Triumph Rat Motorcycle Forums banner

"Triumph's Biggest Event of the Year" ???

3K views 34 replies 15 participants last post by  retrobiker 
#1 ·
I just received an E-mail from Triumph with the heading "Triumph's Biggest Event of the Year" on it, and mentioning the Mid-Ohio VINTAGE Motorcycle Days festival coming up.

WHAT A SLAP IN THE FACE.

Hinkley/Bloor have distanced themselves so far from the original Triumph, except to make a buck on the Classics lineup, and most modern Hinkley dealers won't TOUCH a Meriden-built Triumph in thier shops.

Am I the only one that thinks this marketing is stinky in the extreme?
 
#2 ·
Am I the only one that thinks this marketing is stinky in the extreme?
It's my understanding that most Harley-Davidson dealers won't service the older model Harley-Davidsons, and some have a 10-year cut-off date. That doesn't stop their marketing hype nor their multi-million dollar HD museum which will have an extensive collection of antique, vintage, and classic HDs from the past.

So, no, I don't think their marketing stinks. YMMV.
 
#3 ·
it just depends on the dealer, Baxter for example deals with both new and old but not jap bikes. I for one think the mid ohio show is a nice gesture by Bloor and co. can you imagine the stink if mid ohio honored Triumph and Bloor and co. didn't show?
btw: good luck racing Paul.
 
#4 ·
I guess what I'm saying is that Triumph should be going in the OTHER direction, trying to re-capture the connections to thier VERY successful past.

Modifying the logo to re-connect to the crossbar on the "H" was the tiniest of steps. The entire "63" line of accessories (not bike accessories, really, just clothing & knick-knacks) is not a suitable step in my opinion.

C'Mon, Triumph, get with it and get all the old guys back, they still have money!
 
#8 ·
The Meriden triumphs had a glorious past but things ended pretty badly.It was probably why Bloor chose to distance his new company from Meriden,at least in the beginning. The Hinckley bikes have established themselves as great bikes in their own right.Hopefully the two worlds will compliment each other,one arousing interest in the other.
Owning what I consider great bikes from both the past and present I hope the company gives more credit to it's past,and not just capitalize on it.
 
#10 ·
The Past is the past and the present is NOW and the twane shall never meet! I own one of each and the old ones were truly junk and the new ones are "state of the art". I appreciate them both for what they are. And YES, this is Triumphs biggest event of the year! I'm glad they're back up and running. The name lives on and THAT's what's important!
 
#11 ·
sad to hear you can't make mid ohio paul. you should come up to davenport for the labor day weekend races/swapmeet. if you've never seen it all I can say is you're missing out. its quite the event. plus the springfield mile is the next day and just a short drive.
 
#12 ·
Maybe what I should have said is, Triumph could have advertised using some other, more relative catch phrase. Something like "Triumph Honors it's Past".

LJ: I'll be headed to Miller at bonneville, and Sandia at Albuquerque in Sept., so no can do.
Have you ever seen the movie "Mr. Lucky"? hee hee "LJ, you're fired!"
 
#13 ·
Tri-Al, you should qualify your statement regarding 'Triumphs biggest event of the year' and add to that.......... IN AMERICA. You seem to have forgotten that this forum goes WORLD WIDE and believe you me, this is only the start of the CELEBRATIONS. See the sticky at the forum page for the event here in ENGLAND. Be really neat if you guys could make it over with the other 10,000 visitors we are expecting.

Wait until after the 23rd July to see the FACTORY 50th Anniversary limited edition Bonneville................................................ For 'Tangerine Dream' owners, this is gonna be a MUST HAVE!

Roy.
 
#15 ·
Hey Roy

Does this mean get another one or a new one while they are fresh? Hee hee. Before the value goes through the roof.

Hey Roy this forum has got so big, it's difficult to keep track, please keep us up-dated.

Thanks

BB
 
#17 ·
The thought has crossed my mind for a new one, believe you me. I am trying to another out of SA but the owner is slow to react.

Yeah I will keep an eye out on the site.

Is this easily accessible? {September CBG and also Nacelle magazine (TOMCC)}.

Oh Classic Bike Guide , no sure if it’s available here, will check.

