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Triumph Motorcycles

About Triumph

Triumph Motorcycles Ltd is the largest UK motorcycle manufacturer. It was established in 1984 by John Bloor after the original company Triumph Engineering went into receivership. The new company (initially Bonneville Coventry Ltd) continued Triumph's record of motorcycle production since 1902.

In 1884 Siegfried Bettmann starts an import-export company. He imports German sewing machines and also sells bicycles badged with the name “Bettmann.” In 1887 Bettmann changes the name of his company to New Triumph Co. Ltd. (Later it will be changed again to Triumph Cycle Co. Ltd.)

First Triumph is produced in 1902 – known as No. 1. This is basically one of the company’s bicycles, fitted with a 2-hp Minerva engine made in Belgium. In 1905 Triumph produces its first motorcycle completely in-house. It’s powered by a 3-hp engine and has a top speed of 45 mph. Triumph makes a big advance in 1910 with the ‘free engine’ device (basically, the first practical clutch), which allows the user to start the engine with the bike on its stand and ride away from a standing start. There are two models in the lineup, and sales hit 3,000 units!

In 1920 Triumph produces the 550cc Type SD, the company’s first bike to feature a chain-driven rear wheel. SD stands for Spring Drive – it’s an early version of a cush drive. Bicycle-style rim brakes are replaced by drum brakes. The new bikes in 1921 need better brakes, as they now make a lot more power – especially the prototype 20-hp Model R, with four-valve head. It is known as the “Riccy” after one of its designers, Frank Ricardo. The 350cc Model LS (from 1923) is the first Triumph with an oil pump driven by the motor. (Until then, the rider had to pump oil by hand.)

In 1932 the noted engine designer Val Page joins the firm. Page quickly creates several new motors, including a 150cc two-stroke and 250, 350 and 500cc four-strokes. In 1935 a foot-change gearshift is available as an option on 650 Twins.

In 1936 Jack Sangster, who had owned Ariel, buys the motorcycle business and immediately hires Edward Turner (who had previously created the Ariel Square Four) as chief designer. Sangster reinstitutes Bettmann as the company chairman. In 1937 Turner unveils the 498cc Speed Twin (T100) that has a top speed of over 90 mph. It is the definitive British motorcycle and establishes a pattern for Triumph bikes that will last more than 40 years.

With the return of peace in 1945, the company focuses on three models, the Tiger 100, the Speed Twin and the smaller touring 349cc 3T. All models feature a telescopic front fork. In 1946 Ernie Lyons wins the Manx Grand Prix on a redesigned Tiger 100, using a lightweight all-alloy motor that Triumph designed for use on aircraft during the war. (The motor powered a radio generator.) In 1947 a rear “sprung hub” is optional. In 1949 the off-road 500cc TR5 “Trophy” and big-bore 649cc Thunderbird are released.

In 1951 Jack Sangster sells Triumph to BSA for £2.5 million. The 149cc OHV Terrier is released in 1953. The Tiger 110 is released in 1954, which is basically a tuned (40+hp) version of the Thunderbird, with a rear swingarm. The exquisitely styled 350cc “Twenty one” of 1957 may be an aesthetic success, but it proves a commercial failure.

The very popular T120 Bonneville 650 is introduced in 1959. It’s an evolution of the Tiger, fitted with twin carbs – something American dealers have long been asking for. It will remain in production until 1983. Bert Hopwood moves from AMC to Triumph in 1961, where he conceives a three-cylinder motor. The T120C “TT” (starting 1963) will become one of the most sought-after Triumphs of the period.

The 750cc Triple finally makes an appearance in 1968, powering both the Triumph Trident and the BSA Rocket 3.

The BSA group, which includes Triumph, posts a huge financial loss in 1973. The decision is made to shut down BSA and focus resources and energy on Triumph. Craig Vetter’s freelance “American hotrod” design for the Triple, which was to be a BSA model, is produced as the Triumph X75 Hurricane. By the end of the year, Triumph merges with Norton.

