Triumph Rat Motorcycle Forums banner

Missing in action: Original RAT group

4K views 31 replies 18 participants last post by  welshrob 
#1 ·
I try to browse Triumph forums of all types as often as possible. No matter how good they are and how many hits they get, they lack, what I think was the most fun, an international plat form. A way to keep new owners involved with existing.

Not a fan fest but a cohesiveness from one country, one state, one city to the next of news, trends, support groups whilst you travel or have questions.

TriumphRat.net does that in a fashion but there is a world wide gap to the other major Triumph forum.

When I bought my first two Triumphs, in 1996, I was given little packets of info about RAT. Riders Association of Triumph. Something like that.

Triumph UK ran it and worked hard to keep the small number of Triumph owners world wide informed, entertained and coming back for another triumph.

The first RAT Raids in America were a reason to ride 800-1000 miles for two or three days with Triumph spokesman/woman and ride fantastic routes and see coming models.

2002 Dragon Raid at the Gap was one of the better ones.

Triumph dropped factory support and fobbed the responsibility off on dealers. The original magazine changed into a catalog of expensive watch's, booze and what not.

Now we two major international forums and half a dozen smaller ones. We have dozens of private rider and dealer rides that are truely spectacular, well run, well attended. TNT comes to mind.
But when traveling in Europe it is near impossible, outside of TriumphRat.net, to make contact, get suggestions of routes ect., ect.

Same is true for folks coming to America to ride. Very few Triumph sources, easily found, that can put info givers with info needed.

Nostalgia aside, t595.net in early days served some of that and the TriumphRat served a bit.

With the hundreds of thousands of world wide Triumph owners you would think there would be a marketing company smart enough to convince Triumph to tap existing forums and larger RAT clubs with direct news, reviews, tech help. With internet there is no need for huge outlay as I have learned Triumph knows where every Triumph was registered, who sold it. A bit of cooperation between factory/dealer and a ready customer service and new sales base is created.

Wishful thinking on my part I know. Wistful wishing for simpler days? Maybe.
 
See less See more
#2 ·
I bought my first Triumph, a Daytona 1200 SE, new in 1999. A one year membership to the official RAT supported by the factory was part of the deal. The magazine was great, and I enjoyed the rides run by the local RAT Pack.

The loss of motorcycles due to financial stress (work and college and family, oh my!) left me without a motorcycle for several years. When our family finances finally permitted, I went straight to the Triumph dealer to start my browsing, eventually bringing home my Speed Triple. I love my Triumph! But I was very dissapointed to find that there was no longer a factory supported RAT. I still find this to be a big mistake on the factory's part.

When I moved to Huntsville almost two years ago, I was determined to start a RAT Pack here. I did so last spring and had mild success. I am hopefuly for a good year this year. But the lack of dealer and/or factory support limits a small RAT Pack's ability to organize and inform members. Hell, just some swag to hand out to members would be nice.

I would love to see Triumph come to it's senses and reignite RAT as a factory supported owners club. One only has to look down the road at the Harley dealer to see how successful such a club can be.
 
#8 ·
I am a group of one and you'd be surprised how many TRATnet members I've met in person, including the ever curious HAP.

In addition, nineteen netters have stayed in my home in Nevada. (Y'all are welcome anytime...)

My views of the world have expanded and my paradigms shifted as a result.

My life has been greatly enriched by the friends I have made through this forum.
 
#12 ·
There are a couple of barely there RAT groups at the two Dealers I frequent. One kind of turned into just a ride group since the dealer is a multi brand dealer. The other one has all but disappeared.

Most of the forum members I've met have been at the Bennington Bash.
 
#13 · (Edited)
I think the TRat thing in my neck of the woods disappeared as well. Probably not the reason in an encompassing way,...I went to one meet up. Didn't know anyone, tried to introduce myself,...basically was ignored so I left and rode off. Don't think anyone noticed either.

If the TRat thing was as cliquey as the one near me, it's no wonder they are dying off.

Just sayin'

Or maybe no one goes to the dealer anymore except when buying a bike. Not sure.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sean Patrick
#15 · (Edited)
Or maybe no one goes to the dealer anymore except when buying a bike. Not sure.
I started the Rocket City RATs here in Huntsville, Alabama completely independant from the local Triumph dealer. It is a multiple brand dealership with conflicting priorities. If they want to show some support, great. Otherwise, they don't matter.

