Triumph in the Urban Enviroment

[motowebmaster]

Being a former Triumph Owner from the early Hinckley days, there wasn't an emphasis on the "urban lifestyle" look. This video from Triumph's YouTube page suggests a change in thinking:

[The Prophet]

As a soon to be "former" Triumph owner, I see what you mean.

I always pondered:

a.) Why the "new" Triumph organisation chose to mix and juxaposition all the former model names - Tiger, Bonneville, Thunderbird - to end up with models that were significantly different from the original "old" Triumph range. Was this done with a purpose?

b.) Example: The "Tiger" used to be a lower end, lesser perfomance model, beneath the Bonneville and Daytona. In the new range, it becomes a much higher performance, sport/tourer style bike.

c.) The Bonneville, becomes the lowest performance model in the range (Vs formerly the highest) and the base design is such that even with vastly excessive modifications, the best that can be reasonably expected (at significant effort and cost) is roughly 85 to 90 or so HP, at which level it remains a much lower performance bike when compared to many other available name brand competition. I believe or suggest this bike was offered as a low-cost "reminder" or link to the past, and/or a fashion "accessory" bike. It appears that extremely little (if any?) development efforts have gone into this model, basically the same since 2001. Granted, a nice, fun, easy to ride, affordable bike, but severely outdated when compared to other brand offers in the same price range. Oddly, when "modders" get ahold of this bike, more often than not the end result looks vastly unlike a Bonneville, and more like a naked crotch rocket, albeit a low performance one. Huh?

d.) The Speed Triple range - which IMHO should have been, and should be the "New Bonneville" as it displays all the characteristics and performance comparisons as the iconic Bonneville "back in the day". This is what the old Bonneville used to be like - fast, able to keep up with or exceed modern bikes, revolutionary and tough.

e.) The New Thunderbird is merely a cruiser, and in no way in keeping with either the Triumph image, or "Go your own way" slogans. That said, it IS a great bike, and theoretically should crush the competition, although "Cruiser" type riders ultimately migrate to Harley Davidson to become part of the "lifestyle" image folks.

Although Triumph is doing well, compared to other brands, I can't help but feel that they are a bit lost... image-wise. Do they want to be high performance? Big (HUGE) Tourer? Weekend Cruiser? Poser Bling? or what?

Seems like they want a little piece of every available pie, which is interesting. Can they be good at all these things?

Next thing ya' know, we'll be able to purchase Triumph lawn mowers, power generators, and... please no... cars!

In the end, they must know something, as they are surviving while other are spiraling down the vortex of failure. "Go... someway?".

Ride Safe!

Bob

[motowebmaster]

It is interesting to think of the original Bonnie's perception back in the day, and how similar it was to the Speed Triple's market today. To take it a step further, touting an aggressive personality seems to be one of Triumph's common strategies today. In addition to the S3, another example would be the new RocketIII Roadster.

At the same time, we're going to clean-cut biker gangs riding fashionable Bonnies, like the Tag Heuer bike:


I don't get it.

[The Prophet]

This "Steve McQueen / Tag Heuer" stuff is... bizzare.

Does anyone else know that Steve McQueen rode many, many bikes, Harleys, Metisse, Indians, and on and on. Plus... he's dead! If ol' Steve is all you've got going for you... hmmm.

Should they have a special "Bud Ekins" edition? The "Ann Margeret Special"? Bob Dylan also rode one... for a few minutes. Or maybe not(?).

Tag Heuer? What in the world does THAT have to do with riding?

Again, it's all "bling" accessory / fashion stuff. Realistically, if you can afford a Tag Heuer wristwatch, then you could probably afford a much better bike than this starter, low performance model?

In the end, I proclaim that Triumph is having an indentity crisis, like the slightly nerdy, "wanna-be" trying to buy his way into the 'in crowd'?

Real 'cool' would mean you don't even think for a moment about such things... or care!

Ride Safe!

Bob

[Speedtrip]

Having a full lineup has helped Triumph stay strong. I'd say they even have room for a few other bikes like a Tiger cub with a 675 and a fully fared super bike. The diversity of Triumph riders is healthy, get a bunch of Triumph riders together and you will get a little of everything.

Whats your next ride going to be Bob?

[The Prophet]

Originally Posted by Speedtrip

Whats your next ride going to be Bob?

Right now I'm struggling with a final decision, and I am also waiting for the price wars to continue, offering better and better deals.

