The History of Triumph
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 3:17 am
once again... thanks Mike!
THE HISTORY OF TRIUMPH
Saturday, February 28th, 2009 - Triumph Motorcycle Press Release - Total Motorcycle - http://www.totalmotorcycle.com
Triumph’s 122-year history is a story of phenomenal growth, perseverance, setbacks and ultimately
emergence as a global manufacturer of one of the world’s most popular brand of motorcycles.
Its early days and early name were humble. The Triumph Cycle Co. was founded by Siegfried Bettmann in
Coventry, England to manufacture bicycles in 1887. Within five years the company moved into the
production of powered cycles and by 1905 it was producing 500 motorcycles a year.
For the next 18 years Triumph enjoyed steady growth and in 1923 added automobile production to its
portfolio. By 1925 the motorcycle plant occupied 500,000 square feet, employed 3,000 people and
produced 25,000 to 30,000 units a year.
The motorcycle industry remained fairly stable throughout the early 1930s. During that time, the
motorcycle and bicycle portions of the portfolio were separated from the car division and sold as
independent businesses. By 1935 the motorcycle division was renamed Triumph Engineering Co.
During the Second World War, the British government requisitioned virtually all of Triumph’s production.
Despite destruction of the factory in the 1940 Blitz of Coventry, Triumph’s production continued
throughout the war years at a temporary site in Warwick and then at a new factory in Meriden. British
soldiers rode Triumphs to the front lines throughout the war, showcasing the machines’ agility and
durability in difficult situations.
Civilian production resumed in 1946 and Triumph re-established its dealer network in the United States.
The 649cc Thunderbird, nicknamed “the world’s first superbike,” was introduced to satisfy the American
plea for more power. The Thunderbird quickly became a favorite of police forces worldwide for its high
speed capability of up to 100 mph.
The 1950s began with soaring sales, with more Triumphs sold in the U.S. than in any other country,
including Great Britain, in 1951. Triumph was sold to BSA Group that year, and a U.S.-based distribution
company, called Triumph Corp., was established in Maryland to initially serve eastern U.S. markets, and
eventually from coast to coast.
THE GOLDEN AGE
The following two decades are regarded as the golden age of motorcycling – reaching the height of its
popularity both in Western Europe and the United States.
Triumph’s popularity was embraced by a stream of Hollywood and home-grown celebrities that flocked to
its motorcycles, cementing the marque’s global cult status. Well known celebrities and Hollywood
heartthrobs rode Triumphs both on screen and off. James Dean’s Triumph of choice was a 1955 TR5
Trophy while Buddy Holly and the Crickets rode 6T’s and TR6A’s. Marlon Brando wowed movie goers on a
1953 6T Thunderbird in “The Wild One.”
The original Triumph T120 Bonneville, named after the record-breaking feats on the Bonneville Salt Flats
by Johnny Allen, was launched in 1959 as a high-performance, dual-carburetor version of Triumph’s 650cc
twin T110 Tiger. The Bonneville became the icon of the era and retains its cult status today.
TOUGH TIMES AT THE FACTORY
Triumph motorcycle production peaked in 1969 at around 46,800 units per year. By the early 1970s,
however, slow parts supply and tooling problems led to production delays. In 1972, the British
government sponsored a merger between the BSA Group and another storied British motorcycle
manufacturer, Norton Villiers. Norton-Villiers-Triumph was formed.
In 1973, NVT announced plans to close the Meriden plant. A labor strike brought production to a halt and
virtually no motorcycles were built until 1975 when the Meriden Workers Co-operative was formed. With
financing from a government grant, production of the 750cc Bonnevilles and Tigers resumed. The cooperative
bought the rights to the Triumph marque from NVT and production crept up to 350 units per
week. Despite further government support, the co-operative went into liquidation in 1983.
REBUILDING THE MARQUE
The intellectual property rights to the Triumph marque were purchased by British entrepreneur John Bloor
in 1983, paving the way for Triumph’s modern era. Bloor arranged for a specialty manufacturer to
continue production of the storied Bonneville while he assembled a new team that would create an entirely
new approach to designing and building Triumph motorcycles. Their goal was to re-establish Triumph as a
global motorcycle marque. A new headquarters and factory were constructed in Hinckley, Leicestershire,
England, which led the motorcycle community to affectionately refer to the new models as Hinckley
Triumphs.