Our RAT Pack has over fifty members on Facebook, but probably has about 8 reliable members and another 10 or so occasional participants. Twice a month meet-ups (we have local breweries here that are a popular location for these) and one RAT Run per month. It was a bit like herding cats when I started, but the folks really seem to like coming together. I intend to double my organizing efforts this year, with better planning and advertising, and patches and t-shirts.

I would like Triumph USA support, but this RAT Pack belongs to us, the riders. So I will stick with it.
 
#16 ·
Seems like we have an embarrassment of riches here in CO. Our local Rat pack (EMRATS) is supported by a great dealer, Erico Motorsports. The group meets once a month at a great little restaurant/bar (Interstate Bar and Grill) and has had a good turnout every time I've been able to go. The group holds monthly rides and has a whole calendar of events including a handful of overnights and it's showcase Triumphs in Taos event.

In addition to the great support from Erico, our regional ToA rep rode down to Taos, brought great swag, hung out with everybody and answered a thousand questions about the new twins.

I have only ridden with the group on the Taos trip but the monthly meetings give me one more chance to ride and that's always a good thing.
 
#18 ·
We have a pretty active RAT Pack in Baltimore, and we are sponsored by a multi-brand dealer, Pete's Cycle. During the season, we have 2 or 3 rides a month. And even during the cold months, we get together for family lunches and other non-riding activities.

The owner of the dealership, John, supports us well. His involvement is a hold-over from when RATs were factory supported. Here are some of the nice things we get from the relationship.

1. We hold our monthly meetings at the dealership, which John often comes to.
2. Everyone who purchases a Triumph, gets our pamphlet.
3. During the annual bike show, our RAT Pack gets a table in the Triumph Exhibit and we feature a member's bike for display. It's a great opportunity to recruit/activate new members. In turn, we also talk to a lot of prospective buyers about Triumphs (no surprise that we often know much more than the sales folks).
4. RAT Pack members get a discount on parts and accessories.
5. Our charity rides get email blasted to their mailing list.
6. Sometimes the staff who get trained or briefed by Triumph will give us a little update on new models.
 
#19 · (Edited)
I ran the Gold Coast RAT pack for 10 years, right up until I left the Triumph Dealership in June last year. We were a very active pack and used to ride once a month without fail and have done overnighters etc.

What I learned, is that Triumph are NEVER going to be able to do the HOG thing, because of the diversity of the models. Harleys are all similar as are the people that ride them. Having a meet up or a group ride works very well, everyone has so much in common. It IS like being part of a big family.

If you ride a Triumph America, then you don`t really have a lot in common with a guy that buys a Triumph Adventure bike, or Sports bike. When you go for a ride, you don`t want someone on a Speed Triple steaming past you on the back wheel. Likewise, if you own a Daytona 675, riding at a cruiser pace is also no fun. They are different people, with not much in common, they even dress differently so it`s hard forming any sort of a cohesive group.

The big four have the same issue, with their diverse model range. A guy on a Honda dirt bike has no desire to ride with, talk to or hang out with a Goldwing owner, just because the badge on the tank of their bikes is the same.

So, RAT is never going to be HOG. Not even close. The people at Triumph are, despite what you might read on this forum, much smarter than you and I and they have realized that RAT has limited value to them as a brand. Some value, yes but not worth throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars at.
 
#23 · (Edited)
So, RAT is never going to be HOG. Not even close. The people at Triumph are, despite what you might read on this forum, much smarter than you and I and they have realized that RAT has limited value to them as a brand. Some value, yes but not worth throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars at.
Unlike HOG, Triumph is a niche builder. Everything they build is enough different that folks bitch because their bike isn't as good or just like the other brand. Ever Triumph rider is different just as you say. Not at all like HD lemmings. Yep, Triumph makes a dozen different type bikes for a dozen different type riders and yet they are all Triumph.

It is not the life style of a HOG gathering that made the original RAT organization enjoyable, fun, enlightening. Our bikes had soul, we're different and at 50k bikes a year we were/are rare. The RAT Torque mag covered world wide, every model, welcomed all. Events were just as different as bike models. Thunderbirds rode together, Daytona Yada yada.

The marketing aspect is worth more than what was spent. Dozens of Triumph's ended up being sold just to friends of attendees after they saw models that fit there friends style at a RAT raid.

Closest I can come is Subaru family. Different models but all Subaru. Very close group and loyal.

