Is Triumph the new Harley?

[trustme]

I think of them as the new Beemers. I have always been a fan of the old airheads, they beat to a different drum but it seems that the oilheads are not as robust or reliable & can be an absolute nightmare when things go wrong
The modern Trump post '955' doesn't compete head on with the Jap bikes , they are well suited to our road conditions & appear to be bloody reliable, kind of like a more cost effective older Beemer.

[martybabe]

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).

That's the kind of thing, well explained.

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.

Yup, Jap bikes make huge sense which is why I'm trying to figure out why one would choose a Triumph in preference.

Fucken tasty...

Two other cases in point:

Yes yes but all your proving is that you're passionate about the bikes, we've already established that you love em

Easy. Kiwis have better taste in motorcycles.

A more eclectic taste maybe and good on 'em for that, better, meh.

[F5 Dave]

. . Triumph isn't the new Harley, Triumph is the new Triumph. . .

Eh,ahh, um, ooh.

Actually that is pretty good logic when you think about it.

I only bit at this thread 'cause at least Triumphs attempt to make their bikes handle & go, where the 'mercan bikes are so slanted in design - & for that matter fork angle that they will never be a proper motorcycle.

I'm a Yam fan & a 2 stroke nut, so my Tri buy was a complete surprise to myself.

[warewolf]

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

'Cool Dave' needs to change his username...

[warewolf]

I think there's a bit of sentimentalism attached to the British Empire, too. For a long time NZ was rife with Brit cars & bikes long past their use-by date in most other markets not geographically- and financially-challenged. In the early Hinckley years, NZ was Triumph's best market per capita.

[martybabe]

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

No one can be cooler than BD, I'll just have to be Hot

The modern Trump post '955' doesn't compete head on with the Jap bikes , they are well suited to our road conditions & appear to be bloody reliable, kind of like a more cost effective older Beemer.

This keeps cropping up, better suited to our road conditions how persactly, are you saying a bonnie will smooth out this Luna landscape better than yer average Jipneeze motorcicle?

What about the looks, seriously, are we saying we would buy a Speed trip over say a Honda Predator on looks,not talking about which is actually the better bike, just lookswise, I can't see it myself. Come to think of it (apart from the Rocket) I think the range in general is a bit bland looking...maybe

[martybabe]

I think there's a bit of sentimentalism attached to the British Empire, too. For a long time NZ was rife with Brit cars & bikes long past their use-by date in most other markets not geographically- and financially-challenged. In the early Hinckley years, NZ was Triumph's best market per capita.

I think that has a huge bearing on it myself, well said Wolfy.

[admenk]

Triumphs look great to me....

[martybabe]

Triumphs look great to me....

Hahaha, still the first thing that springs to mind when I hear the name Triumph, a Bra for the way you are, not necessarily a bike for the way you are though eh.

Whatdya think though Ad, being from that side of the world, do you remember people queuing up and getting palpitations cause a new bike was coming out of Hinkley?

[F5 Dave]

The difference being that in the bikes you want the contents to stay on the inside

[Latte]

What about the looks, seriously, are we saying we would buy a Speed trip over say a Honda Predator on looks,not talking about which is actually the better bike, just lookswise, I can't see it myself. Come to think of it (apart from the Rocket) I think the range in general is a bit bland looking...maybe

This made something click in my head...... In comparison the CB looks a little more garish - a tamed down version of those early euro streetfighters with the huge tails pointing straight up and all the angles and fibreglass which I've never liked. Although I do like the CB now(would definitely own one) it's been a case of warming to tthe style over time. Whereas the triple does have the classic "purposeful" look to it.

Perhaps as a country we are a little reserved and like the bike that looks tough but understated . whereas other countries do like to show off a little more. The triumph has always managed to tick the boxes for us kiwi's (hence the "Triumph is the New Triumph" line before).

Just a thought....

[admenk]

Whatdya think though Ad, being from that side of the world, do you remember people queuing up and getting palpitations cause a new bike was coming out of Hinkley?

I remember everyone was excited about their "rebirth", but yes, once they arrived, I think they were seen as just another option to the available Japanese bikes. I thought about the Trophy (?) 1200 when I was after a tourer, but they were still a bit pricey for me then, so I ended up with an older FJ. My brother had the cafe racer style one with the twin headlights (don't know the model - shows how much I know) which looked fantastic, apart from the back end.

At the end of the day it's horses for courses so we all ride what we like and have our own favourites. Most people would probably think that my bike looks and goes like an old nail, but I like it, and that what matters eh?

[martybabe]

This made something click in my head...... In comparison the CB looks a little more garish - a tamed down version of those early euro streetfighters with the huge tails pointing straight up and all the angles and fibreglass which I've never liked. Although I do like the CB now(would definitely own one) it's been a case of warming to tthe style over time. Whereas the triple does have the classic "purposeful" look to it.

Perhaps as a country we are a little reserved and like the bike that looks tough but understated . whereas other countries do like to show off a little more. The triumph has always managed to tick the boxes for us kiwi's (hence the "Triumph is the New Triumph" line before).

Just a thought....

That too makes a lot of sense and I think the phrase I was grasping for was triumph have a bit of a staid image in the UK, respectable bikes but not so outwardly exotic/flamboyant/in yer face as an MV or a CBRrrrrrrr. In fact Britain is by and large besotted with sporty bikes and would sell their houses to have the latest R1 which boasts a massive 3HP hike over the last model, so yes I think you're on to something there.

Again apologies for the generalisations above but on any given Sunday in the Uk rows and rows of sporty exotica can be seen displayed at all the usual places, so many of the things in fact that they all look like thousands of examples of the same bike. Not particularly my thing.

Up North however, there is a far greater mix of machines at the biker haunts, much like NZ, a bit more conservative than the flash shandy drinking southerners. mmm

[Maha]

Probably a large percentage of it is that, in kinda envokes the bad boy image...
Go back to a time where most of us were unable to even climb onto a bike, the British bikes were the ''chosen'' mount of many a teddy boy, with his cuffed jeans/ Bril-Creme and black comb in his back pocket? what a killer image.

But Triumph triumped, they lasted the distance and are still here today offering up what can only be decribed as pure uniqueness. The Daytona was in a class of it own in the looks department, so different from any of the Jap sports bikes, the 675 and the Speed triple?....speaks for themselves really...the capper is the triple sound....opps excuse me, I just excited mself...

[martybabe]

I remember everyone was excited about their "rebirth", but yes, once they arrived, I think they were seen as just another option to the available Japanese bikes. I thought about the Trophy (?) 1200 when I was after a tourer, but they were still a bit pricey for me then, so I ended up with an older FJ. My brother had the cafe racer style one with the twin headlights (don't know the model - shows how much I know) which looked fantastic, apart from the back end.

At the end of the day it's horses for courses so we all ride what we like and have our own favourites. Most people would probably think that my bike looks and goes like an old nail, but I like it, and that what matters eh?

Perfect example me old mate, I think you'd be hard pushed to find a biker in Britain that could identify all the Triumph models, they're just kinda Triumphs. I'm betting there are a few on here that could identify any Triumph just from a photo of an indicator.

As you say Horses etc, I can't entirely justify why I have a German and an American sat in my Garage but I love 'em....... most of the time.