Under Bloor’s leadership, Triumph developed a modular approach to building motorcycles. The approach
enabled a strong and stable platform for a series of unique models to be built on one assembly line at the
same time. Design of the new models began in 1984 and the first models were launched at the Cologne
Motorcycle Show in 1990. Production of the first new model, the four-cylinder 1200cc Trophy, began in
early 1991 with the factory initially building eight to 10 new machines per day. The Trident 750 and 900,
which were unique three-cylinder models, and the Daytona 750 and 1000 four-cylinder models quickly
followed.
As production capacity grew, Triumph re-established its distributor and dealer networks to facilitate
motorcycle sales in most of the world’s major motorcycle markets. The U.S. market was added in 1994.
Production soon reached 12,000 units a year and the company was able to develop more single-minded
machines that did not rely on the modular concept. The first of these were the Daytona T595 and the
T509 Speed Triple sport bikes. Triumph’s model line continued to evolve and become more specialized
since this time, ranging from high-performance sport bikes to retro-styled cruisers to large, touring
motorcycles.
Triumph expanded to include its own line of riding apparel in 1995. The Triple Connection clothing line was
named as a nod to Triumph’s unique three-cylinder engines. A range of accessories that allows riders to
customize their motorcycles also was launched to provide customers with a full selection of authentic
Triumph equipment.
THE GREAT FIRE
Just as Triumph had hit its stride, a devastating fire engulfed the factory in March 2002. The fire
destroyed the chassis assembly line and storage area, and coated much of the rest of the site in a layer of
soot. What remained of the assembly and storage areas was demolished in preparation for rebuilding. A
huge clean-up operation commenced for the rest of the plant which included two engine machining lines,
the engine assembly line and the paint shop. This enabled the factory to be fully operational again in just
six months.
During this major rebuild and clean up, Triumph took the opportunity to relocate various manufacturing
processes within one of its adjacent facilities. This helped to minimize lost production time and allowed
Triumph to evaluate and execute the most efficient layout for each part of the manufacturing process.
Full production resumed in September 2002.
RETURN TO GLORY
Triumph built its new production facility with state-of-the-art technology and became one of, if not the
most, modern motorcycle manufacturing facility in the world.
Not long after the factory was rebuilt, the company expanded its operations to support the introduction of
the Rocket III, which was billed as the world’s largest production motorcycle at 2300cc (140ci). Other new
models followed shortly after, including the three-cylinder Daytona 675 sport bike.
As Triumph re-established itself as a global manufacturer of high quality motorcycles, America and
Hollywood responded by rekindling its romance with the distinctive motorcycles. Triumph’s iconic
machines have since appeared in movies that include “An Officer and a Gentleman,” “The English Patient,”
“Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone,” “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” “Torque,” “The Matrix,”
“Daredevil,” “Mission Impossible 2,” “Lost Boys 2: The Tribe” and “Terminator 3.”
Sales growth has steadily increased, and in 2007 Triumph became the world’s fastest growing motorcycle
manufacturer. The company continues to post record sales in 2008 and celebrates the 50th anniversary of
its iconic Bonneville in 2009.
2009
The Triumph Thunderbird returns to North America as 1600cc Big Twin cruiser that combines sleek looks, cool style and intuitive handling to create an immediate icon.
2009
The Triumph Bonneville celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a special, limited edition model that commemorates the original.
2007
Triumph is recognized as the world’s fastest growing motorcycle manufacturer. More than 41,000 units are produced.
2002
The Triumph factory is destroyed by a devastating fire in March. Production is halted until the new factory opens in September of the same year.
1996
The Speed Triple and Daytona models receive electronic fuel injection.
1996
The Rider Association of Triumph, also known as R.A.T., is launched.
1995
Production reaches 12,000 units per year. Triumph unveils its own line of technical riding apparel.
1994
Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd. is established as Triumph’s North American operations.
