The gentleman shown putting a triumph on its mainstand is my uncle Fred. His name is Fred Ernest Watson. He worked on the assembly line from 1953 to I think 1979. He died about 25 years ago. Almost every triumph that rolled off the assembly was handled by my uncle.
Nothing like the sound of a Bonneville with open megaphones. I went to high school in the late fifties and rode one to school every day. No problem in those days. I'm 83 and thinking about buying another one. Thank you for the video.
The main reason Triumph successfully rose from the dead (apart from building bikes people wanted to buy) is John Bloor’s vision and considerable personal wealth. He put in circa £65m of his own money to get Triumph established. There is no way that amount could have been raised on the stock market / private equity as the timescale was far too long for those people. Without that personal financial commitment there would be no Triumph as we know it today. We owe that man a great deal.
My dad was a triumph man. He had a few other bikes like BSA and Ariel but he was always a Triumph man. I grew up on the tank of his motorcycle. I was around 3 or 4. I was always with him as a child except when he was going to work. As I got older I graduated to being his pillion rider. I bought my dad as a birthday gift when he was much older and retired a 1957 600 cc twin (old army bike, green) he was so excited to have it. Thank you for bringing back great memories of my childhood with my dad.
I've been a fan of Triumph motorcycles since I was a teenager in the late 1970's, and have owned three T140 Bonnevilles and a Trident T150, starting with a 1979 750 Bonneville in 1983 when I was just 18 years old, but I have never owned or ridden any of the reborn Triumph branded bikes. The original Triumph plant at Meriden in Coventry kept going until 1983, then after the closure of Triumph Les Harris continued to build the T140 750 Bonneville under licence to John Bloor until around 1987 or 88 I think, then the new Bloor Triumphs began to appear in the 1990's from the all new plant in Hinkley, Leicestershire. I remember snippets of info appearing in the bike press about the new liquid cooled triples and fours as they were being developed all those years ago. If I remember correctly, a guy that used to do the pinstriping by hand was one of the few things from the old original Triumph plant that moved over to the new Triumph brand.
Thanks for a very interesting overview of the Triumph story. I am about to take delivery of my latest new motorcycle purchase, the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE. I’m so jazzed!
I'm on my 3rd new triumph since 2000 and I love them! The styling is always eye catching and the build quality is second to none and performance and handling never disappoint.
I got a Speedmaster like a year ago and love it. I 100% agree. The styling and build quality is just a notch above. I am not saying other bikes are poorly built or anything. Triumph just really has nice little details.
I bought an immaculate ‘16 Street Twin last month as a daily driver. I’ll never part with it. The rarity and overall badassness of the bike keeps the heads turning! Ride safe
I know I'm late on this one. Back in '78 I bought a '67 Triumph Bonneville, I saved it from getting chopped, I was just 16 years old. I used a rattle can and a template with the help of my dad. I sprayed it in stock colors, and found a stock stainless front fender at a swap meet. I had that bike for decades. I also bought a '50 Thunderbird project in the '90's and did a concourse restoration using all NOS and OEM parts, except for the exhaust. I won first place at Mid Ohio Bike show. I miss them both, they had soul. I will always have a special place in my heart right next to my pacemaker for Triumph motorcycles. I had so many motorcycles but I miss both of them dearly. I'm riding a '99 Harley FLSTS now. Life Behind Bars. Great content.
Bought a 1977 Bonne new when Triumph was starting to move towards the door. Sold it.....then bought a used 1974 750 Bonne which is sitting in my garage.....waiting for April.😊 The ignition is solid state so there are no points to endlessly adjust. Flood the carbs and kick it......rarely more than once. Nothing I can't address in my garage when keeping up on the maintanance. Love that Old Beater...........
I've a 74 T120V, I do big mileages touring on it and it's a great bike. As you say fit and forget electronic ignition is the way to go, just ensure you have a solid state voltage regulator, and throw the zenor diode as far away as you can as they can cook the ignition unit, whereas points can survive excess volts that would fry electronics.
Looking at old photos of my dad when he was a greaser-rocker of the 50's & 60's always planted the seed in my mind of riding bikes. When John Bloor relaunched Triumph, as an Englishman I thought at last there's a British bike I would be proud to own. All my life I've ridden cruisers and customs simply because I know I couldn't trust myself on a fast bike but when the 2nd gen Speed Triple was launched I KNEW I had to have one. I love everything about it, the single sided rear arm, the frame tube design, the air scoops, the flexible performance of that engine which HOWLS like nothing else I've ever owned. It took me quite a while but eight years ago I got a 1999 955 Speed Triple in black and have never looked back. I have owned this longer than ANY previous motorbikes and I've only owned one car for longer. The reliability is beyond question and it still gives me a stupid grin on my face whenever I get off it.
A friend of mine pointed out something to me when we used to joke about British bikes always leaking oil. the British bikes of the '50s and '60s were mostly built using machine tools that were often of pre-war manufacture and had been worn beyond tolerances during the second world war, so they didn't really give true surfaces -- and I believe that this is true, which explains the leaking issues. The new bikes don't have this manufacturing curse and the results speak for themselves. I fell in love with the Sprint series that came out in the '90s, but I couldn't afford one at the time. The new "Bonnys" are such sweet looking machines that I may need to drag some money out of the pocket book to put one in the garage. As someone once said, "there is NOTHING like the sound of a British Twin!"
the same thing happened with their auto industry. Their manufacturing base was massive, but dated really from the Edwardian era. plus there was this weird kind of disdain from upper management about the motorcycle business in general, like it were something unseemly for a gentleman to do... no hope there from the get-go.
I became interested in Triumph motorcycles in the early 60s probably for young romantic reasons. My dad worked with a guy who sold Triumph motorcycles out of what was large garage in an alley. I loved stopping by there on my bicycle and hanging out listening to the talk, the smells and the sounds of the bikes. That hung with me in the back of my mind for years. However, as an adult and after college in the 70’s I was unable to afford motorcycles until the 80s. I began to buy bikes and finally once again became interested in Triumph. I have now owned several and still, now 71 years old, I still own a Bonneville I bought new in 2005. It has been a Steady Eddie and rekindles my childhood dream of owning a bike from this British brand. So glad they made it back into the world of the motorcycle business.
Well done! One of the best discussions I've seen, really captured the essence of Triumph! My first real street bike was a '72 Bonneville 650 (T120RV - the one with the 5 speed trans), and I'm currently riding a '14 Thunderbird 1600. I was interested in it as an alternative to all the other cruisers (I own a couple HD's and a Road Star), partly due to my desire for the heritage, partly to support the Company, partly just that I like more unique rides, but also because I did research and found that Triumph has built a reputation for great build quality and detail. I have not been disappointed. For these reasons, I will look forward to whatever new models they come out with, whether it be electric, hydrogen, or whatever.
So many points to make about Triumph. In my mind the 2000's Bonneville started the whole retro thing and Triumph's pedigree made it stick. Another thing I love about Triumph is how they listen to customers. No other manufacturer has ever asked me what I wanted in a bike. They do. The build quality is top notch. I have owned three along with multiple Aprillias and a slew of Japanese bikes and the only thing that compares to the feeling of quality of a Triumph in my experience is a Ducati 916- but I don't have to be rich or beautiful or have my nethers burn up to own a Triumph. And man, the Street Triple 765 might be the most perfect bike ever made- like if you could only have one bike kind of perfect. What a machine. I am a fan of Triumph. Long may they live.
I’m totally obsessed after only a month in after buying a sweet ‘16 Street Twin. The build quality, styling and road feel are hallmarks of this ultra premium motorcycle company
I had a lot of Triumphs in the 60's. My favorite was a '47 5T Speed Twin. It had magneto ignition, dynamo and it was tough and reliable. The next favorite was a T120 engine in a Norton frame. The was the days when a Cafe Racer was something you built yourself. That said, the more recent 955i Speed Triple I had was brilliant.
Not just anyone buys a Triumph. Nothing against the Big Four or The Motor Company, but Triumph riders definitely do not follow the crowd. There are so many GSXs, Ninjas and Softails on the road because those are the popular bikes. Triumph riders want the heritage, the hands on DIY types. I love my 2007 T 100 Bonneville.
There are so many Big Four bikes for reason. And Big Four are big for reason. And Triumph are not even close to that reason. Only thing it did for reason it went bankrupt. For brits here can be a sentimental value, but for someone who never owned brits motorcycles there is no reason looking from good to better. Big Four rules.
Thanks so much for this. I have a '22 T100 in carnival red. I've ridden lots of different kinds of bikes and I was shocked at the feelings I got when I got on the Triumph. From the first test ride it was a must buy for me. I know there's lots of cool motorcycles out there, but, for me, the T100 is perfect. I also love the community that has come with the purchase of the T. So many great new friends with classic Triumphs and Nortons as well as people on modern classics.