When Triumph Engineering went into receivership in 1983, John Bloor bought the name and manufacturing rights from the Official Receiver. The new company's manufacturing plant and its designs were not able to compete against the Japanese, so Bloor decided against relaunching Triumph immediately. Initially, production of the old Bonneville was continued under licence by Les Harris of Racing Spares, in Newton Abbot, Devon, to bridge the gap between the end of the old company and the start of the new company. For five years from 1983, about 14 were built a week in peak production. In the USA, owing to problems with liability insurance, the Harris Bonnevilles were never imported.

Bloor set to work assembling the new Triumph, hiring several of the group's former designers to begin work on new models. The team visited Japan on a tour of its competitors' facilities and became determined to adopt Japanese manufacturing techniques and especially new-generation computer-controlled machinery. In 1985, Triumph purchased a first set of equipment to begin working, in secret, on its new prototype models. By 1987, the company had completed its first engine. In 1988, Bloor funded the building of a new factory at a 10-acre (40,000 m2) site in Hinckley, Leicestershire. Bloor put between £70 million and £100 million into the company between purchasing the brand and breaking even in 2000.

Bloor has previously created two subsidiary companies, Triumph Deutschland GmbH and Triumph France SA. In 1994 Bloor created Triumph Motorcycles America Ltd.

A range of new 750 cc and 900 cc triple-cylinder bikes and 1000 cc and 1200 cc four-cylinder bikes were launched at the September 1990 Cologne Motorcycle Show. The motorcycles used famous model names from the glory days of Meriden Triumph and were first made available to the public between March (Trophy 1200 being the first) and September 1991. All used a modular liquid cooled DOHC engine design in a common large diameter steel backbone frame. The modular design was to ensure that a variety of models could be offered whilst keeping production costs under control.

The first models, known generically as the 'T300's, all used a common piston diameter (76mm) in a common wet cylinder liner. Basic engine variations were achieved through the use of two specifications of piston stroke: 65mm to create individual cylinder capacity of 300cc, and 55mm to create a 250cc individual cylinder. Two 750cc models were released - and the Daytona and Trident 750 triples (3 x 250cc). There was one 1000cc model - the Daytona 1000 four (4 x 250cc). Two 900 cc models were the Trophy 900 and Trident 900 triples (3 x 300cc). The Trophy 1200 four was the largest model (4 x 300cc). All were remarkably smooth running. The three cylinder models were equipped with a contra-rotating balance shaft mounted at the front of the engine. The four cylinder models benefitted from twin balance shafts - unique at the time - mounted beneath the crank shaft. Contemporary road tests noted the solidity and smoothness of performance as positives but the weight of the machines as negatives.

Revisions to crankcases for the three-cylinder models in 1993, together with a move to high pressure casting, reduced engine weight considerably. All painting and plating operations were brought in house in 1993, as the Hinckley factory benefitted from further investment after the initial success of the range. The result was improved quality and durability of finish, added to the basic engineering integrity of the engine and chassis, made for a long-lasting and robust motorcycle.

The range was largely revised in 1997 with the release of the T500 range, followed by a light-weight four-cylinder 600 cc sports TT600. The Triumph Thunderbird 900 exploited the styling cues of the 'old' Triumph's legendary designer, Edward Turner whilst retaining the modern triple engine. The 790 and 865 cc versions of the Triumph Bonneville and Thruxton look and sound original but internally they have modern valves and counterbalance shafts.

The 2,294 cc (140.0 cu in) triple Rocket III cruiser was introduced in 2004. In 2009 1,600 cc (98 cu in) Thunderbird twin-cylinder cruiser was announced.

Triumph's best selling bike is the 675 cc Street Triple. In 2010 they launched the Triumph Tiger 800 and Tiger 800 XC, dual-sport motorcycles, which uses an 800 cc engine derived from the Street Triple, and is designed to compete directly with the market leading BMW F800GS. In 2012, the Tiger 800 was joined by the shaft-driven Triumph Tiger Explorer.

Moto blog

US Motorcycle Sales First Half 2011 Results

Thu, 28 Jul 2011

The U.S. motorcycle industry saw a 4.6% decrease in year-on-year sales over the first six months of 2011, thanks mostly to a 17.3% drop in ATV sales. Motorcycle and scooter sales however saw a 1.7% bump in the first half .

