- Homepage
- >Triumph
Triumph
We offer a vast choice of clothes,
brand new vehicules or used,
as well as Triumph parts and accessories !
TRIUMPH HÉRITAGE
Through the Fifties and Sixties, names such as Steve McQueen and
Marlon Brando cemented the Triumph legend, while numerous land speed records
and race track successes gave bikes like the Thunderbird, Bonneville, Tiger and
Trident an iconic status.
1902 The
first Triumph motorcycle is produced, powered by a 2.2hp Minerva engine and
subsquently known as N° 1.
1907 A
new 450cc motor making 3.5 hp is produced. As annual production reaches 1,000
units, the factory moves main production to a larger site on Priory Street in
Coventry.
1915 Triumph
is chosen to supply the Type H 'Trusty' motorcycle for Allied military service.
Of 57 000 manufactured, 30 000 of the 499cc air cooled single cylinder bikes
see active service.
1927 The
Coventry factory, now standing at 500 000 sq ft and employing 3000 people,
produces 30 000 units per annum.
1936 Triumph's
car and motorcycle businesses are split. Edward Turner is appointed as chief
designer.
1937 Turner
unveils the 498cc Speed Twin (T100) that has a top speed of over 90 mph. It is
the definitive British motorcycle and establishes a pattern for Triumph bikes
that will last more than 40 years.
1940 Over
50 000 motorcycles are sold to the military as motorcycle production is geared
towards the war effort. The Priory Street factory is demolished on November 14,
1940 in the blitz of Coventry. Temporary premises in Warwick are used until a
new plant opens in Meriden in 1942.
1946 With
the return of peace, the company focuses on three models, the Tiger 100
(piloted to a maiden win at the 1946 Manx Grand Prix by Eric Lyons), the Speed
Twin and the smaller touring 349cc 3T. All models feature a telescopic front
fork.
1954 Marlon
Brando rides a 650cc Thunderbird 6T in 'The Wild One'.
1955 Johnny
Allen Hits 193 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats, riding a streamliner powered
by a tuned 650cc Thunderbird motor. It's the start of a remarkable era of
performance dominance, when Triumph held the absolute motorcycle land speed
record for 15 consecutive years, except for one bried 33-day period.
1959 The
iconic T120 Bonneville 650 is introduced. Named in honour of the location of
setting of countless World speed records, the Bonneville is destined to become
one of the greatest motorcycles, and the highest selling British twin of all
time.
1963 A
TR6 650 Trophy is ridden, jumped and crashed by Bud Ekins, and more famously
Steve McQueen, in 'The Great Escape'.
1966 Buddy
Elmore wins the Daytona 200 on a factory-prepped 500cc Tiger. The Gyronaut X-1,
a streamliner powered by two Triumph 650cc motors, records 245.6 mph on the
Bonneville Salt Flats.
1967 Gary
Nixon proves that last year's Daytona 200 win was no fluke by repeating the
feat aboard a Tiger 100. Further racing success is enjoyed in the Production TT
by John Hartle on a Production TT. 28 700 Triumphs are sold in the USA.
1968 The
750cc Triple finally makes an appearance, powering both the Trident and the BSA
Rocket 3. Evel Knieval attempts to jump the fountain at Caesar's Palace casino
in Las Vegas on a Bonneville.
1969 Malcolm
Uphill wins the Production TT on a Bonneville. In the process he puts in the
first-ever lap over 100 mph on a production motorcycle. Motorcycle production
at Meriden peaks at approximately 46 800 units.
1970 Malcolm
Uphill again wins the Production TT on a Triple destined for further fame and
subsequently referred to as Slippery Sam.
1975 Bonneville
production continues after the workers form a co-op to keep the Meriden factory
going. Slippery Sam wins the ten lap Production TT for the fifth year running.
1983 The
Meriden factory closes its doors. John Bloor acquires the Triumph name and
Meriden site and licenses a small number of Bonnevilles to continue to be
produced by Les Harris in Devon.
1987 The
first 'new' Triumph motor, a 1200cc four cylinder, runs on a test bench.
1990 Triumph
returns! Six new models are unveiled at the Cologne Show: The unfaired Trident
750 ans 900 Triples, the touring Trophy 900 Triple and 1200 Four and the
sports-oriented Daytona 750 Triple and 1000 Four
1994 The
game-changing Speed Triple is introduced and secures Triumph's return to
motorcycle sport at the inaugural 'Speed Triple Challenge Race'. Triumph
confirms is return to the USA with the introduction of a new subsidiary,
Triumph Motorcycles America being founded. Planning permission is granted for a
new factory on a 40 acre site in Hinckley.
1995 The
Triple Connection clothing range and accessory range of products are launched
Production stands at around 12 000 units per year. The 30 000 Hinckley Triumph
manufactured, a Thunderbird, ships to Australia.
1996 The
Daytona T595 bursts onto the scene. It's stunning styling contributed to
lengthy deposit lists. 12 months lates, a T595 became the 50 000th motorcycle
to be manufactured at Hinckley.
2000 A
decade after Triumph's rebirth, the Bonneville returns to the Triumph line up.
The bike appealed to not only riders who remembered the Bonneville, but also to
those who appreciated the modern function and guaranteed good handling of a
modern day parallel twin.
2002 A
massive fire guts the main factory 1 assembly plant. The factory is rebuilt,
refitted with state of the art tooling and manufacturing motorcycles less than
6 months after the fire. The Daytona 600 supersports bike is released, and
enjoys a magnificent victory at the Isle of Man TT in 2003 in the hands of
Kiwi, Bruce Anstey.
2004 Another
game changer. The Triumph Rocket III is released. The figures from the Triple engine
are simply astonishing. 2294cc, 140 Cubic Inches and 147ft.lbs torque at
2500rpm. At launch, and to this day, it remains the largest production
motorcycle in the World.
2006 An
all new, 675cc Triple Daytona is released. The 675 goes on to win the respected
Supertest 'King of Supersports' award for an unprecedented four years
consecutively. As factory 4 in Thailand opens, build volume rise to 41 974
units.
2007 The
Street Triple, a mix of the styling and entertainment of the Speed Triple and
the power and handling of the Daytona 675 bursts onto the scene and instantly
creates a new, and highly succesfull segment in the motorcycle market place.
2009 Triumph
takes its first journey in the 'R' sector with the launch of the Street Triple
R. Higher specification braking and suspension elevates the class-leading
package to new heights.
2010 Triumph
Hinckley's first belt driven bike, the 1600cc parallel-twin is launched and
brings Triumph's reputation for handling and engineering excellent to the mainstream
cruiser market. The bike impresses US magazine Cycle World enough to vote it as
their 'Cruiser of the Year'.
2011 Triumph
launches the Tiger 800 & 800XC, Speed Triple, Daytona R, America,
Speedmaster and Thunderbird Storm. The greatest number of launches in any year
for Triumph.
2012 110
years of motorcycle manufacturer is celebrated with a host of new bike
launches. The Tiger Explorer, a 1215cc shaft driven adventure bike makes waves
in the growing adventure sector. The same engine is used to power Triumphs new
Trophy. To round off a busy year, there are major updates to the 675cc Street
Triple and Daytona platforms. Sales reach 50 000 units, supported by the
opening of a new subsidiary in Brazil.
2013 As
Triumph's market share in the +500cc sector reaches 6.2%, expansion continues
with Triumph's launch into India.