I bought Daytona super three brand new in 1994, beautiful looking and sounding machine, then I had a ‘97 thunderbird 900 , nice easy bike to ride , good days they were 😊
After a looooong break (kids, then wife and everything) I came back to motorcycles in 2009. Me being German it had to be BMW to start again. So bought a one year old 650 XC thumper, but after 4 years I realised I needed more power, a bike better suited for travelling etc. So in 2013 I was almost sure the next bike will be the F800 GS. I had the 650 in service with the beemer chaps and they gave me a F800 GS as an exchange bike. With this bike I went to the nearest Triumph dealer for a test ride on a Tiger 800. Oh my what a surprise : apart from the brakes the Tiger was way better in any other respect. The proverbial grin on my face after 10 minutes. Ordered one on the spot and that bike stayed with me until last year when after 90.000 kms the front fork was toast. This Tiger was by far the most reliable bike I ever had. This being so I had already bought a 2017 Bonneville Bobber in 2018 and by end of last year a Tiger 900 GT Pro to replace the 800. I am 100 % a Triumph man and if I had the money and the time I would not hesitate and get a Rocket 3 GT
You neglected to mention the "new" Triumph Thunderbird, which preceded the re-introduction of the "new" Bonneville. The T-bird set the standard of nostalgic but up to date new classics. It was the T-bird that made the company both profitable and financially sound to launch a new Bonnie. Before the T-bird, Triumph was a boutique brand that was a curiosity more than anything else. The T-bird was the first big seller, in demand motorcycle for the revived company. Yes, it was panned universally by the motorcycle press who referred to it as the answer to a question nobody asked. But within 6 months of it's intro, the 'Bird outsold all their other bikes combined!
They hooked me. Picked up my '22 T120 yesterday. Going from a Buell to the Triumph has been such a nice change of pace. Quick bike with attitude, caught a lot of looks too.
@@sixdegrees6434 no complaints. Keep your expectations realistic and it sticks to them. This bike won't blow you out of your socks, but it moves out of its own way for sure. Just rolled over to 1600 miles, very fun commuter and went on the first trip to the hill last weekend. Very fun and capable standard motorcycle, people love the way it looks to.
As a Harley rider, I would absolutely convert to the Trumpet lineup. A G3, a scrambler, and an adventure triple would all be in the garage. I’m ready for an image realignment- no fat, beer drinking, greybeard here. Great video
i applaud triumph for their accomplishments.the odds were against them with the japanese making such a wide variety of bikes they had to compete with.their obviously doing something right to have survived in such a competitive market.
@@Njihalostrave - Two of the Triumph factories are in Hinckley, UK a couple of minutes away from the Mallory Park race track. The other three are in Brazil, Thailand, and Chonburi.
I am glad Triumph has had a successful comeback. I especially like their retro styled bikes having had a 1977 Bonneville that I bought new. Loved that bike, and never had any problems with it.
@@Dave5843-d9m Completely different because they are products of modern engineering. The original Triumph suffered from not having their factories bombed out of existence as happened in Germany. THey plodded on for a few decades without retooling, until eventually, like many similar companies, they could no longer compete with brands that didn't leave oil stains on your garage floor.
@@Durnyful No oil leaks. I did replace the clutch cable once, but otherwise the bike ran like a champ I and often got compliments on it since there weren't many around.
@jeffk2278 Friends had similar bikes but they did leak a bit. I followed a French friend through Cannes one time, he had sparks flying around every corner - he was a complete maniac. He eventually wrapped his girlfriends moped round a lampost... broke a few bones but lived 😁 Bonneville was a great bike!
Being an engineer I love the high quality engineering that Triumph produce. The finish is second to none other than Ducati. I'm on my 2nd Tiger and just smile when I ride it..what more do you want. Being a Brit riding a Triumph is the best feeling ever. 🇬🇧
I agree, I'm on my second Street Triple 765 , current one is about 18 months old. I'm same as u and a Brit and I just wanted to own one. Even now I can go out to the garage and just stare at the details and thing how nice it is. Being an engineer I really do appreciate all the little bits that Triumph have put all over them. Happy riding Apache !!
06 Sprint ST! One day an Old Brit walked by it in a Stop & Shop parking lot. He asked how I keep it so clean. I told him that I just ride really fast in the rain! We had a good laugh and talked a little Triumph ❤😊!
When I was a kid growing up in Montreal.. Triumph , Norton were around and BSA . I loved Norton and Triumph.. such beautiful machines.. I always remember the Triumph logal on the back of the seat.. and a yellow Norton Commando both 650''s I once had a CB 650 Honda and now I have a 125 Honda Cafe Racer..
My 1st “big” bike was a 72 Bonneville. Loved it, albeit I did need to do mechanical work to keep it up. I had 5 BMW’s before I got my next Triumph, a 2014 Tiger, which is a wonderful bike. Loved the image that came with the brand just like Brando and McQueen did.
Love my Tiger 900 adv bike. Very reliable and scary fast. Takes a steady hand to ride safely. The temptation is strong. I'm lusting after a Bonneville, love the retro look. Instead I bought a 1975 Honda CB500T twin. It's not just retro, it's vintage.
I've been riding for over 50 years which includes dirt and street bikes. Purchased a new Rocket 3 gt about a month ago. This was the first bike since my 83 V65 Magna(which I still have)that really got me excited about riding again. I looked at Harley, but just wasn't impressed. There are several other Triumphs that I would like to have in my garage as well if finances ever become available. I have 2 sons who like to ride and are now looking at Triumphs. One hell of a turn around success story.
After a 25 year hiatus from riding, I rediscovered Triumph and it's lineup. I now own both a 2007 Triumph America and a 2006 Triumph Rocket. Both bikes have proven to be extremely reliable, exhibiting great looks, drawing attention whenever they arrive, and delivering unbelievable enjoyment during the riding experience. That is really what it is all about. A big congratulations to not only John Bloor for having the vision, but to the entire company and its employees for succeeding in creating wonderful machines, that are meant to be ridden!!!
I took my friend (Triumph owner), my wife and our two young kids over to Cologne to see the launch of the new Hinkley Triumph range in 1990. We drove from the UK through Belgium and Germany to Cologne and the show. They had six launch models at the show in all sorts of colours and styles, 3 and 4 cylinder engines. I still have all the photos that I took at the show.
I guess for most my 20-year old Triumph Sprint ST is yesterday’s news, but the old triple really has grunt across the range and delightfully digs into the corners. A heavy beast when standing still but still assured at 145mph.
My brother had a Sprint RS, after spending a day on the pillion for a road trip I knew my next bike would be a Triumph. In 09 I bought a new Street Triple, I still have it.
People seem to be forgetting the Thunderbird triples, Got to be one of the original retro bikes, I have the Thunderbird sport, slightly higher tune, better brakes and suspension. Those 900 triples are over engineered, because of Bloors paranoia about unreliability, my TBS will do 130 mph, and handles just as well as a late 80s sports bikes d looks gorgeous I think..
I like Triumph's marketing approach as far as products are concerned. They make great retro bikes while advancing more innovative motorcycles. Triumph are interesting.
Nice work Bart. I enjoy your videos. I am fan of both the classics and more modern Triumph bikes. I sent three years rebuilding a '73 650 Bonny from a box of nuts and bolts. I still have vivid memories of being at a top light and watching the front wheel just bouncing up and down and then forward and aft lol. We used to joke that you knew your Triumph was out of oil when your pant leg ran dry lol. When my Bonnie got stolen in 82, I was in the dumps so my friend Alex who had a '56 TRW gave me a matching frame and engine for'68 500 cc tiger and told me to shut up and get to work lol. I currently ride a 2011 1600 cc Thunderbird. I really appreciate how it is reliable and keeps my pants clean. I have been impressed so far with the level of product support we get here for my Triumph. It was one of my concerns when deciding on buying a new generation Triumph. With rising gas prices, I am really looking forward to the TE-1 which might just be my next bike. Keep up your good work. I look forward to more videos.
As a Brit and a Biker, I am in awe of Triumph as a company, and of their superb bikes. These days, with British companies - especially manufacturing ones - it seems to be all doom and gloom. But Triumph, since JB revived them in the 90's have CONSISTENTLY put out stonking bikes and been on top of their game, and I would say, on top of the market too. I don't know HOW they do it! The company seems to have learned not only good design from the Japanese, but good BUSINESS too. Fantastic brand. Best G.D. company in the UK as far as I'm concerned. Hydro-power? Yes. Totally agree. But I think personally that they ought to be MARKET LEADERS in targeting WOMEN (and smaller male riders) with much greater seat height options. Yes, they have the Bobber with a low seat height, but that's ...well.... a bobber style bike, and if you've got short legs, but you don't want a bobber style bike, you're stuffed. They've done the low seat option on the new Tiger, but they need to go much further, without the customer having to pay more if they have short legs. Keep it up Triumph, you're doing a fantastic job!
@@paulbarnes6124 Yes, this is indeed a good start. Triumph obviously have been looking into and developing strategies to provide different seat heights. RESPECT. But it has to be said that the seat height on a Street Triple LOW is 780mm. Which is of course 45mm lower than the "normal" height option. But for anyone sub 5'3" its' still too tall for comfort. Triumph have taken the standard 800mm seat height and INCREASED it to 825, then they've taken the 45mm off that to give just a measly 20mm (just 3/4") lower-than-average 800mm seat height. So great work Triumph, but you need to go farther to offer PROPER low seat height options (around the 750mm mark).