1993
The Speed Triple, one of the world’s first production “streetfighter” style motorcycles, is launched at the Paris Motorcycle Show.
1993
The Daytona’s three-cylinder engine size grows from 750cc to 900cc. A 1200cc four-cylinder engine also is offered.
1991
The first three-cylinder motorcycles, the 750cc Daytona and 900cc Trophy, are produced.
1990
The first of the newly designed Triumph motorcycles with modern design and engineering are launched at the Cologne Motorcycle Show.
1984
Design, research and development begins on a new, modern line of Triumph motorcycles.
1983
British entrepreneur John Bloor purchases the intellectual property rights to Triumph Motorcycles. Bloor retains a specialty manufacturer to continue production of the Triumph Bonneville as he assembles a new management and operations team and an entirely new line of Triumph motorcycles is designed.
1973
A new 750cc Bonneville T140V and TR7RV Tiger models are introduced.
1973
A labor dispute grinds production nearly to a halt until 1975 when a workers co-operative is established and production rises to 350 units per week.
1972
The British government sponsors a merger between the BSA Group and another storied British motorcycle manufacturer, Norton Villiers. Norton-Villiers-Triumph was formed.
1969
Triumph introduces the Trident 750cc Triple.
1969
Production peaks at around 46,800 units per year.
1965
Triumph and BSA merge.
1960
A Bonneville-powered twin-engine streamliner motorcycle ridden by Bob Leppan sets a new world land speed record of 245.6mph.
1960
The Bonneville T120 is introduced. With its 650cc engine, the model becomes the first motorcycle to lap the Isle of Man at 100mph.
1959
The Triumph Bonneville debuts and sets a world land speed record at its namesake, the Bonneville Salt Flats. The motorcycle instantly becomes highly desired by enthusiasts worldwide.
1956
Triumph’s 650cc Bonneville sets a world land speed record of 214.5 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
1953
Marlon Brando wows movie goers riding a 6T Thunderbird in “The Wild One.”
1951
Jack Sangster sells Triumph to BSA.
1951
TriCor opens in Baltimore, Maryland, to distribute Triumphs on the United States’ east coast.
1949
The Thunderbird 650cc Twin is introduced in the United States. The model is the first Triumph motorcycle designed specifically for the U.S. market and quickly becomes Triumph’s number one seller.
1951
More Triumphs are sold in the U.S. than in any other country, including Great Britain.
1946
Civilian production of motorcycles resumes after WWII. The Triumph Thunderbird makes its debut and is heralded for its speed, agility and styling. The Thunderbird becomes sought after by police departments and earns the moniker as “The World’s First Superbike.”
1940-1945
Triumph supplies the British military with motorcycles throughout WWII.
1940
World War II’s Blitz of Coventry destroys the factory; production resumes at a temporary site in Warwick and then at a new factory in Meriden. British soldiers rode Triumphs to the front lines throughout the war, showcasing the machines’ agility and durability in difficult situations.
1940
Triumph’s 3TW Military model is the first motorcycle to use an alternator.
1937
Johnson Motors in Pasadena, California, becomes a United States distributor of Triumph Motorcycles.
1937
Triumph’s 500cc Speed Twin is introduced, establishing new industry standards for performance and design for years to come.
1935
Triumph Motorcycle Works is sold to Jack Sangster and renamed Triumph Engineering Co. Ltd., separating the motorcycle and automobile businesses.
1923
The production of automobiles is added to Triumph’s portfolio of businesses.
1922
Triumph introduces the “Riccy” engine that features a four-valve hemispherical head, steel cylinder and aluminum piston.
1914-1918
Triumph produces 30,000 Type-H models for the Allied Forces in WWI.
1909
Production reaches 3,000 motorcycles.
1908
Jack Marshall sets the fastest lap and won the Isle of Man motorcycle race on a Triumph.
1905
The first engines that are designed and built by Triumph are installed in Triumph motorcycles. The 363cc engines produce 3hp at 1500rpm.
1902
The first motorized Triumph cycle is produced. It uses a 2.25hp Minerva engine in a Triumph bicycle frame.
1887
Triumph Cycle Co. is founded in Coventry, England as a manufacturer of bicycles.
