Triumph Motorcycles Ltd
Encyclopedia
Triumph Motorcycles Ltd is the largest surviving British motorcycle
manufacturer, which was established in 1984 by John Bloor
after the original manufacturer Triumph Engineering went into receivership. The new company (initially Bonneville Coventry Ltd) continued Triumph's record of motorcycle production since 1902.
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, due 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 acres (40,468.6 m²) site in Hinckley
, Leicestershire
. Bloor put between £70million and £100million into the company between purchasing the brand and breaking even in 2000.
At the same time as production capacity increased, Bloor established a new network of export distributors. He has previously created two subsidiary companies, Triumph Deutschland GmbH and Triumph France SA. In 1994 Bloor created Triumph Motorcycles America Ltd.
At 21.00 on 15 March 2002, as the company was preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary as a motorcycle maker, its main factory was destroyed by a fire which began at the rear of the facility. At the height of the blaze over 100 firefighters were tackling the fire which destroyed most of the manufacturing capacity. Nevertheless, the company, which by then employed more than 650, quickly rebuilt the facility and returned to production by September that year. Furthermore, in 2003, Triumph began construction on a new sub-assembly manufacturing facility in Thailand
, opened in 2006 by Prince Andrew, Duke of York
. In September 2008, Triumph announced that they were expanding their Thailand factory to increase capacity to over 130,000 motorcycles.
The Triumph Group announced sales of 37,400 units in the financial year ending 30 June 2006. This represented a growth of 18% over the 31,600 produced in 2005. Company turnover (revenues) rose 13% to £200 million ($370 million), but net profit remained static at around £10.3 million due to recent investment in production facilities.. In June 2009 Lord Digby Jones
, the former Minister of State for Trade, become chairman of Triumph motorcycles (Hinckley) Ltd and the 1600 cc Thunderbird twin-cylinder cruiser was announced.
A new range of motorcycles using famous model names from the past arrived in 1991. New 750 cc and 900 cc triple-cylinder bikes and 1000 cc and 1200 cc four-cylinder bikes all using a modular design to keep production costs low – an idea originally put forward, in air-cooled form, in the early 1970s by Bert Hopwood but not implemented by the then BSA-Triumph company – were built.
There were early problems and the four-cylinder 600 cc sports TT600 was described in reviews as "unpleasant at low revs due to a lethargic and unpredictable throttle response, with anonymous styling". As sales built, the big fours were phased out of the lineup and parallel twins and triples became the marketing and development focus of Triumph's marketing strategy. Triumph also decided to exploit demand for retro motorcycles with modern engineering. The 865 cc versions of the Triumph Bonneville
and Thruxton
look and sound original but internally they have modern valves and counter balance shafts.
For their contemporary range, the triple is Hinckley Triumph's trademark, filling a niche between European and American twins and four cylinder Japanese machinery. The 2294 cc triple Rocket III
cruiser was introduced in 2004. The first 300 Rocket III models were already sold before they were produced, and there was a long waiting list for Rockets into 2005.
On 21 July 2008, Triumph held a Global Dealer Conference where new models for 2009 were launched, including the official announcement of the parallel twin-cylinder Thunderbird.
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
.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
manufacturer, which was established in 1984 by John Bloor
John Bloor
John Stuart Bloor OBE, is an English business magnate.Having built Derbyshire based Bloor Holdings into a leading housebuilding organisation, Bloor bought and revived Triumph Motorcycles.-Early life:...
after the original manufacturer Triumph Engineering went into receivership. The new company (initially Bonneville Coventry Ltd) continued Triumph's record of motorcycle production since 1902.
History
When Triumph Engineering went into receivership in 1983, John BloorJohn Bloor
John Stuart Bloor OBE, is an English business magnate.Having built Derbyshire based Bloor Holdings into a leading housebuilding organisation, Bloor bought and revived Triumph Motorcycles.-Early life:...
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
Les Harris (businessman)
Leslie Frederick Harris was a Torquay businessman and motorcycle enthusiast who resurrected the Triumph Bonneville. Born in 1939, he was described as the "saviour of the British motorcycle industry". Invited to Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, in 1987 he was visited by the then...
of Racing Spares, in Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parish in the Teignbridge District of Devon, England on the River Teign, with a population of 23,580....