Alex, Good Point, well made. Yes, the world of Motorcycles appears to be Male dominated. I am pleased to say that among the Members of the HTOC many are Women, and the Street Triple is exceedingly popular among them. A performance bike that they can actually ride. My Wife loves her T400 Tiger, a niche which was sadly omitted in this video, the Tiger range is getting huge, Adventure bikes being a massive market in Europe. Were you aware that over half of new BMW's sold today are GS's? Finally, I also own the original Hinckley Triumph retro bike: The Thunderbird 900. I lusted after one when they were announced and now own one which is a complete head-turner wherever it goes. Glassic looks with the Triple engine.
I couldn't agree more about the seat height. I own both a Bonnie and a 2013 Trophy. That Trophy is an incredible engineering feat. So many bells and whistles, handles great, reliable and very fast with that big triple, BUT, I have shorter legs and I have dropped it a few times at stop signs. It is very top heavy which is great for handling, but terrible for stopping. Even with lowering links, I still have to tip-toe a bit.
Back in the 70's when I was a kid Triumph were dying. The Trident was their best bike and that didn't say a lot as it wasn't very good so thank goodness for John Bloor who bought the name and not only resurrected the company, but turned it into arguably the most sought after brand and when you consider their line up, it's no surprise. I have no desire to go back to two wheels but if I ever did, Triumph would be where my hard earned went.
Thanks a lot for covering this company Bart. There is a lot of history between my family and the Triumph/BSA/Norton family of manufacturers. It's a pity they didn't look after their brand as well as they looked after their shareholders.
I.ll never forget when I was a kid two of my neighbors had triumphs. One had a 650 twin and the other had a triple. The sound of both was unforgettable. I would love to take their new triple for a spin. It has to be a torque monster
Great vid mate, Triumph has always been popular here in New Zealand. When the brand relaunched it meant that my generation (the young guys when the relaunch happened) didn’t have to ride our fathers Triumph’s, we could buy our own brand new ones! It’s awesome that Triumph has a lot of different models from adventure bikes to cruisers, cheers 😎
Great video but you have missed out a vital point. Triumph are billed as a British company. They originally built their new range at Hinckley, but on the sly, they have moved manufacturing to Thailand, while still plastering their bikes in Union Jacks. I have no problems with buying bikes made overseas - I've had over 30 motorbikes in my time, all Japanese, German, or Italian. The point is though, if I buy an Enfield, I know it's made in India. If I buy a Guzzi, I know it's made in Italy. Not so a Triumph (or even BMW now). It seems underhand to me, to claim the heritage of a British marque, but farm the work out to a second world country simply to pay the workers less, and still charge top dollar for the end product. That is why I haven't bought a Triumph this year, and I have no plans to do so.
I sold my 2013 Bonneville when I found out it was made in Thailand. Will not buy another until they are UK made again. It waters down the brand, they aren't really British if they are made in Asian factories from Asian steel by Asian hands. Nothing wrong with Asian bikes but don't pretend to be British and plaster your bikes with the Union Jack. My next Triumph will likely be an older UK made model.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Wow... That's a bit confrontational. If you took the time to read what I wrote, I think I clearly said that I've had more than 30 motorbikes and not one was made in the UK. I also live overseas, and my two kids were not "made in England" so don't even think about casting me up to be some sort of knuckle-dragging racist. What I don't like is being hoodwinked by a company that purports to make British bikes, but that are as British as a bowl of Chow Mein eaten in a Singapore street café. You might chirp on about it being "well reported at the time" but at the time I went into the local Triumph dealership to look at buying a Bonneville, the dealer made no mention of them being built in Thailand whatsoever, and the showroom was festooned in Union Jacks and posters of the British countryside. Sorry for being an ignorant non-UK dweller, but I think the average European Triumph customer could be forgiven in the circumstances for believing that Triumphs are British bikes. They're not. They're Thai bikes that Triumph charge full British prices for. Now put that in your pipe and smoke it, troll.
Let’s not forget that Triumph is the official engine supplier to Motogp 2. An astounding achievement. You have to be honest, JB is a visionary, a genius and an incredibly astute businessman.
I have owned and thrashed 6 Triumphs since 1966 , Daytona's x2 , TR6 x2 , and Bonnies 650 and 750's and every one of them died , oil leaks , throwing rods (3 off) was a favorite ( conrods ) holes in cases , but like you Bart I like them . I have and enjoy the 2021 Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor , like a new 70's Triumph but more reliable by far .
Technical point. He said the original Bonneville came out of the TR 6 when it actually came out of a modified Tiger 110 (T110) which gained a record on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Hence the designation T 120.
Yeah, I think all Triumph did was take a T110 and stick a dual-carb head on it, and paint it a different color. Voila, new 1959 Bonneville. I'm pretty sure even the T120 Bonneville camshafts were the same as the T110 in 1959. It wasn't until 1963 with the Bonneville T120TT model that Triumph added additional changes like hotter cams, smaller fuel tank, different electrical system (no battery) , alloy fenders, etc and then the bike started to differ from the Tiger significantly.
@@dirkdiggler5164 I owned a 1963 Bonneville for a couple of years, the first of the unit construction Bonnevilles. It had the significantly improved E 3134 camshaft, whether that was the first year or not I don't recall.
@@donaldclarke6908 That was a pretty hot cam, I don't know if it was the hottest, but it was pretty aggressive. Well, I know that by 1959 for sure (and maybe it was available earlier than that but I don't know) customers could purchase a race tuning kit from Triumph that included super-hot camshafts amongst several other things. Customers couldn't order the bike from the factory with that high performance stuff on it. But customers could buy the race kit from Triumph and fit it to their bikes. Triumph didn't mess around in those days. It was always a hands-on performance bike company. WAY pre-dating the "Screamin' Eagle" Harley performance kit type stuff, which you could say is the modern day equivalent of what Triumph was already doing in the 50's. How do I know this? B/c I know a guy who bought the race kit in 1959. I "think" almost ALL of those tuning race mods wound up in the unit T120TT a bit later ( which was hands down the fastest factory bike Triumph ever made before 1983) , and I think SOME of those performance upgrades wound up in the regular T120R, but I'm not sure which mods exactly made it to the factory T120R. But yep, the T120R came from the T110 b/c the T110 was the street bike, and the T120R was a street bike. You might be able to say that starting in 1963 the T120TT came was TR6 inspired b/c the T120TT was off-road oriented.
Currently own a 15 Scrambler 900 and a 16 Thruxton 1200 r and love them both for what they are and what they represent. Also own a DL 1000 Suzuki and RE 500. As a FORMER Hardly Dependable owner/ mechanic I'm truly enjoying my garage more now.
I own a 2015 scrambler 900 I bought new and I liked it so well. I bought a 2020 T 100 black. I still have a Harley and a 1200 bandit. And a couple dirt bikes but I love my triumphs , they are awesome....ride safe.
I remember well when the brand was revived - an investment in state of the art CNC engineering at Hinckley, some good use of simpler technologies eg the steel spine frame to keep costs low at first, a bit of copying in places, but the innovative bendy fairing plastics. The profits went back into developing their bikes, better components, ally frames and so on. I am really pleased to see this vid to see how well it all went. Greetings from England!!
As a proud Triumph enthusiast who's owned many Triumph's, old and new, I was blown away when Triumph got going again. As someone who works in engineering, I have even done work for Triumph, it annoys the hell out of me that Triumph are no longer willing to pay British workers to make their bikes whilst conveniently expecting British workers to buy their bikes. They like to forget that every single bike is now made in Thailand whilst banging on about their Britishness.... ad nauseum. I too would not buy another until they return to making bikes in the UK again.
As an American bike enthusiast it disgusted me when Triumph moved all the assembly to Thailand. I may own a REAL British Triumph someday, but not one of the imposters.
Don't they have it split with 2 UK factories and 3 Thai factories? That and all the cool, bespoke bikes are UK built, just buy the top of the line bikes. And you must have stopped buying almost everything because most stuff is made somewhere else now; every Apple product says designed by Apple in California, because that's all Apple does, designs it, then has a Chinese manufacturer making them based on the design as long as they make them to Apples quality control. It would be the same thing with Triumph, and even then I would rather support Thai production then Chinese with the Chinese government spying on everything. I love my Daytona 900, 1200, and Super 3, and have been looking at a Daytona 765 at the dealer near me, or would happily buy a Rocket 3 TFC if they did a run of them again.
I liked Fonzie's Triumph. That's the end of my attachment with the old Triumph. In the last 15 years, I've owned 3 Speed Triples. I think they are absolutely the best bike I've ever owned. The quality is good. (of course, my 98 spun a rod bearing) The sound, the torque and power, the ergo. It's perfect for the street. I love my S3s
I've had 3 triumphs Rockets 3 in 2004 . . 2008 Speedmaster carburetor End in 2014In America fully dressed Only in blue. All great bikes Easy maintenance Great finishes. Thanks for the memories
I have owned Hondas, Kawasakis, a Suzuki, a Yamaha, a Harley Dyna Superglide, and now I own and ride a 2018 Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster. I really like the Triumph and it is a better bike than the Harley.
I got a 2022 thruxton recently after owning an older air cooled Bonnie. And holy shit does that thing tear it up. It’s amazing how far triumph has come in just the past 7 years, can’t wait to see what the next few has to offer. Nice video man!
