I'd opine that Triumph is treading water in this global economic mess because of the basic, and well deserved concept of value.
From the lowly Bonneville at roughly USD$9,000 to the Speed Triple at say $11,000, you can still get 'a lotta bike' for a very reasonable, affordable price for the masses. The saving grace is folks who want a respite from arguably "soul-less" asian offers. These Triumph's are all built extremely well, have won numerous industry awards annually, and parts are very easily obtainable. Still a bit of a
boutique bike though, as I still - to this day - have other riders who ask if the company is new, because they had "never heard of Triumph before".
Whether or not this strategy of maintaining reasonable MSRP numbers, and offering the best possible value for the cost is the better approach or not, we'll see. Looks like it may at least be keeping Triumph's head above the water.
Seems like others (Indian, Harley Davidson) are travelling down a very different path, that of raising MSRP's and adding higher and higher cost models to the line up, in an effort to cash in on the "upper crust" RUB market. Thus far, I haven't seen any positive numbers or announcements from this sector. Unless laying off half your workforce is percieved as... "good".
Harley Davidson, for example, is playing a questionable trump card of exporting mucho bikes to China and India. Three things you arguably should never mess with are:
a.) Gravity
b.) Mother Nature
c.) Culture
Motorcycles in India and China are very solidly - and Culturally - percieved as cheap transportation for the underclass. period. To attempt to change this 100 year old culture to "Rich guys ride Bikes too!" will be difficult and expensive. Chances of success... dunno. Add to this the inconceivably (to a Westerner) horrible traffic congestion, and you have a lesser chance. Mopeds, step-throughs, and tiny CC bikes that are manueverable through massively clogged traffic, and unbelievably bad pavement and/or dirt roads are what the poor folks and delivery boys buy, not mega priced hogs.
As you guys know, I travel to Asia roughly 8 times a year - for the past 26 years, so I've seen it and experienced it first hand. When I mention that I ride to an Asian business group, I get zero response, blank but polite stares, and nothing more than raised eyebrows and a quizical look. No successful Asian business exec would ever get caught dead on a "motorcycle".
Japan would be the only Asian exception - for obvious reasons, but then again their "Biker" culture is mainly middle and lower classes. They sell the majority of their big (>500cc) bikes to westerners. I've been there numerous times over the years, and you rarely see a big bike on the streets, mostly tiny step throughs and scoots, as transport for students and delivery boys.
Lets hope they all survive, and let's continue to monitor the progress (or not) of the various Strategies unfolding. These will obviously also heavily impact aftermarket sales, and fantastic Web Sites (shameless plug!) like this one going forward.
Ride Safe!
Bob
Triumph Motorcycle Sales in 2009
Triumph Motorcycle Sales in 2009 