Triumph Announces Expansion to India

Tue, 28 Jun 2011

Triumph Motorcycles has announced plans to sell its motorcycles in India in 2012, becoming the latest manufacturer to enter the world’s second largest market. Triumph has appointed Ashish Joshi as managing director for its operations in India. Joshi is the former head of European operations for India-based Royal Enfield.

Akrapovic full system for Triumph Daytona 675

Tue, 28 Jun 2011

From Akrapovic is a new full system for the Triumph 675 Daytona: After extensive research and development with the Smiths (Gloucester) Racing team, Akrapovic have now launched a full system for the popular 675 Daytona. Although the bike has been available since 2006 Akrapovic have only ever offered a slip-on silencer option, electing not to develop a full racing system for this bike. However, after unprecedented demand from the WSS and BSS paddock for racing products the decision was made to develop a full racing system in a modular format that allows the headers to be added to existing customer’s slip-on kits.

40-Day Motorcycle Ride for Breast Cancer Groups

Fri, 17 Jun 2011

Charlotte, N.C., writer and motorcycle adventurer Tamela Rich is heading out on a cross-country ride to raise money for breast cancer causes. Along her tour, Rich will meet with breast cancer survivors and interview them for her upcoming book, “Live Full Throttle: What You Can Learn About Life From Women Who’ve Faced Cancer”. This will be Rich’s second tour across the country.

Tested: Bridgestone BT-016 Pro's

Fri, 17 Jun 2011

Two months ago I had a set of Bridgestone BT-016 Pro’s fitted to my Triumph Speed Triple. Before setting out on the new tyres, the Speed had covered 4000 miles. Now with just over 7000 on the clock the rear tyre is on the limit markers.

Triumph’s 500,000th Production Motorcycle Headed to Auction on July 1st

Thu, 16 Jun 2011

It was less than a month ago that Triumph’s 500,000th production motorcycle, a special Speed Triple with commemorative paint job, rolled off the line. World-famous auction house, Bonhams, has recently announced that it will put the special Trumpet on the auction block on July 1, 2011, during the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Comedian Ross Noble has completed his Sit Down Tour of Great Britain with the milestone Triumph, and now the bike is ready to raise money for Riders for Health charity.

2012 Triumph Street Triple sighted

Fri, 03 Jun 2011

Whilst sauntering home from work the other evening, in a double-take I stumbled upon a 2012 Triumph Street Triple, the one with the 675 engine. Thinking that I had discovered a 'scoop' that this bike was being previewed in Islington I hastily took shots on my (un)smart phone - only to find out that the 2012 Street Triple has already been released to the streets of the UK. Peers have described the new slanty lights of the Speed/Street Triple as 'looking a bit mongoloid' but I have to disagree.

Triumph Motorcycles Produces 500,000th in John Bloor Hinckley Era

Tue, 24 May 2011

Triumph is celebrating the 500,000th motorcycle produced in the John Bloor era with a tour across the United Kingdom with English stand-up comedian Ross Noble. The landmark motorcycle, a one-off Triumph Speed Triple, is the 500,000th unit produced by the modern Triumph Motorcycles company since Bloor revived the brand in 1990. Carrying VIN number 500,000, the milestone Speed Triple features a special red, white and blue color scheme with the triple-cross of the Union Jack on the fuel tank.

Recall for 2010 Triumph Thunderbird

Mon, 16 May 2011

Triumph Motorcycles is starting a recall campaign on certain 2010 Thunderbird cruisers due to a problem with the front fender fasteners. On certain 2010 Triumph Thunderbirds, including some ABS-equipped units, the four screws on the front fender mounts may come loose. According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the plating used on the fender mounting included friction modifiers which are not compatible with the thread lock compound used on the screws.

R&G Drop proof Triumph Speed Triple

Mon, 16 May 2011

Over the years R&G have been the brand known for being the originators of crash protecting bolt-ons. I asked them for a stack of products to fit to the 2011 Speed Triple to see what difference they make. The thing about modern day sports tyres is they offer huge grip when fully leant over, but we are often too nervous to make the most of this, simply because the British road surfaces are changeable and largely unpredictable.