I ride a big Harley Cruiser but am impressed by just the range of Triumph offerings. I’m leaning to pick up a triumph adventure touring bike as a second bike
Wow thanks for posting been riding more years than I want to remember had BMWs agencies everything but when it's open done with after 50 years my favorite bike was my 1970 triumph Bonneville still love it today
Triumph always had something others don't have......... A certain pedigree!... Not saying foreign bikes don't have theirs, and there's some awesome bikes out there which I'd own in a heartbeat, but some Brit bikes are truly iconic.....
I own a 2014 Street Triple..Its a great motorcycle. That wonderful 675 triple motor that has a unique howl, a chassis second to none in terms of handling. On a twist road it holds it own and bests many. I've never read a bad review either from professional bike testers or those who have owned the Striple...or the Daytona...
Easy riding does not mean that a rider has never ridden hard or fast. It just means they prefer to extend the pleasure had of the moment expecting to stay quite alive for later to tell of it.
I'm actually now a proud owner of a 2004 triumph daytona 955i. Have yet to ride because of winter and snow and salt. But super excited. It's been my attainable dream bike for almost 12 years.
as an old fart now, i can honestly say that out of all the bikes i have ridden and raced over the decades my favourite ride has to be the 73 bonny 750. yes not as fast, but as a ride they are fantastic. low centre of gravity where you scrape the pegs around every corner. just an honest good time.
Good video. Thanks Bart. Ive been looking for a road bike for a while now having not had one for many years. Dual sports/ADV have been my interest along with my Vespa GTS300 for local. I now want a proper road bike and have extensive knowledge of what's being produced and what one can actually get these days. I keep coming back to Triumph. Triumph's offerings across their line are very attractive for their quality, fit and finish, performance for real world street, tasteful styling, and heritage. They have a more tangible and authentic vibe than anything else I see. They seem designed and built by people who love motorcycles instead of a bean counter's "idea" of what people will buy. Kudos Triumph!
Good job on this segment, and I do agree people buy a modern classic like the Speed Twin to escape the cookie cutter retro naked craze sweeping over the industry. Most of these bikes are half ass attempts to recapture the feeling of riding a classic, but fall short because of inherent design flaws. The new second gen Speed Twins are the perfect balance of classic looks and modern performance at an affordable price. I love my '22 in Storm Grey and get nothing but compliments everywhere I go.
Great video. Thank you. I love my 2006 speed triple. It's a bike I will keep for the rest of my life. It's got as much character as the old Triumphs and twice as much power. I had a Triumph 650 Tiger back when we were all much younger but even though the name is the same it's not really the same company since Bloor bought the failing business.
I feel that the essence of Triumph is still there, with the Bonnevilles' current silhouette reminiscent of the old pre-unit days. It is slightly frustrating that you no longer have to prime the carbs, free the clutch plates and find TDC before kicking it over, and don't get me started on shifting the gear change. Harrumph. I once lived in a street named after you, Captain. And now, I'm going outside. I may be some time.
I bought a brand new '19 Speed Triple in Missouri in '21. This beautiful bike (white) sat on the floor for nearly 2yrs when I walked in, fell in love & purchased for a substantial discount. I have not been disappointed!! Significantly better finished than any of my Japanese bikes it has been flawless in 23,000 mi to date. Exceptionally solid, reliable and easily a match for any of my dozen or so Japanese bikes - it "fits" me perfectly. And the torque is intoxicating!
I think triumph has done a great job embracing their history, while making great bikes. I have been a classic Japanese bike fan, but have been tempted by Triumph fpr a while. My 1980 Yamaha XS850 was stolen recently, so of course I decided to replace it with another triple. I bought a 2012 Street Triple, and have absolutely fell in love with that bike. I could definitely see my self adding another Triumph or 2 to my stable in the coming years.
I bought a ‘16 Street Twin & it was the best decision I’ve made in a while. A new old rider after 25 yrs, this is the perfect first bike! It has plenty of power that I’m not likely to outgrow. I get looks everywhere I go. These bikes are so well designed & have a ton of options and customizations. I guess I’m trying to sell it LOL
I still can't think of the "new" triumph as triumph. All I do is rebuild classic British motorcycles. I wish there wasn't a marketing need to resurrect long gone marques. My project for my personal ride for 2023 is a 1956 BSA B31. I love the soulfulness of my pre 1980 BSA's, Nortons, and triumphs. I play with bikes all day and I still enjoy listening to your videos while I work.🙂
Excellent overview especially giving old Mr Turner a mention. Forgot to comment on the very clever business decision to move most of their manufacturing to Thailand. There's been no real evidence of any drop in quality or reliability since the move so they've negotiated what was effectively a huge existential boundary very successfully indeed. The Triumph Motorcycle story would make a superb subject for a business studies/MBA thesis.
When Triumph began its comeback I thought they were not going to succeed. Glad I was wrong. I admire England and I love how well Triumph is doing the things. I own four bikes but none of them is a Triumph. The reason for that is that I find them a little bit expensive. In terms of design and fit and finishing they are the best, and I admit that you have to pay for that. Love the video, many thanks.
_Another_ great video! The big knock I recall from the '60s-'70s about Triumph was centered around the *_electrics._* It was almost a standing joke about how UNreliable they were. And then of course came the CB750 from Honda to kick dirt in the face of _everyone_ for a while.
Nothing says premium classic like Triumph. I think they have every right to do it all, but I highly appreciate their classic line. Hope they keep it as a bigger part of their future endeavors.
Thumb's Up for that fair and friendly look at Triumph. Thing is, every time I see a modern one emblazoned with multiple Union Jacks, really milking that British Heritage teat, and then pause to reflect that it was almost surely screwed together in Thailand and NOT the UK, I sort of feel like some misrepresentation or even swindle is afoot, like I did just now when someone called while I was typing this to alert me that my vehicle's warranty is about to expire...though I've never ever had one. I got no qualms about buying from "yonder"...Hell, I nowadays mostly ride an elderly Enfield Bullet 500 single made in India, and would love to get one of their newish 650 twins some day. Yet they make no pretense of where they're from. But Triumph's whole "Britannia Rules the Waves" conceit just seems like pissing on everyones' shoes and telling us it's raining. I kinda feel the same about the revived Indian marque that you briefly mentioned. I mean, I like their American Baroque stylings and fripperies well enough. I'd even be happy to own one, but they have about as much of a relation with the original Indian of Springfield, Massachusetts that closed in '54 as I do with King Mswati III of Swaziland or any of his 15 or so wives. If they had just kept calling their scoots "Victory", I wouldn't have been any less likely to buy one.
I must say that Triumph has the best sounding engines ever. My father has a 58 650 he used to climb steep hills and dirt bike type stuff. He also has a 61 650 street bike. It's fast and fun.
The gentleman shown putting a triumph on its mainstand is my uncle Fred. His name is Fred Ernest Watson. He worked on the assembly line from 1953 to I think 1979. He died about 25 years ago. Almost every triumph that rolled off the assembly was handled by my uncle.
Noted brother
Did Triumph let him do wheelies?
Beautiful, thank you for sharing it with us.
I had 69 trophy 73 Daytona 78 bonnie so uncle Fred probly handled all of them at sometime , I'll try and catch up with him in heaven
@@1050speed Have you ever ridden a Thunderbird like Brando did?
Nothing like the sound of a Bonneville with open megaphones. I went to high school in the late fifties and rode one to school every day. No problem in those days. I'm 83 and thinking about buying another one. Thank you for the video.
Awesome! 😎 Ride on...
I am an older guy, had a Triumph. Loved it.
Damn. I gave up my license 20 years ago. Regretted it every day since, but road traffic levels are so high now that it's just not fun anymore.
@@Axeyard I live in Baja Mexico. My license from the US expired 24 years ago. I ride almost every day down here.
I've ride lots of different brands but this bike is really special
The main reason Triumph successfully rose from the dead (apart from building bikes people wanted to buy) is John Bloor’s vision and considerable personal wealth. He put in circa £65m of his own money to get Triumph established. There is no way that amount could have been raised on the stock market / private equity as the timescale was far too long for those people. Without that personal financial commitment there would be no Triumph as we know it today. We owe that man a great deal.
Triumph have now set themselves as a really premium brand. Their retros, naked sport triples, scramblers and cafe racers are all amazing.
My dad was a triumph man. He had a few other bikes like BSA and Ariel but he was always a Triumph man. I grew up on the tank of his motorcycle. I was around 3 or 4. I was always with him as a child except when he was going to work. As I got older I graduated to being his pillion rider. I bought my dad as a birthday gift when he was much older and retired a 1957 600 cc twin (old army bike, green) he was so excited to have it. Thank you for bringing back great memories of my childhood with my dad.
Ryj
Great story mate
😊😊
I've been a fan of Triumph motorcycles since I was a teenager in the late 1970's, and have owned three T140 Bonnevilles and a Trident T150, starting with a 1979 750 Bonneville in 1983 when I was just 18 years old, but I have never owned or ridden any of the reborn Triumph branded bikes.
The original Triumph plant at Meriden in Coventry kept going until 1983, then after the closure of Triumph Les Harris continued to build the T140 750 Bonneville under licence to John Bloor until around 1987 or 88 I think, then the new Bloor Triumphs began to appear in the 1990's from the all new plant in Hinkley, Leicestershire. I remember snippets of info appearing in the bike press about the new liquid cooled triples and fours as they were being developed all those years ago.
If I remember correctly, a guy that used to do the pinstriping by hand was one of the few things from the old original Triumph plant that moved over to the new Triumph brand.