In America we have several gatherings a year mostly self supported by Triumph owners/dealers. Every model, every type rider shows up. As was pointed out about TNT, growing every year, not for every one but a camaraderie of uniqueness. Triumph could again exploit that for a small amount compared to on ad in Cycle World.

Torque mag covered rides, tours, sites world wide visited by Triumph riders. As with 99% of my motor mags it could be online, two year subcription tied to warranty. Unique, different.

Of the Hondas, Yamas, Kwaks, Suzuki I have owned no dealer or company ever followed up. My Ducati dealer keeps in touch constantly but never Ducati. Triumph asked my opinion, built bikes so unlike others I have bought many many over years just as some others here have.

Never suggested assless chaps lifestyle organization, just factory involvement in after sale bike ownership.
 
#22 ·
I'm just waiting for someone to 'fess up and recognize themselves in that picture.

If that doesn't happen, then I guess that validates HAP's position.
 
#24 · (Edited)
We do the Bennington Bash every year and I have heard a few people say they heard it was cliquish. This always blows my mind. If you can't make a few new friends at the Bash you are either a Hermit or need to work on your social skills.


I have always found groups of Triumph riders to be awesome. Usually an eclectic group of very interesting people.


I can imagine the conversation at a Harley event.


Should I get a black doo rag or a red doo rag?


Do they make that in chrome?


When does the weenie biting contest begin?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sean Patrick
#26 · (Edited)
If you ever want an indicator of what Triumph owners want by way of a social network, take a look at this board, Biker Hang Out, or even at a lot of the one model boards on here, like the Tiger board.

When I joined this forum in 2005, it was incredibly busy. If you posted in a thread at the top of page one, an hour later the thread was on page two, the next day on page four. During a Northern Hemisphere evening there were regularly 300+ members active on the board at any given moment. As I type this there are 24 members.

Yet there are so many more Triumphs on the road now, compared to 11 years ago. You would think that the traffic here would have gone up, wouldn`t you? No, it is quite the opposite it is because people prefer the one model forums. They don`t want, or need a board on the parent brand forum, they want their own. They want to hang out and interact with people that they have MORE in common with, than just the brand. The saying is "Birds of a feather flock together," not "birds of a genus or species flock together." Triumph Torque (formerly T595.net) has had the same issue. Admittedly I haven`t been there for ages but last time I logged on it was like a Ghost town.

Like so many other Triumph owners, my love of the brand is eclipsed by my love of the model I ride. so I spend very little time here these days. When I had my Tiger 800, I was very active on the Tiger 800 forum, the same now with my Explorer. Most owners are the same, you can`t argue with the numbers.
 
#27 ·
That's a good point, Welshie. I've been here a touch over eight years and I've mainly stuck to BHO, Twins and the Premium Lounge. Even when I had my Sprint I didn't go to that part of the forum.
 
#28 ·
Hap, LoVel, leftarmlogan, welshrob, steventhechef
Miss the olden days. I lurk rarely, post almost never- a far cry from times gone by when I clanked the keyboard ad nauseum with relish and spicy mustard, at times.
Time flies, and so does the Great Pumpkin.
Cheers
 
#30 ·
Hi Scott, good to see you are still around!

Albeit in a "One Night Only Guest Appearance." :grin2:

Yes, it used to be tremendous fun on here. There was a time when I couldn`t think of a more fun place to spend an evening than Biker Hang Out.

However, time flew and now it`s crap. I`ve seen Facebook groups dedicated to enthusiasts of Rexel Staplers that have more going on than this place.
 
#29 ·
We still have a RAT group, with our own forum, NJRATS, and decent support from our dealer, Xtreme Machines. It's a small group, and now most of the members own multiple bikes, many non- Triumph. But still chugging along, and still supporting the brand.

As for trat.net, the decay is in line with most forums in the era of social media. Facebook and the like have creamed forums and taken a lot of the traffic and attention away. Our FB page is far more active than our forum now. Things change.


Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App
 
#32 · (Edited)
Some will say the moderation here was too oppressive, which I would agree with, even when I was a moderator.

It is akin to a teacher who wants an easy life, achieving discipline by expelling 50% of the kids and telling the rest to go home if they didn`t like it. So now the classroom is quiet and orderly because there are hardly any kids left. A win for the teacher but a massive fail for the school. Moderation for the sake of moderation and none of them could see the big picture, which should have been making the forum successful and a place that people wanted to hang out in and participate in..
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top