THE HISTORY OF TRIUMPH
Saturday, February 28th, 2009 - Triumph Motorcycle Press Release - Total Motorcycle - http://www.totalmotorcycle.com
Triumph’s 122-year history is a story of phenomenal growth, perseverance, setbacks and ultimately
emergence as a global manufacturer of one of the world’s most popular brand of motorcycles.
Its early days and early name were humble. The Triumph Cycle Co. was founded by Siegfried Bettmann in
Coventry, England to manufacture bicycles in 1887. Within five years the company moved into the
production of powered cycles and by 1905 it was producing 500 motorcycles a year.
For the next 18 years Triumph enjoyed steady growth and in 1923 added automobile production to its
portfolio. By 1925 the motorcycle plant occupied 500,000 square feet, employed 3,000 people and
produced 25,000 to 30,000 units a year.
The motorcycle industry remained fairly stable throughout the early 1930s. During that time, the
motorcycle and bicycle portions of the portfolio were separated from the car division and sold as
independent businesses. By 1935 the motorcycle division was renamed Triumph Engineering Co.
During the Second World War, the British government requisitioned virtually all of Triumph’s production.
Despite destruction of the factory in the 1940 Blitz of Coventry, Triumph’s production continued
throughout the war years at a temporary site in Warwick and then at a new factory in Meriden. British
soldiers rode Triumphs to the front lines throughout the war, showcasing the machines’ agility and
durability in difficult situations.
Civilian production resumed in 1946 and Triumph re-established its dealer network in the United States.
The 649cc Thunderbird, nicknamed “the world’s first superbike,” was introduced to satisfy the American
plea for more power. The Thunderbird quickly became a favorite of police forces worldwide for its high
speed capability of up to 100 mph.
The 1950s began with soaring sales, with more Triumphs sold in the U.S. than in any other country,
including Great Britain, in 1951. Triumph was sold to BSA Group that year, and a U.S.-based distribution
company, called Triumph Corp., was established in Maryland to initially serve eastern U.S. markets, and
eventually from coast to coast.
THE GOLDEN AGE
The following two decades are regarded as the golden age of motorcycling – reaching the height of its
popularity both in Western Europe and the United States.
Triumph’s popularity was embraced by a stream of Hollywood and home-grown celebrities that flocked to
its motorcycles, cementing the marque’s global cult status. Well known celebrities and Hollywood
heartthrobs rode Triumphs both on screen and off. James Dean’s Triumph of choice was a 1955 TR5
Trophy while Buddy Holly and the Crickets rode 6T’s and TR6A’s. Marlon Brando wowed movie goers on a
1953 6T Thunderbird in “The Wild One.”
The original Triumph T120 Bonneville, named after the record-breaking feats on the Bonneville Salt Flats
by Johnny Allen, was launched in 1959 as a high-performance, dual-carburetor version of Triumph’s 650cc
twin T110 Tiger. The Bonneville became the icon of the era and retains its cult status today.
TOUGH TIMES AT THE FACTORY
Triumph motorcycle production peaked in 1969 at around 46,800 units per year. By the early 1970s,
however, slow parts supply and tooling problems led to production delays. In 1972, the British
government sponsored a merger between the BSA Group and another storied British motorcycle
manufacturer, Norton Villiers. Norton-Villiers-Triumph was formed.
In 1973, NVT announced plans to close the Meriden plant. A labor strike brought production to a halt and
virtually no motorcycles were built until 1975 when the Meriden Workers Co-operative was formed. With
financing from a government grant, production of the 750cc Bonnevilles and Tigers resumed. The cooperative
bought the rights to the Triumph marque from NVT and production crept up to 350 units per
week. Despite further government support, the co-operative went into liquidation in 1983.
REBUILDING THE MARQUE
The intellectual property rights to the Triumph marque were purchased by British entrepreneur John Bloor
in 1983, paving the way for Triumph’s modern era. Bloor arranged for a specialty manufacturer to
continue production of the storied Bonneville while he assembled a new team that would create an entirely
new approach to designing and building Triumph motorcycles. Their goal was to re-establish Triumph as a
global motorcycle marque. A new headquarters and factory were constructed in Hinckley, Leicestershire,
England, which led the motorcycle community to affectionately refer to the new models as Hinckley
Triumphs.