Thanks for a very interesting overview of the Triumph story.
I am about to take delivery of my latest new motorcycle purchase, the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE.
I’m so jazzed!
I'm on my 3rd new triumph since 2000 and I love them! The styling is always eye catching and the build quality is second to none and performance and handling never disappoint.
I got a Speedmaster like a year ago and love it. I 100% agree. The styling and build quality is just a notch above. I am not saying other bikes are poorly built or anything. Triumph just really has nice little details.
I love my 660 Trident. Did not need the mods but such a great platform. Great in my garage next to my 76 Z900
@@stilldajokerI had a 77z900.Give you a hard-on every time you rode it.
I bought an immaculate ‘16 Street Twin last month as a daily driver. I’ll never part with it. The rarity and overall badassness of the bike keeps the heads turning! Ride safe
I'm a Brit I ride a Triumph, as did my Father before me. Street Triple and original Trident respectively.
Not a bad choice. Excellent german bike with tradition.
the original trident was fun. but you needed a clutch arm like popeye lol
Triumph make fantastic motorcycles, the world's best.
Thank god for John Bloor.....enjoying my 2020 Bonnie T100.....Thank you Sir.
Bought new.....9000mls now.
I know I'm late on this one. Back in '78 I bought a '67 Triumph Bonneville, I saved it from getting chopped, I was just 16 years old. I used a rattle can and a template with the help of my dad. I sprayed it in stock colors, and found a stock stainless front fender at a swap meet. I had that bike for decades. I also bought a '50 Thunderbird project in the '90's and did a concourse restoration using all NOS and OEM parts, except for the exhaust. I won first place at Mid Ohio Bike show. I miss them both, they had soul. I will always have a special place in my heart right next to my pacemaker for Triumph motorcycles. I had so many motorcycles but I miss both of them dearly. I'm riding a '99 Harley FLSTS now. Life Behind Bars. Great content.
Bought a 1977 Bonne new when Triumph was starting to move towards the door. Sold it.....then bought a used 1974 750 Bonne which is sitting
in my garage.....waiting for April.😊 The ignition is solid state so there are no points to endlessly adjust. Flood the carbs and kick it......rarely more than once. Nothing I can't address in my garage when keeping up on the maintanance. Love that Old Beater...........
I've a 74 T120V, I do big mileages touring on it and it's a great bike. As you say fit and forget electronic ignition is the way to go, just ensure you have a solid state voltage regulator, and throw the zenor diode as far away as you can as they can cook the ignition unit, whereas points can survive excess volts that would fry electronics.
Looking at old photos of my dad when he was a greaser-rocker of the 50's & 60's always planted the seed in my mind of riding bikes. When John Bloor relaunched Triumph, as an Englishman I thought at last there's a British bike I would be proud to own. All my life I've ridden cruisers and customs simply because I know I couldn't trust myself on a fast bike but when the 2nd gen Speed Triple was launched I KNEW I had to have one. I love everything about it, the single sided rear arm, the frame tube design, the air scoops, the flexible performance of that engine which HOWLS like nothing else I've ever owned.
It took me quite a while but eight years ago I got a 1999 955 Speed Triple in black and have never looked back. I have owned this longer than ANY previous motorbikes and I've only owned one car for longer. The reliability is beyond question and it still gives me a stupid grin on my face whenever I get off it.
A friend of mine pointed out something to me when we used to joke about British bikes always leaking oil. the British bikes of the '50s and '60s were mostly built using machine tools that were often of pre-war manufacture and had been worn beyond tolerances during the second world war, so they didn't really give true surfaces -- and I believe that this is true, which explains the leaking issues. The new bikes don't have this manufacturing curse and the results speak for themselves. I fell in love with the Sprint series that came out in the '90s, but I couldn't afford one at the time. The new "Bonnys" are such sweet looking machines that I may need to drag some money out of the pocket book to put one in the garage. As someone once said, "there is NOTHING like the sound of a British Twin!"
the same thing happened with their auto industry. Their manufacturing base was massive, but dated really from the Edwardian era. plus there was this weird kind of disdain from upper management about the motorcycle business in general, like it were something unseemly for a gentleman to do... no hope there from the get-go.
Very proud of John B. for all he has done to revive triumph, we used to ride with him late 50s. . Bootsy (sadly gone) & walt(flamy)
I became interested in Triumph motorcycles in the early 60s probably for young romantic reasons. My dad worked with a guy who sold Triumph motorcycles out of what was large garage in an alley. I loved stopping by there on my bicycle and hanging out listening to the talk, the smells and the sounds of the bikes. That hung with me in the back of my mind for years. However, as an adult and after college in the 70’s I was unable to afford motorcycles until the 80s. I began to buy bikes and finally once again became interested in Triumph. I have now owned several and still, now 71 years old, I still own a Bonneville I bought new in 2005. It has been a Steady Eddie and rekindles my childhood dream of owning a bike from this British brand. So glad they made it back into the world of the motorcycle business.
Well done! One of the best discussions I've seen, really captured the essence of Triumph!
My first real street bike was a '72 Bonneville 650 (T120RV - the one with the 5 speed trans), and I'm currently riding a '14 Thunderbird 1600.
I was interested in it as an alternative to all the other cruisers (I own a couple HD's and a Road Star), partly due to my desire for the heritage, partly to support the Company, partly just that I like more unique rides, but also because I did research and found that Triumph has built a reputation for great build quality and detail. I have not been disappointed.
For these reasons, I will look forward to whatever new models they come out with, whether it be electric, hydrogen, or whatever.
So many points to make about Triumph. In my mind the 2000's Bonneville started the whole retro thing and Triumph's pedigree made it stick. Another thing I love about Triumph is how they listen to customers. No other manufacturer has ever asked me what I wanted in a bike. They do. The build quality is top notch. I have owned three along with multiple Aprillias and a slew of Japanese bikes and the only thing that compares to the feeling of quality of a Triumph in my experience is a Ducati 916- but I don't have to be rich or beautiful or have my nethers burn up to own a Triumph. And man, the Street Triple 765 might be the most perfect bike ever made- like if you could only have one bike kind of perfect. What a machine. I am a fan of Triumph. Long may they live.
I’m totally obsessed after only a month in after buying a sweet ‘16 Street Twin. The build quality, styling and road feel are hallmarks of this ultra premium motorcycle company
I had a lot of Triumphs in the 60's. My favorite was a '47 5T Speed Twin. It had magneto ignition, dynamo and it was tough and reliable. The next favorite was a T120 engine in a Norton frame. The was the days when a Cafe Racer was something you built yourself. That said, the more recent 955i Speed Triple I had was brilliant.
Not just anyone buys a Triumph. Nothing against the Big Four or The Motor Company, but Triumph riders definitely do not follow the crowd. There are so many GSXs, Ninjas and Softails on the road because those are the popular bikes. Triumph riders want the heritage, the hands on DIY types. I love my 2007 T 100 Bonneville.
There are so many Big Four bikes for reason. And Big Four are big for reason. And Triumph are not even close to that reason. Only thing it did for reason it went bankrupt. For brits here can be a sentimental value, but for someone who never owned brits motorcycles there is no reason looking from good to better. Big Four rules.
Aye a fool and their money are easily parted ,Triumph buyers none more so
@@InterdictionA comment only an uneducated twat would come out with.
@@InterdictionA true fool would part with his money with nothing to show for it.
Thanks so much for this. I have a '22 T100 in carnival red. I've ridden lots of different kinds of bikes and I was shocked at the feelings I got when I got on the Triumph. From the first test ride it was a must buy for me. I know there's lots of cool motorcycles out there, but, for me, the T100 is perfect. I also love the community that has come with the purchase of the T. So many great new friends with classic Triumphs and Nortons as well as people on modern classics.
I bought Daytona super three brand new in 1994, beautiful looking and sounding machine, then I had a ‘97 thunderbird 900 , nice easy bike to ride , good days they were 😊
After a looooong break (kids, then wife and everything) I came back to motorcycles in 2009. Me being German it had to be BMW to start again. So bought a one year old 650 XC thumper, but after 4 years I realised I needed more power, a bike better suited for travelling etc. So in 2013 I was almost sure the next bike will be the F800 GS. I had the 650 in service with the beemer chaps and they gave me a F800 GS as an exchange bike. With this bike I went to the nearest Triumph dealer for a test ride on a Tiger 800. Oh my what a surprise : apart from the brakes the Tiger was way better in any other respect. The proverbial grin on my face after 10 minutes. Ordered one on the spot and that bike stayed with me until last year when after 90.000 kms the front fork was toast. This Tiger was by far the most reliable bike I ever had. This being so I had already bought a 2017 Bonneville Bobber in 2018 and by end of last year a Tiger 900 GT Pro to replace the 800. I am 100 % a Triumph man and if I had the money and the time I would not hesitate and get a Rocket 3 GT
Yes the Rocket test rode one last October Amazing power. And handling.
they really earned that name, Triumph
Actually they bought it from the defunct original company that went bankrupt because they were producing old junk
It's great to see a young guy like you taking an interest in motorcycle history.
