Classics
Words & photos: Rhys Jones
The rise and fall of the triple
T
hroughout the history of motorcycle
development three cylinder engines
have appeared, disappeared, and
reappeared many times. The straight
three configuration had the advantages
of being narrower and lighter than a
four, and producing less vibration than a twin.
I will get to the Italian MV Agusta and Laverda
triples, the British Triumph triples, and the fiery
Japanese Kawasaki triples later, but the first
triple that caught my attention was the British
Scott 3S triple of 1936. The Scott company,
which began in 1908, was plagued with financial
difficulties in spite of the fact that the founder
Laverda Jota 981cc triple 1982
Kawasaki 500cc H1 2-stroke triple 1973
Graeme Crosby and the H2 750cc race bike at Bathurst 1979
66 KIWI RIDER