Under Bloor’s leadership, Triumph developed a modular approach to building motorcycles. The approach
enabled a strong and stable platform for a series of unique models to be built on one assembly line at the
same time. Design of the new models began in 1984 and the first models were launched at the Cologne
Motorcycle Show in 1990. Production of the first new model, the four-cylinder 1200cc Trophy, began in
early 1991 with the factory initially building eight to 10 new machines per day. The Trident 750 and 900,
which were unique three-cylinder models, and the Daytona 750 and 1000 four-cylinder models quickly
followed.
As production capacity grew, Triumph re-established its distributor and dealer networks to facilitate
motorcycle sales in most of the world’s major motorcycle markets. The U.S. market was added in 1994.
Production soon reached 12,000 units a year and the company was able to develop more single-minded
machines that did not rely on the modular concept. The first of these were the Daytona T595 and the
T509 Speed Triple sport bikes. Triumph’s model line continued to evolve and become more specialized
since this time, ranging from high-performance sport bikes to retro-styled cruisers to large, touring
motorcycles.
Triumph expanded to include its own line of riding apparel in 1995. The Triple Connection clothing line was
named as a nod to Triumph’s unique three-cylinder engines. A range of accessories that allows riders to
customize their motorcycles also was launched to provide customers with a full selection of authentic
Triumph equipment.
THE GREAT FIRE
Just as Triumph had hit its stride, a devastating fire engulfed the factory in March 2002. The fire
destroyed the chassis assembly line and storage area, and coated much of the rest of the site in a layer of
soot. What remained of the assembly and storage areas was demolished in preparation for rebuilding. A
huge clean-up operation commenced for the rest of the plant which included two engine machining lines,
the engine assembly line and the paint shop. This enabled the factory to be fully operational again in just
six months.
During this major rebuild and clean up, Triumph took the opportunity to relocate various manufacturing
processes within one of its adjacent facilities. This helped to minimize lost production time and allowed
Triumph to evaluate and execute the most efficient layout for each part of the manufacturing process.
Full production resumed in September 2002.
RETURN TO GLORY
Triumph built its new production facility with state-of-the-art technology and became one of, if not the
most, modern motorcycle manufacturing facility in the world.
Not long after the factory was rebuilt, the company expanded its operations to support the introduction of
the Rocket III, which was billed as the world’s largest production motorcycle at 2300cc (140ci). Other new
models followed shortly after, including the three-cylinder Daytona 675 sport bike.
As Triumph re-established itself as a global manufacturer of high quality motorcycles, America and
Hollywood responded by rekindling its romance with the distinctive motorcycles. Triumph’s iconic
machines have since appeared in movies that include “An Officer and a Gentleman,” “The English Patient,”
“Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone,” “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” “Torque,” “The Matrix,”
“Daredevil,” “Mission Impossible 2,” “Lost Boys 2: The Tribe” and “Terminator 3.”
Sales growth has steadily increased, and in 2007 Triumph became the world’s fastest growing motorcycle
manufacturer. The company continues to post record sales in 2008 and celebrates the 50th anniversary of
its iconic Bonneville in 2009.
2009
The Triumph Thunderbird returns to North America as 1600cc Big Twin cruiser that combines sleek looks, cool style and intuitive handling to create an immediate icon.
2009
The Triumph Bonneville celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a special, limited edition model that commemorates the original.
2007
Triumph is recognized as the world’s fastest growing motorcycle manufacturer. More than 41,000 units are produced.
2002
The Triumph factory is destroyed by a devastating fire in March. Production is halted until the new factory opens in September of the same year.
1996
The Speed Triple and Daytona models receive electronic fuel injection.
1996
The Rider Association of Triumph, also known as R.A.T., is launched.
1995
Production reaches 12,000 units per year. Triumph unveils its own line of technical riding apparel.
1994
Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd. is established as Triumph’s North American operations.
1993
The Speed Triple, one of the world’s first production “streetfighter” style motorcycles, is launched at the Paris Motorcycle Show.