You neglected to mention the "new" Triumph Thunderbird, which preceded the re-introduction of the "new" Bonneville. The T-bird set the standard of nostalgic but up to date new classics. It was the T-bird that made the company both profitable and financially sound to launch a new Bonnie. Before the T-bird, Triumph was a boutique brand that was a curiosity more than anything else. The T-bird was the first big seller, in demand motorcycle for the revived company. Yes, it was panned universally by the motorcycle press who referred to it as the answer to a question nobody asked. But within 6 months of it's intro, the 'Bird outsold all their other bikes combined!
They hooked me. Picked up my '22 T120 yesterday. Going from a Buell to the Triumph has been such a nice change of pace. Quick bike with attitude, caught a lot of looks too.
Awesome. I have the scrambler 1200. It’s such a great engine!
Soooooo….. How is the new Trumpy??
@@sixdegrees6434 no complaints. Keep your expectations realistic and it sticks to them. This bike won't blow you out of your socks, but it moves out of its own way for sure. Just rolled over to 1600 miles, very fun commuter and went on the first trip to the hill last weekend. Very fun and capable standard motorcycle, people love the way it looks to.
@@philipcaseyacalloway204 Tks for the reply. 👍🏼 sounds like fun
As a Harley rider, I would absolutely convert to the Trumpet lineup. A G3, a scrambler, and an adventure triple would all be in the garage. I’m ready for an image realignment- no fat, beer drinking, greybeard here.
Great video
i applaud triumph for their accomplishments.the odds were against them with the japanese making such a wide variety of bikes they had to compete with.their obviously doing something right to have survived in such a competitive market.
yes, they moved production to Asia :)
@@Njihalostrave we all need a job
@@Njihalostrave - Two of the Triumph factories are in Hinckley, UK a couple of minutes away from the Mallory Park race track. The other three are in Brazil, Thailand, and Chonburi.
@@Njihalostrave Not all of them.
I am glad Triumph has had a successful comeback. I especially like their retro styled bikes having had a 1977 Bonneville that I bought new. Loved that bike, and never had any problems with it.
Only the name came back. The bikes are completely different and all the better for it.
@@Dave5843-d9m Completely different because they are products of modern engineering. The original Triumph suffered from not having their factories bombed out of existence as happened in Germany. THey plodded on for a few decades without retooling, until eventually, like many similar companies, they could no longer compete with brands that didn't leave oil stains on your garage floor.
No oil leaks??😅
@@Durnyful No oil leaks. I did replace the clutch cable once, but otherwise the bike ran like a champ I and often got compliments on it since there weren't many around.
@jeffk2278 Friends had similar bikes but they did leak a bit.
I followed a French friend through Cannes one time, he had sparks flying around every corner - he was a complete maniac. He eventually wrapped his girlfriends moped round a lampost... broke a few bones but lived 😁 Bonneville was a great bike!
Being an engineer I love the high quality engineering that Triumph produce. The finish is second to none other than Ducati. I'm on my 2nd Tiger and just smile when I ride it..what more do you want. Being a Brit riding a Triumph is the best feeling ever. 🇬🇧
I agree, I'm on my second Street Triple 765 , current one is about 18 months
old. I'm same as u and a Brit and I just wanted to own one. Even now I can
go out to the garage and just stare at the details and thing how nice it is.
Being an engineer I really do appreciate all the little bits that Triumph have
put all over them. Happy riding Apache !!
you've got to be kidding...
@@robsonenduro3316why would he be joking? Real bikers know he speaks the truth, it’s hard to beat the quality of a Triumph. Stick to your Vespa pal.
06 Sprint ST! One day an Old Brit walked by it in a Stop & Shop parking lot. He asked how I keep it so clean. I told him that I just ride really fast in the rain! We had a good laugh and talked a little Triumph ❤😊!
When I was a kid growing up in Montreal.. Triumph , Norton were around and BSA . I loved Norton and Triumph.. such beautiful machines.. I always remember the Triumph logal on the back of the seat.. and a yellow Norton Commando both 650''s I once had a CB 650 Honda and now I have a 125 Honda Cafe Racer..
My 1st “big” bike was a 72 Bonneville. Loved it, albeit I did need to do mechanical work to keep it up. I had 5 BMW’s before I got my next Triumph, a 2014 Tiger, which is a wonderful bike. Loved the image that came with the brand just like Brando and McQueen did.
Love my Tiger 900 adv bike. Very reliable and scary fast. Takes a steady hand to ride safely. The temptation is strong. I'm lusting after a Bonneville, love the retro look. Instead I bought a 1975 Honda CB500T twin. It's not just retro, it's vintage.
I've always had triumphs 60's, 70's and bought a new one when they came back to the states in 96 still riding my 99 tiger after 33 years.
I've been riding for over 50 years which includes dirt and street bikes. Purchased a new Rocket 3 gt about a month ago. This was the first bike since my 83 V65 Magna(which I still have)that really got me excited about
riding again. I looked at Harley, but just wasn't impressed. There are several other Triumphs that I would like to have in my garage as well if
finances ever become available. I have 2 sons who like to ride and are now looking at Triumphs. One hell of a turn around success story.
Thanks Bart. I had a T120 in 1970 and loved it. I now ride a 2016 T120 and you’re right it’s different but I love this one too. It’s a great bike!
After a 25 year hiatus from riding, I rediscovered Triumph and it's lineup. I now own both a 2007 Triumph America and a 2006 Triumph Rocket. Both bikes have proven to be extremely reliable, exhibiting great looks, drawing attention whenever they arrive, and delivering unbelievable enjoyment during the riding experience. That is really what it is all about. A big congratulations to not only John Bloor for having the vision, but to the entire company and its employees for succeeding in creating wonderful machines, that are meant to be ridden!!!
I took my friend (Triumph owner), my wife and our two young kids over to Cologne to see the launch of the new Hinkley Triumph range in 1990.
We drove from the UK through Belgium and Germany to Cologne and the show.
They had six launch models at the show in all sorts of colours and styles, 3 and 4 cylinder engines.
I still have all the photos that I took at the show.
I guess for most my 20-year old Triumph Sprint ST is yesterday’s news, but the old triple really has grunt across the range and delightfully digs into the corners. A heavy beast when standing still but still assured at 145mph.
My brother had a Sprint RS, after spending a day on the pillion for a road trip I knew my next bike would be a Triumph. In 09 I bought a new Street Triple, I still have it.
I owned a Naked sprint 900. It went like a bullet. Mine was customised with paint in British racing green and burlwood.
People seem to be forgetting the Thunderbird triples, Got to be one of the original retro bikes, I have the Thunderbird sport, slightly higher tune, better brakes and suspension. Those 900 triples are over engineered, because of Bloors paranoia about unreliability, my TBS will do 130 mph, and handles just as well as a late 80s sports bikes d looks gorgeous I think..
Triumphs new motocross bikes look amazing
I like Triumph's marketing approach as far as products are concerned.
They make great retro bikes while advancing more innovative motorcycles.
Triumph are interesting.
Loved my '69 Bonneville 650 cc with dual carburetors and dual exhaust pipes.
Nice work Bart. I enjoy your videos. I am fan of both the classics and more modern Triumph bikes. I sent three years rebuilding a '73 650 Bonny from a box of nuts and bolts. I still have vivid memories of being at a top light and watching the front wheel just bouncing up and down and then forward and aft lol. We used to joke that you knew your Triumph was out of oil when your pant leg ran dry lol. When my Bonnie got stolen in 82, I was in the dumps so my friend Alex who had a '56 TRW gave me a matching frame and engine for'68 500 cc tiger and told me to shut up and get to work lol. I currently ride a 2011 1600 cc Thunderbird. I really appreciate how it is reliable and keeps my pants clean. I have been impressed so far with the level of product support we get here for my Triumph. It was one of my concerns when deciding on buying a new generation Triumph. With rising gas prices, I am really looking forward to the TE-1 which might just be my next bike. Keep up your good work. I look forward to more videos.
Excellent narration and knowledge.
As a Brit and a Biker, I am in awe of Triumph as a company, and of their superb bikes. These days, with British companies - especially manufacturing ones - it seems to be all doom and gloom. But Triumph, since JB revived them in the 90's have CONSISTENTLY put out stonking bikes and been on top of their game, and I would say, on top of the market too. I don't know HOW they do it! The company seems to have learned not only good design from the Japanese, but good BUSINESS too. Fantastic brand. Best G.D. company in the UK as far as I'm concerned. Hydro-power? Yes. Totally agree. But I think personally that they ought to be MARKET LEADERS in targeting WOMEN (and smaller male riders) with much greater seat height options. Yes, they have the Bobber with a low seat height, but that's ...well.... a bobber style bike, and if you've got short legs, but you don't want a bobber style bike, you're stuffed. They've done the low seat option on the new Tiger, but they need to go much further, without the customer having to pay more if they have short legs.
Keep it up Triumph, you're doing a fantastic job!
Triumph street triple LOW available
@@paulbarnes6124 Yes, this is indeed a good start. Triumph obviously have been looking into and developing strategies to provide different seat heights. RESPECT. But it has to be said that the seat height on a Street Triple LOW is 780mm. Which is of course 45mm lower than the "normal" height option. But for anyone sub 5'3" its' still too tall for comfort. Triumph have taken the standard 800mm seat height and INCREASED it to 825, then they've taken the 45mm off that to give just a measly 20mm (just 3/4") lower-than-average 800mm seat height. So great work Triumph, but you need to go farther to offer PROPER low seat height options (around the 750mm mark).