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, 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, due 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 acres (40,468.6 m²) site in Hinckley
Hinckley
Hinckley is a town in southwest Leicestershire, England. It has a population of 43,246 . It is administered by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. Bloor put between £70million and £100million into the company between purchasing the brand and breaking even in 2000.
At the same time as production capacity increased, Bloor established a new network of export distributors. He has previously created two subsidiary companies, Triumph Deutschland GmbH and Triumph France SA. In 1994 Bloor created Triumph Motorcycles America Ltd.
At 21.00 on 15 March 2002, as the company was preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary as a motorcycle maker, its main factory was destroyed by a fire which began at the rear of the facility. At the height of the blaze over 100 firefighters were tackling the fire which destroyed most of the manufacturing capacity. Nevertheless, the company, which by then employed more than 650, quickly rebuilt the facility and returned to production by September that year. Furthermore, in 2003, Triumph began construction on a new sub-assembly manufacturing facility in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, opened in 2006 by Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG GCVO , is the second son, and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
. In September 2008, Triumph announced that they were expanding their Thailand factory to increase capacity to over 130,000 motorcycles.
The Triumph Group announced sales of 37,400 units in the financial year ending 30 June 2006. This represented a growth of 18% over the 31,600 produced in 2005. Company turnover (revenues) rose 13% to £200 million ($370 million), but net profit remained static at around £10.3 million due to recent investment in production facilities.. In June 2009 Lord Digby Jones
Digby Jones
Digby Marritt Jones, Baron Jones of Birmingham, Kt is a British businessman and politician, who has served as Director General of the CBI and Minister of State for Trade and Investment...
, the former Minister of State for Trade, become chairman of Triumph motorcycles (Hinckley) Ltd and the 1600 cc Thunderbird twin-cylinder cruiser was announced.
Model range
There were early problems and the four-cylinder 600 cc sports TT600 was described in reviews as "unpleasant at low revs due to a lethargic and unpredictable throttle response, with anonymous styling". As sales built, the big fours were phased out of the lineup and parallel twins and triples became the marketing and development focus of Triumph's marketing strategy. Triumph also decided to exploit demand for retro motorcycles with modern engineering. The 865 cc versions of the Triumph Bonneville
Triumph Bonneville
The Bonneville is a range of British motorcycles, made in three different production runs from 1959 to 1983, and 1985 to 1988, by the now-defunct Triumph Engineering in Meriden; and since 2001, by Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley. It is named after the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, where Triumph and...
and Thruxton
Triumph Thruxton 900
The Triumph Thruxton 900 is a British motorcycle made by Triumph Motorcycles. Launched in 2004, it was named after Thruxton racing circuit where Triumph won the first three places in the Thruxton 500 mile endurance race in 1969, establishing the "café racer" era where standard production...
look and sound original but internally they have modern valves and counter balance shafts.
For their contemporary range, the triple is Hinckley Triumph's trademark, filling a niche between European and American twins and four cylinder Japanese machinery. The 2294 cc triple Rocket III
Triumph Rocket III
The Triumph Rocket III is a British three cylinder motorcycle made by the Hinckley Triumph factory and has the largest displacement engine of any mass production motorcycle , at ....
cruiser was introduced in 2004. The first 300 Rocket III models were already sold before they were produced, and there was a long waiting list for Rockets into 2005.
On 21 July 2008, Triumph held a Global Dealer Conference where new models for 2009 were launched, including the official announcement of the parallel twin-cylinder Thunderbird.
Triumph's best selling bike is the 675 cc Street Triple
Triumph Street Triple 675
The Triumph Street Triple is a naked motorcycle produced by Triumph Motorcycles, first released towards the end of 2007.The bike is closely modelled on the Speed Triple 1050 but uses a re-tuned inline three cylinder 675 cc engine from the Daytona 675 sportsbike, which was released in...
. In 2010 they launched the Triumph Tiger 800
Triumph Tiger 800
The Triumph Tiger 800 and Tiger 800 XC are dual-sport motorcycles launched in 2010 by British manufacturer Triumph Motorcycles.The Tiger 800 is a more road-oriented bike, while the Tiger 800 XC is designed as a more off-road vehicle...
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
BMW GS parallel-twin
The BMW F800GS and F650GS are members of the GS family of dual-sport motorcycles manufactured in Berlin, Germany by BMW Motorrad. Both bikes were launched in 2008, and use the same 798 cc parallel-twin engine with chain drive, but with different power outputs and equipment levels...
.