Is Triumph the new Harley?

[martybabe]

I'm a Pom living in Godzone because I saw the light. England was my home for many a long year though and as a consequence I'm still a fan of some British things. The English Football team and all the over paid prima donna poofters that dwell within, Coronation street and Rosie's Boobies, Cornish pasties and soggy chips.

One thing that surprises me since I've been here though is the fierce, almost Harleyesque, allegiance and loyalty to the Triumph brand. A quick flick through these pages will find many an outraged Triumph owner fiercely defending the marque from the merest hint of criticism , justified or otherwise. A fanaticism long associated with some Harley owners, seems alive and well in the Trumpy community of NZ.

So, I'm asking a genuine Question here, not criticising, just putting it up for debate. Why, why all this raving on about Triumphs, I freely acknowledge the global accolades that have been thrown at the speed and street triples, clearly excellent bikes to ride but .....

If anyone should be singing the praises of this British brand it should be the likes of me shouldn't it, I lived just a few miles from the re-birth factory in Hinckley, I admire Mr Bloor very much for saving the Brand but I simply don't get why Kiwis in particular think they're the shizzel.

Big Dave will disagree with me no doubt, but In England, in my experience, Triumphs do not invoke the kind of brand loyalty and fierce admiration they do here. I think we're all pretty glad that Triumphs exist but they wouldn't find them selves at the top of as many wish lists as you might think, given that we make the things, definitely no where near as much loyalty as the buy american Americans.

There you have it, even as a pom I don't get why yawl rate Triumphs so much, why the allegiance is as strong as some Harley owners have for their bikes.

What am I missing here, they just seem like rather ordinary bikes Sell me a Triumph guys, here's your chance to tell the great unwashed why you think they're the dogs bollocks!

[popelli]

two completely different cultures

in NZ the back patch scene is british american and european only

in UK they rode anything

prior to the early 80's harleys were just unobtainable

hence the huge triumph loyalty factor

[NONONO]

Nuff said.

[hayd3n]

victory is the new american harley

[Conquiztador]

Let's see...

Harley has that Americanism with it. Many buy in to it. There is all from stockings to beermugs with HD on it. Many love that. They instantly become a bikie by getting the twin. No need to be a rider.

Jap bikes have always had that 2'nd class stigma (sorry guys...) even if they today are as good (or even better) as everything else. You buy a jappa and you buy a bike. Thats it. Often for commuting. Sometimes for another reason.

European bikes have class. But fark, they are expensive! And a nightmare to get bits. And when you get the bits you need to sell the kids to pay for it. You keep the bike for a sunny day.

Triumph has always been the working mans bike. Ued to be simple to fix, cheap and fun to ride. Somehow the new creed of Triumphs have kept that image (even if today with CDI's, fuel injection, puters and watercooling it is all gone). They still are good value for money! Also remember that we are "next door" to Japan, so we have a bundle of s/h jappa bikes being imported here (check the 400cc class...) cutting down their s/h value. But mainly the Triumphs are fun to ride. Enough umph to take you outta trouble but no racing machines (w/o modifications).

Face it: Your homeland has got this one right! And we in NZ have realised that.

Also, a Triumph is OK when mingling with HD's, when parking next to Euro bikes and when riding in a gaggle of jappas. Best of all worlds?

[Fatt Max]

Coronation street and Rosie's Boobies

Rosie is the new Bet Lynch....ooohhhhhhh

[Milts]

Could be related to the fact that many of the Triumphs seem to be perfect for New Zealand roads, with all the corners, bumps, gravel, etc. This combined with the 'fun factor' they inspire and the value for money has made me a fan - and so I'm probably guilty of overdefending the brand when asked about them...

[martybabe]

two completely different cultures

in NZ the back patch scene is british american and european only

in UK they rode anything

prior to the early 80's harleys were just unobtainable

hence the huge triumph loyalty factor

Interesting, thanks for your views.

Let's see...


Face it: Your homeland has got this one right! And we in NZ have realised that.

But not yet the UK or more specifically me. Don't get me wrong, sales are good and there are a fair few about at most bike meets. You would think Triumph would outsell everything else by a mile In England but not so.