Alex, Good Point, well made. Yes, the world of Motorcycles appears to be Male dominated. I am pleased to say that among the Members of the HTOC many are Women, and the Street Triple is exceedingly popular among them. A performance bike that they can actually ride. My Wife loves her T400 Tiger, a niche which was sadly omitted in this video, the Tiger range is getting huge, Adventure bikes being a massive market in Europe. Were you aware that over half of new BMW's sold today are GS's? Finally, I also own the original Hinckley Triumph retro bike: The Thunderbird 900. I lusted after one when they were announced and now own one which is a complete head-turner wherever it goes. Glassic looks with the Triple engine.
G.D. ?
I couldn't agree more about the seat height. I own both a Bonnie and a 2013 Trophy. That Trophy is an incredible engineering feat. So many bells and whistles, handles great, reliable and very fast with that big triple, BUT, I have shorter legs and I have dropped it a few times at stop signs. It is very top heavy which is great for handling, but terrible for stopping. Even with lowering links, I still have to tip-toe a bit.
Back in the 70's when I was a kid Triumph were dying. The Trident was their best bike and that didn't say a lot as it wasn't very good so thank goodness for John Bloor who bought the name and not only resurrected the company, but turned it into arguably the most sought after brand and when you consider their line up, it's no surprise. I have no desire to go back to two wheels but if I ever did, Triumph would be where my hard earned went.
Have to love the old ad at 1:18 where the guy is pouring fuel? into the tank while smoking a pipe!
Thanks a lot for covering this company Bart. There is a lot of history between my family and the Triumph/BSA/Norton family of manufacturers. It's a pity they didn't look after their brand as well as they looked after their shareholders.
I.ll never forget when I was a kid two of my neighbors had triumphs. One had a 650 twin and the other had a triple. The sound of both was unforgettable. I would love to take their new triple for a spin. It has to be a torque monster
Great vid mate, Triumph has always been popular here in New Zealand. When the brand relaunched it meant that my generation (the young guys when the relaunch happened) didn’t have to ride our fathers Triumph’s, we could buy our own brand new ones! It’s awesome that Triumph has a lot of different models from adventure bikes to cruisers, cheers 😎
That they could come back strong is a real Triumph!
I own a 2012 Triumph Scrambler, very forging bike. No issues to date. Get a lot of compliments.
Great video but you have missed out a vital point. Triumph are billed as a British company. They originally built their new range at Hinckley, but on the sly, they have moved manufacturing to Thailand, while still plastering their bikes in Union Jacks. I have no problems with buying bikes made overseas - I've had over 30 motorbikes in my time, all Japanese, German, or Italian. The point is though, if I buy an Enfield, I know it's made in India. If I buy a Guzzi, I know it's made in Italy. Not so a Triumph (or even BMW now). It seems underhand to me, to claim the heritage of a British marque, but farm the work out to a second world country simply to pay the workers less, and still charge top dollar for the end product. That is why I haven't bought a Triumph this year, and I have no plans to do so.
That is exactly the same reason why I will not buy a Triumph.
I sold my 2013 Bonneville when I found out it was made in Thailand. Will not buy another until they are UK made again. It waters down the brand, they aren't really British if they are made in Asian factories from Asian steel by Asian hands. Nothing wrong with Asian bikes but don't pretend to be British and plaster your bikes with the Union Jack. My next Triumph will likely be an older UK made model.
It was hardly on the sly, it was well reported on at the time. I assume you use nothing else in your life not made in England?
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Wow... That's a bit confrontational. If you took the time to read what I wrote, I think I clearly said that I've had more than 30 motorbikes and not one was made in the UK. I also live overseas, and my two kids were not "made in England" so don't even think about casting me up to be some sort of knuckle-dragging racist. What I don't like is being hoodwinked by a company that purports to make British bikes, but that are as British as a bowl of Chow Mein eaten in a Singapore street café. You might chirp on about it being "well reported at the time" but at the time I went into the local Triumph dealership to look at buying a Bonneville, the dealer made no mention of them being built in Thailand whatsoever, and the showroom was festooned in Union Jacks and posters of the British countryside. Sorry for being an ignorant non-UK dweller, but I think the average European Triumph customer could be forgiven in the circumstances for believing that Triumphs are British bikes. They're not. They're Thai bikes that Triumph charge full British prices for. Now put that in your pipe and smoke it, troll.
@@eddyhoughton6542 You know Triumph was originally started by two German fellas yes? How does that sit with you?
Let’s not forget that Triumph is the official engine supplier to Motogp 2. An astounding achievement. You have to be honest, JB is a visionary, a genius and an incredibly astute businessman.
I wish Triumph would revive its automobile brand
That's a different company . Nothing in common but the name.
I have owned and thrashed 6 Triumphs since 1966 , Daytona's x2 , TR6 x2 , and Bonnies 650 and 750's and every one of them died , oil leaks , throwing rods (3 off) was a favorite ( conrods ) holes in cases , but like you Bart I like them .
I have and enjoy the 2021 Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor , like a new 70's Triumph but more reliable by far .
Technical point. He said the original Bonneville came out of the TR 6 when it actually came out of a modified Tiger 110 (T110) which gained a record on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Hence the designation T 120.
Yeah, I think all Triumph did was take a T110 and stick a dual-carb head on it, and paint it a different color. Voila, new 1959 Bonneville. I'm pretty sure even the T120 Bonneville camshafts were the same as the T110 in 1959. It wasn't until 1963 with the Bonneville T120TT model that Triumph added additional changes like hotter cams, smaller fuel tank, different electrical system (no battery) , alloy fenders, etc and then the bike started to differ from the Tiger significantly.
@@dirkdiggler5164 I owned a 1963 Bonneville for a couple of years, the first of the unit construction Bonnevilles. It had the significantly improved
E 3134 camshaft, whether that was the first year or not I don't recall.
@@donaldclarke6908 That was a pretty hot cam, I don't know if it was the hottest, but it was pretty aggressive. Well, I know that by 1959 for sure (and maybe it was available earlier than that but I don't know) customers could purchase a race tuning kit from Triumph that included super-hot camshafts amongst several other things.
Customers couldn't order the bike from the factory with that high performance stuff on it. But customers could buy the race kit from Triumph and fit it to their bikes. Triumph didn't mess around in those days. It was always a hands-on performance bike company. WAY pre-dating the "Screamin' Eagle" Harley performance kit type stuff, which you could say is the modern day equivalent of what Triumph was already doing in the 50's.
How do I know this? B/c I know a guy who bought the race kit in 1959. I "think" almost ALL of those tuning race mods wound up in the unit T120TT a bit later ( which was hands down the fastest factory bike Triumph ever made before 1983) , and I think SOME of those performance upgrades wound up in the regular T120R, but I'm not sure which mods exactly made it to the factory T120R.
But yep, the T120R came from the T110 b/c the T110 was the street bike, and the T120R was a street bike. You might be able to say that starting in 1963 the T120TT came was TR6 inspired b/c the T120TT was off-road oriented.
It matters in what they do, Triumph has done it very well.
Currently own a 15 Scrambler 900 and a 16 Thruxton 1200 r and love them both for what they are and what they represent. Also own a DL 1000 Suzuki and RE 500. As a FORMER Hardly Dependable owner/ mechanic I'm truly enjoying my garage more now.
I own a 2015 scrambler 900 I bought new and I liked it so well. I bought a 2020 T 100 black. I still have a Harley and a 1200 bandit. And a couple dirt bikes but I love my triumphs , they are awesome....ride safe.
I remember well when the brand was revived - an investment in state of the art CNC engineering at Hinckley, some good use of simpler technologies eg the steel spine frame to keep costs low at first, a bit of copying in places, but the innovative bendy fairing plastics. The profits went back into developing their bikes, better components, ally frames and so on. I am really pleased to see this vid to see how well it all went. Greetings from England!!
I’ve had a range of motorcycles and bought my first Triumph in 2010. I’m now on number 4 - I love them.
Me and the wife have had a Triumph TT600, Thruxton 900, Daytona T595 and a Daytona 955i. Stopped buying them when they stopped making them in the UK.
I thought it was a shame when all mainstream production shifted off shore. Didn't mind too much when it was more of a split.
As a proud Triumph enthusiast who's owned many Triumph's, old and new, I was blown away when Triumph got going again. As someone who works in engineering, I have even done work for Triumph, it annoys the hell out of me that Triumph are no longer willing to pay British workers to make their bikes whilst conveniently expecting British workers to buy their bikes. They like to forget that every single bike is now made in Thailand whilst banging on about their Britishness.... ad nauseum. I too would not buy another until they return to making bikes in the UK again.
As an American bike enthusiast it disgusted me when Triumph moved all the assembly to Thailand. I may own a REAL British Triumph someday, but not one of the imposters.
Don't they have it split with 2 UK factories and 3 Thai factories? That and all the cool, bespoke bikes are UK built, just buy the top of the line bikes. And you must have stopped buying almost everything because most stuff is made somewhere else now; every Apple product says designed by Apple in California, because that's all Apple does, designs it, then has a Chinese manufacturer making them based on the design as long as they make them to Apples quality control. It would be the same thing with Triumph, and even then I would rather support Thai production then Chinese with the Chinese government spying on everything. I love my Daytona 900, 1200, and Super 3, and have been looking at a Daytona 765 at the dealer near me, or would happily buy a Rocket 3 TFC if they did a run of them again.
