding the install, the visibility, and which styles actually suit the bike's personality.
Why the stock mirrors usually get the boot
The stock mirrors on the Trident 660 are fine, really. They're functional, they don't vibrate too much, and they offer a clear view. But visually? They're a bit "Mickey Mouse." Because the Trident has such a compact, muscular tank and a short tail section, having those tall stalks poking up feels a bit out of place.
When you switch to triumph trident 660 bar end mirrors, you're cleaning up that top line. Suddenly, the headlight becomes the focal point again, and the bike looks much more like a custom streetfighter. Plus, there's a practical benefit that people often overlook: shoulders. If you're a broader rider, stock mirrors often give you a great view of your own elbows. By moving the glass further out to the edges of the handlebars, you often get a clearer line of sight past your body.
Picking the right style for your Trident
You've basically got two main paths here: round or "stealth" (angular) shapes. Since the Trident 660 is a bit of a "neo-retro" blend—with its round headlight but modern frame and tank—both styles can actually work.
Round mirrors tend to lean into that classic British heritage look. They've got a timeless feel that matches the circular dash and the headlight perfectly. On the flip side, the more modern, angular "blade" style mirrors can make the bike look a bit more "techy" and aggressive.
Material matters here too. You'll see plenty of cheap plastic options, but it's usually worth spending a bit more for CNC-machined aluminum. Not only do they look more premium, but they're also way less likely to vibrate at highway speeds. There is nothing more annoying than a mirror that turns into a blurry mess the second you hit 5,000 RPM.
The installation headache (and how to skip it)
One thing you'll quickly realize when looking for triumph trident 660 bar end mirrors is that the Trident's handlebars aren't just empty tubes. Triumph uses a specific threaded insert inside the bars. This means you can't always just buy a "universal" kit and expect it to slide right in.
If you go with the official Triumph accessory mirrors, the install is a breeze. They come with the specific spacers and bolts designed to fit those threaded ends perfectly. However, they aren't exactly cheap. If you decide to go aftermarket, you need to make sure the kit includes adapters for Triumph bars or be prepared to do a little bit of "garage engineering."
A common trick is to keep the original bar end weights if possible, as they do a great job of dampening vibrations. Some mirror kits are designed to clamp directly onto the bar end weights, while others replace the weights entirely. Just a heads-up: if you remove the weights and replace them with super-light mirrors, you might notice a bit more tingle in your hands during long rides.
Visibility: What's the trade-off?
This is the big question everyone asks. Are bar end mirrors actually safe? In my experience, it's a bit of a "yes and no" situation.
The good news is that you definitely lose the "elbow view." Because the mirrors are wider, you get a much better perspective of the lanes next to you. The bad news is that your eyes have to travel further from the road to check them. Instead of a quick glance down and to the side, you're looking significantly lower. It takes a few days to build that muscle memory, but once you do, it feels totally natural.
The other thing to consider is the size of the glass. Some of the "stealth" style mirrors have tiny surface areas. They look amazing, sure, but if the glass is only two inches wide, you're going to be squinting to see if that's a cop or a delivery van behind you. I usually suggest finding a middle ground—something small enough to look sleek but large enough to actually be useful.
Dealing with lane splitting and tight spaces
If you live somewhere where lane splitting (or filtering) is legal, you need to be mindful of the extra width. Adding triumph trident 660 bar end mirrors naturally makes the bike wider at its widest point.
Most riders don't find it to be a dealbreaker, but you do have to be a bit more cautious when squeezing between car mirrors in heavy traffic. Some high-end bar end mirrors actually have a "fold-in" feature. These are great because you can tuck them in when you're parking in a tight garage or filtering through a particularly narrow gap, then pop them back out when you're on the open road.
Quality vs. Price: Don't go too cheap
It's tempting to grab a $20 pair of mirrors from a random site, but on a bike as nice as the Trident, you usually get what you pay for. The cheap ones often have poor-quality glass that isn't "convex." High-quality mirrors use slightly curved glass to give you a wider field of view.
Cheaper mirrors also tend to have weak pivot points. You'll set them exactly where you want, hit a bump, and suddenly you're looking at the ground. Or worse, the wind pressure at 70 mph starts pushing them out of alignment. Spending a bit extra on brands like Motogadget, CRG, or even the official Triumph ones saves a lot of frustration in the long run.
Final thoughts on the upgrade
At the end of the day, installing triumph trident 660 bar end mirrors is one of the most cost-effective ways to personalize your bike. It's a project you can easily do in an afternoon with basic tools, and the visual payoff is immediate.
The Trident 660 is such a balanced, well-proportioned machine that it really benefits from getting rid of that top-heavy mirror look. Just make sure you pick a pair that offers a good balance of style and actual functionality. After all, the bike looks great, but you still need to see what's going on behind you when you're carving through those corners. Once you've made the swap, you'll probably look back at photos of your bike with the stock mirrors and wonder why you didn't do it sooner. It just completes the look.