I used to frequent Stratford on Avon on most sunny Sundays, where, depending on the weather, there could be 3-300 bikes stretched out along the riverside. Passionate and patriotic as Brits are about Brit things, most Triumphs in the group would receive nothing but the merest glance from the passing throngs as they searched on for more interesting, perhaps more exotic machinery. The rather uninteresting/dull/ uninspiring Triumphs, generally only singled out by passing Yanks marveling at the fact that Triumphs were still being made.

Don't take offence at my descriptions above, I'm just trying to convey the general lack of interest displayed at the Trumpy section by yer average passer-by as I witnessed it. Indeed I have recently purchased a rather dull uninspiring looking BMW which I believe to be one of the best Motorcycles ever made, so lack of wow factor doesn't a bad bike make.

Here though I have witnessed grown men almost drool over a bonnie/daytona, whatever and I'm still a bit perplexed as to why one nation would find a particular brand of bike so appealing whilst another (the Manufacturers main base) are largely indifferent to the same brand.

Apologies for the generalizations, of course not every Kiwi rider loves Triumph and Obviously every Brit rider is not indifferent to Triumphs but I do feel there is a large gap between the nations in there view of the make.

[Big Dave]

Easy. Kiwis have better taste in motorcycles.

[Latte]

In NZ, Triumph isn't the new Harley, Triumph is the new Triumph. As mentioned above they were a "cool" bike to every facet of bikers (not out of place with any group as such), and were not out of reach like Harley's were. Although the quality/technology has changed a lot, they still hold that same place in a lot of peoples minds/hearts.

Coolest bike my uncle owned (imo) was a triumph Tiger , all black, looked like the paint was an inch thick, and had the Union Jack painted on the side covers. Was always getting asked questions about it - now a friend has just bought a street triple, and just as many people wander over to talk about it... seems everyone owned a Triumph at some point. (I'm thinking of joining the cool kids for my next bike hehe).

[onearmedbandit]

Jap bikes have always had that 2'nd class stigma (sorry guys...) even if they today are as good (or even better) as everything else. You buy a jappa and you buy a bike. Thats it. Often for commuting. Sometimes for another reason.

I'll bite. Maybe 30yrs ago, but then again maybe not. Z1? CB'6'? Original Katana's? Kawasaki's 2 stroke road bikes? Lets move into the 80's then. RC30? OW01? GSXR750F/G/H? And the current crop of Japanese bikes, well none of them are '2nd class' bikes, especially compared to anything the US or Britain makes. Oh ok I'll include the Italian's. Yep your Ducati/Aprilia/MV have some very tasty bits on, no doubting that. What's that? You paid how much? I could've bought a Japanese bike and fitted all those bits and more for the same money, and I'd be better off for it too.

Sorry, maybe from your perspective Japanese bikes are '2nd class', but not everyone shares that view.

[short-circuit]

Nuff said.

Fucken tasty...

Two other cases in point:

[Big Dave]

It's more about what is cool. If you don't understand that - I run courses.

[Conquiztador]

I'll bite. Maybe 30yrs ago, but then again maybe not. Z1? CB'6'? Original Katana's? Kawasaki's 2 stroke road bikes? Lets move into the 80's then. RC30? OW01? GSXR750F/G/H? And the current crop of Japanese bikes, well none of them are '2nd class' bikes, especially compared to anything the US or Britain makes. Oh ok I'll include the Italian's. Yep your Ducati/Aprilia/MV have some very tasty bits on, no doubting that. What's that? You paid how much? I could've bought a Japanese bike and fitted all those bits and more for the same money, and I'd be better off for it too.

Sorry, maybe from your perspective Japanese bikes are '2nd class', but not everyone shares that view.

Well bitten. Jappas were the Hyosungs of the past. That has changed. And so will the Hyosungs too (or not???). I fully agree that you get more bike for your dollar today (and even in the past in many cases) if buying a jappa. But it is not all about value for money fo all of us. Harley has spent millions on creating an image and have succeeded. Jappas have spent very little on building an image and they sell on performace/value for money. Triumph is somewhere in the middle and succeeding to grab buyers from both camps.

Infact when I tire of my K1 I was planning to get a stripple. No logic reason, just because.

[Conquiztador]

It's more about what is cool. If you don't understand that - I run courses.

Thought you were too cool to run?