@@KlockworXMusic Apple doesn't have American flags on their products.
I liked Fonzie's Triumph. That's the end of my attachment with the old Triumph. In the last 15 years, I've owned 3 Speed Triples. I think they are absolutely the best bike I've ever owned. The quality is good. (of course, my 98 spun a rod bearing) The sound, the torque and power, the ergo. It's perfect for the street. I love my S3s
I grew up in the 80s and so when I think of motorcycles what comes to mind is Fonzi's Triumph motorcycle from Happy Days 😃
I've had 3 triumphs Rockets 3 in 2004 . . 2008 Speedmaster carburetor End in 2014In America fully dressed Only in blue. All great bikes Easy maintenance Great finishes. Thanks for the memories
I have owned Hondas, Kawasakis, a Suzuki, a Yamaha, a Harley Dyna Superglide, and now I own and ride a 2018 Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster. I really like the Triumph and it is a better bike than the Harley.
Love my 2018 speedmaster!
Any bike is better than a Harley!
Love this Bart, I have an early Hinckley Bonneville and a late Meriden Daytona, I love these things!
I got a 2022 thruxton recently after owning an older air cooled Bonnie. And holy shit does that thing tear it up. It’s amazing how far triumph has come in just the past 7 years, can’t wait to see what the next few has to offer. Nice video man!
I ride a big Harley Cruiser but am impressed by just the range of Triumph offerings. I’m leaning to pick up a triumph adventure touring bike as a second bike
Wow thanks for posting been riding more years than I want to remember had BMWs agencies everything but when it's open done with after 50 years my favorite bike was my 1970 triumph Bonneville still love it today
Triumph always had something others don't have......... A certain pedigree!... Not saying foreign bikes don't have theirs, and there's some awesome bikes out there which I'd own in a heartbeat, but some Brit bikes are truly iconic.....
I own a 2014 Street Triple..Its a great motorcycle. That wonderful 675 triple motor that has a unique howl, a chassis second to none in terms of handling. On a twist road it holds it own and bests many. I've never read a bad review either from professional bike testers or those who have owned the Striple...or the Daytona...
Easy riding does not mean that a rider has never ridden hard or fast. It just means they prefer to extend the pleasure had of the moment expecting to stay quite alive for later to tell of it.
Better believe it. Well said. 2014 T100 owner.
I'm actually now a proud owner of a 2004 triumph daytona 955i. Have yet to ride because of winter and snow and salt. But super excited. It's been my attainable dream bike for almost 12 years.
as an old fart now, i can honestly say that out of all the bikes i have ridden and raced over the decades my favourite ride has to be the 73 bonny 750. yes not as fast, but as a ride they are fantastic. low centre of gravity where you scrape the pegs around every corner. just an honest good time.
Good video. Thanks Bart.
Ive been looking for a road bike for a while now having not had one for many years. Dual sports/ADV have been my interest along with my Vespa GTS300 for local. I now want a proper road bike and have extensive knowledge of what's being produced and what one can actually get these days. I keep coming back to Triumph.
Triumph's offerings across their line are very attractive for their quality, fit and finish, performance for real world street, tasteful styling, and heritage. They have a more tangible and authentic vibe than anything else I see. They seem designed and built by people who love motorcycles instead of a bean counter's "idea" of what people will buy. Kudos Triumph!
Good job on this segment, and I do agree people buy a modern classic like the Speed Twin to escape the cookie cutter retro naked craze sweeping over the industry. Most of these bikes are half ass attempts to recapture the feeling of riding a classic, but fall short because of inherent design flaws. The new second gen Speed Twins are the perfect balance of classic looks and modern performance at an affordable price. I love my '22 in Storm Grey and get nothing but compliments everywhere I go.
I escape it just by keeping my old bike lol
Great video. Thank you.
I love my 2006 speed triple. It's a bike I will keep for the rest of my life. It's got as much character as the old Triumphs and twice as much power.
I had a Triumph 650 Tiger back when we were all much younger but even though the name is the same it's not really the same company since Bloor bought the failing business.
I feel that the essence of Triumph is still there, with the Bonnevilles' current silhouette reminiscent of the old pre-unit days. It is slightly frustrating that you no longer have to prime the carbs, free the clutch plates and find TDC before kicking it over, and don't get me started on shifting the gear change. Harrumph. I once lived in a street named after you, Captain. And now, I'm going outside. I may be some time.
Nailed it. Particularly with the “feel” of the Triumph brand…it can’t really be explained, or justified, but it’s cool, and that’s enough.
I bought a brand new '19 Speed Triple in Missouri in '21. This beautiful bike (white) sat on the floor for nearly 2yrs when I walked in, fell in love & purchased for a substantial discount. I have not been disappointed!! Significantly better finished than any of my Japanese bikes it has been flawless in 23,000 mi to date. Exceptionally solid, reliable and easily a match for any of my dozen or so Japanese bikes - it "fits" me perfectly. And the torque is intoxicating!
Triumph's current liquid cooled FI 900s and 1200 twins are excellent bikes. Put legit suspension and electronics and you have a great bike
I think triumph has done a great job embracing their history, while making great bikes. I have been a classic Japanese bike fan, but have been tempted by Triumph fpr a while. My 1980 Yamaha XS850 was stolen recently, so of course I decided to replace it with another triple. I bought a 2012 Street Triple, and have absolutely fell in love with that bike. I could definitely see my self adding another Triumph or 2 to my stable in the coming years.
I bought a ‘16 Street Twin & it was the best decision I’ve made in a while. A new old rider after 25 yrs, this is the perfect first bike! It has plenty of power that I’m not likely to outgrow. I get looks everywhere I go. These bikes are so well designed & have a ton of options and customizations. I guess I’m trying to sell it LOL
Love my 2018 T100, handles great, sounds great and is a blast to ride. 55hp is the sweet spot for this bike.
On my 4th Triumph since 2011 and they never disappoint
It's a bit sad that most (maybe all?) Triumphs are now made in Thailand, but it's great that quality has been maintained.
I still can't think of the "new" triumph as triumph. All I do is rebuild classic British motorcycles. I wish there wasn't a marketing need to resurrect long gone marques. My project for my personal ride for 2023 is a 1956 BSA B31. I love the soulfulness of my pre 1980 BSA's, Nortons, and triumphs.
I play with bikes all day and I still enjoy listening to your videos while I work.🙂
Excellent overview especially giving old Mr Turner a mention. Forgot to comment on the very clever business decision to move most of their manufacturing to Thailand. There's been no real evidence of any drop in quality or reliability since the move so they've negotiated what was effectively a huge existential boundary very successfully indeed. The Triumph Motorcycle story would make a superb subject for a business studies/MBA thesis.
When Triumph began its comeback I thought they were not going to succeed. Glad I was wrong. I admire England and I love how well Triumph is doing the things. I own four bikes but none of them is a Triumph. The reason for that is that I find them a little bit expensive. In terms of design and fit and finishing they are the best, and I admit that you have to pay for that. Love the video, many thanks.
Great job Bart. A wide topic; and your take on it is more valid than virtual reality that comes out of MSM !. I prefer to hear you !.
_Another_ great video! The big knock I recall from the '60s-'70s about Triumph was centered around the *_electrics._* It was almost a standing joke about how UNreliable they were. And then of course came the CB750 from Honda to kick dirt in the face of _everyone_ for a while.
Tbf the electrics weren't their fault Lucas killed the reputation of many British machines abroad including Jaguar cars
Great clip, many thanks !
Good luck and best wishes to all at triumph!
Nothing says premium classic like Triumph. I think they have every right to do it all, but I highly appreciate their classic line. Hope they keep it as a bigger part of their future endeavors.
Thumb's Up for that fair and friendly look at Triumph. Thing is, every time I see a modern one emblazoned with multiple Union Jacks, really milking that British Heritage teat, and then pause to reflect that it was almost surely screwed together in Thailand and NOT the UK, I sort of feel like some misrepresentation or even swindle is afoot, like I did just now when someone called while I was typing this to alert me that my vehicle's warranty is about to expire...though I've never ever had one. I got no qualms about buying from "yonder"...Hell, I nowadays mostly ride an elderly Enfield Bullet 500 single made in India, and would love to get one of their newish 650 twins some day. Yet they make no pretense of where they're from. But Triumph's whole "Britannia Rules the Waves" conceit just seems like pissing on everyones' shoes and telling us it's raining. I kinda feel the same about the revived Indian marque that you briefly mentioned. I mean, I like their American Baroque stylings and fripperies well enough. I'd even be happy to own one, but they have about as much of a relation with the original Indian of Springfield, Massachusetts that closed in '54 as I do with King Mswati III of Swaziland or any of his 15 or so wives. If they had just kept calling their scoots "Victory", I wouldn't have been any less likely to buy one.
I must say that Triumph has the best sounding engines ever. My father has a 58 650 he used to climb steep hills and dirt bike type stuff. He also has a 61 650 street bike. It's fast and fun.
Gas motorcycles will not die. The zero carbon agenda the wheels are falling off. People want affordable stuff not so called green expensive junk.
i just bought a speed 400 for my first. Im super happy with the bike.