Choices are:

HD Road King
BMW 1200 KL
Kawasaki Concours

My Son-in-law owns a Suzuki dealership, but none of those do anything for me. he also deals in "used" bikes. He told me there are thousands of extremely low mileage used bikes out there, and they have closed door auctions all the time for dealers to compete for these bikes.

He instructed me to write down exactly what I'm looking for - model, color, price range, etc. - and he can "get it for me" at a super discount.

I'm looking for a comfortable long range tourer, as in jaunts to the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Florida Gulf area, etc., from Illinois. Super high horsepower or the ability to go 170 MPH doesn't interest me, and passenger comfort is at least half the game (for the Mrs.).

BMW I absolutely love, but support (or lack of) scares me a little, as I had a very difficult time in finding a dealer - yes, even in Chicagoland. Believe it or not, there are only two listed in the entire Chicago metropolitan area. For comparison, there must be at least 100 HD dealers in the same geographical zone. Makes me shakey about the ability to get parts or 'whatever' on the road. My wife also thinks "it looks too much like a rocket ship".

Kawa Concours looks very good, except a slight "points off" for passenger comfort.

Road King wins for passenger comfort, luggage capacity, parts and 'whatever' availability, and obvious proven long range abilities. If I could only forget about "judgemental" image problems that may be irritating because of the HD "lifestyle" silliness.

Oddly, when I mentioned the possibility of a Road King to my secretary, she immediately asked me - in all seriousness - "do you have a tattoo?"

Anyway, I'm in the best position possible to purchase a new bike, as ... I don't "need" one. Prices 'round here (as predicted months ago on this forum by the way!!!) are falling super fast, and deals are absolutely incredible. More as things develop.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the good ol' Triumph Bonneville, I just need something else, and it strikes me as ridiculous to spend twice as much as the bike is ever going to be worth to make it into an average performance bike. My youngest son has a '09 Honda CBR600RR that can run circles - and then some - around the Bonneville, and costs basically the same as a stock Bonnie.

This Triumph is a fun, easy to ride, great little bike to have, and loads of fun on the twisty backroads with good tires, but could never be considered as a "performance" bike at an expensive outlaw of irredeemable cash for ultimately only say 85-90 HP?. Maybe 40 years ago? Better for quick runs down to the bookstore, or an impromtu decision to go to dinner at the local cafe.

Ride safe!

Bob

[Speedtrip]

Those are all good bikes. I had a chance to ride the Concourse on a demo this year and it is a fantastic bike I would own one and priced right. Don't have to worry about dealer networks with Beemers they never break down right. The Road king looks to me like it has to be the most comfortable bike there is, maybe you can get a stick on tattoo see how you like it then get a real one later they don't hurt that much (take my word for that).

When you start touring you'll have to come thru the Ozarks me and Shawn will take you on a nice tour.

[motowebmaster]

Your son is right, there are plenty of late model low mileage bikes.

If a willing Triumph Dealer were still closeby, I'd still be riding my old Daytona900. That bike was a big heavy brute

[The Prophet]

I figure if a bike is "low mileage" - to me meaning < 3000 miles (?), then other than break in issues, there wasn't enough time for the P.O. to cause any real damage.

I also opine that you could inspect the bike extremely carefully, and ascertain from this a good opinion on how the bike was ridden and maintained. I would also demand a bone stock bike - no "mod's" allowed. I wouldn't want someone else's bodge.

My daughter, and my son's girlfriend both have tattoo's so I guess the "pain" factor is nothing to worry over (if you knew my daughter!). Fact is, it's never crossed my mind... ever. Not high on my list of "must do's".

Maybe a "stick on" one, or one you get at a local carnival from the face painter gals!

I'm struggling with some decisions:

"Killer"?
"Born to raise ____"?
"Mother"?
Or maybe an Apple, as in "Wild Hogs"?

Decisions, decisions....

Ride safe!

Bob

[Speedtrip]

Been real happy with my latest used bike purchase, it was a real clean example that only averaged about 1400 miles a year. Took it out for a long run thru the hills today just stopping for gas.

There are some great deals to be had right now for anyone in the market new or used. With all the stuff sitting in showrooms new may be the way to go.

I don't keep bikes for very long usually three years at the most. So any mods I make are of the bolt on variety. I always keep the OEM parts and put it back to stock when I sell, and ebay whats left. Don't spend to much time trying to make a bike go faster if I want fast I just buy a fast bike. I do get a chuckle out of the guys that buy a Hyabusa and feel the need to add a turbo, the damn thing does 200 mph stock.