1993
The Daytona’s three-cylinder engine size grows from 750cc to 900cc. A 1200cc four-cylinder engine also is offered.
1991
The first three-cylinder motorcycles, the 750cc Daytona and 900cc Trophy, are produced.
1990
The first of the newly designed Triumph motorcycles with modern design and engineering are launched at the Cologne Motorcycle Show.
1984
Design, research and development begins on a new, modern line of Triumph motorcycles.
1983
British entrepreneur John Bloor purchases the intellectual property rights to Triumph Motorcycles. Bloor retains a specialty manufacturer to continue production of the Triumph Bonneville as he assembles a new management and operations team and an entirely new line of Triumph motorcycles is designed.
1973
A new 750cc Bonneville T140V and TR7RV Tiger models are introduced.
1973
A labor dispute grinds production nearly to a halt until 1975 when a workers co-operative is established and production rises to 350 units per week.
1972
The British government sponsors a merger between the BSA Group and another storied British motorcycle manufacturer, Norton Villiers. Norton-Villiers-Triumph was formed.
1969
Triumph introduces the Trident 750cc Triple.
1969
Production peaks at around 46,800 units per year.
1965
Triumph and BSA merge.
1960
A Bonneville-powered twin-engine streamliner motorcycle ridden by Bob Leppan sets a new world land speed record of 245.6mph.
1960
The Bonneville T120 is introduced. With its 650cc engine, the model becomes the first motorcycle to lap the Isle of Man at 100mph.
1959
The Triumph Bonneville debuts and sets a world land speed record at its namesake, the Bonneville Salt Flats. The motorcycle instantly becomes highly desired by enthusiasts worldwide.
1956
Triumph’s 650cc Bonneville sets a world land speed record of 214.5 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
1953
Marlon Brando wows movie goers riding a 6T Thunderbird in “The Wild One.”
1951
Jack Sangster sells Triumph to BSA.
1951
TriCor opens in Baltimore, Maryland, to distribute Triumphs on the United States’ east coast.
1949
The Thunderbird 650cc Twin is introduced in the United States. The model is the first Triumph motorcycle designed specifically for the U.S. market and quickly becomes Triumph’s number one seller.
1951
More Triumphs are sold in the U.S. than in any other country, including Great Britain.
1946
Civilian production of motorcycles resumes after WWII. The Triumph Thunderbird makes its debut and is heralded for its speed, agility and styling. The Thunderbird becomes sought after by police departments and earns the moniker as “The World’s First Superbike.”
1940-1945
Triumph supplies the British military with motorcycles throughout WWII.
1940
World War II’s Blitz of Coventry destroys the factory; production resumes at a temporary site in Warwick and then at a new factory in Meriden. British soldiers rode Triumphs to the front lines throughout the war, showcasing the machines’ agility and durability in difficult situations.
1940
Triumph’s 3TW Military model is the first motorcycle to use an alternator.
1937
Johnson Motors in Pasadena, California, becomes a United States distributor of Triumph Motorcycles.
1937
Triumph’s 500cc Speed Twin is introduced, establishing new industry standards for performance and design for years to come.
1935
Triumph Motorcycle Works is sold to Jack Sangster and renamed Triumph Engineering Co. Ltd., separating the motorcycle and automobile businesses.
1923
The production of automobiles is added to Triumph’s portfolio of businesses.
1922
Triumph introduces the “Riccy” engine that features a four-valve hemispherical head, steel cylinder and aluminum piston.
1914-1918
Triumph produces 30,000 Type-H models for the Allied Forces in WWI.
1909
Production reaches 3,000 motorcycles.
1908
Jack Marshall sets the fastest lap and won the Isle of Man motorcycle race on a Triumph.
1905
The first engines that are designed and built by Triumph are installed in Triumph motorcycles. The 363cc engines produce 3hp at 1500rpm.
1902
The first motorized Triumph cycle is produced. It uses a 2.25hp Minerva engine in a Triumph bicycle frame.
1887
Triumph Cycle Co. is founded in Coventry, England as a manufacturer of bicycles.
But regardless, yes they ARE cool bikes.