Thanks

BB
 
#18 · (Edited)
There is this statement that goes something like this. "Each of us scratches out a future, from the things that are our past..."

Surely Mr. Bloore the businessman had some unspoken emotions within his decision to purchase the rights to the Triumph marquee. And when I ride my 2004 Triumph, it still has that core feel of my old Triumphs in the day, though it is an all-new motorcycle. It is different, but still the same.

The word junk, as put to different eras of older Triumphs from Meriden, or BSA OIFs, and others, as when compared to the status of the latest new and better use of modern technology, is surely subjective to those eras. I don't think BSA set out to make OIF Triumphs bad machines. But surely the Metric Makers wanted to make the Triumphs their own, less expensively to the world. And there are those of us who would argue on Triumph pre-unit, or 1970 below models, versus '71 OIF and above, including the new Triumphs of today’s era. Which is the premo bike - the hardened '69 or the tweaked 1970...? Obviously it's the '69. And Triumphs trademark the Tripple - who of you would deny ever replacing the middle spark plug and carrying some along just in case? Liars.

But Mr. Bloor, whatever his emotions were too, in making a business decision to do Triumph again, without bottomless pockets, has to make business decisions, and make money, or there will be no motorcycles, nor service, parts, or accessories, or help to support the bikes, and it isn't free. What was, was. What is, is. And it is what it will be. I know I don't send Triumph donations for nothing "to keep up the good work." Despite potential legal liability entanglements from the old Triumph, to the new company, marketing without a tangible return, is a tough expensive thing to do. Especially when a Triumph already has a known name in motorcycles, even if people out there say when they see one, "I didn't know they still made motorcycles." But would it be great if Triumph was on top and number one, a household name for motorcycles, like Band Aid, or Kleeeenex, or Harrleey. People would say and think "Triumph" for the word "motorcycle," instead of "Harley." I wonder how Davidson feels? If this were the case, we'd probably all be mocking Triumph and wanting to ride a Harley... Very funny.

Paul has a deep core love for old Triumphs. [Even bent for foot rests (inside joke).] Paul loves the heart and sole of the old machine. The same beat that's still in the engine of the new era beast is in the new. But the new era, it is not the same beast, is it? Let alone the what EFI it's about to become, when it divides the old modern 21st century carb Bonnie bikes, from new EFIs - the new junk. But, "Go your own way..." There's a meaning in that a slogan I can live without.

But surely I say, yes my old '69 is a money pit. And it was a glorious machine in its day, and may I do it justice in its refurbing. But have you taken your new Bonnie the dealer lately, and looked at the bill for it afterwards? And where the ell is the kick-starter. But I'm glad to put one finger on that button, almost every time instead.

Glory and joy to Triumph!!! The old ones, the new ones, and the ones yet thought about!

Glory to Paul for his loyalty, and love of old Triumphs. Glory be to John Bloor, and my dealer, for having an 'o4 T100 that I could buy and live life to a more fullest.

Slap'em all in the face, and celebrate them all !
 
#19 ·
Let's not forget that Bloor was at least partially responsible for keeping the original Bonneville alive for about five years after Meriden closed it's doors. He allowed Harris to continue building the 750 Bonnie while Bloor was working on the Hinckley layout. It's a pity Harris couldn't get them imported into the USA. Let's face it, Bloor is a businessman, if the Bonnie had been selling well it would have continued it in that form or updating it as they went along.

I don't think that it's a slap in the face for the to be sponsoring the Mid USA Vintage days, most people have the two versions of the company well separated in their minds, without them this forum probably wouldn't be here.

I still can't bring myself to buy a new Bonneville, I test rode a 2000 model for a few weeks and it bored me silly (except when it burned a hole in the exhaust valve and stranded me 250 miles from home). I test rode a Thruxton and the engine was much improved, the riding position was not for me. I picked up a 98 Thunderbird Sport for a decent price, and that bike has WAY more of the 'feel' that I always liked about the 'real' Triumphs, the power to weight "YAHOO" factor.
 
#23 ·
Like I keep saying, using a slogan like "Triumph Honors it's past" instead of "Triumph's biggest event of the year" would have been far more fitting, appropriate, TRUTHFUL...
Afterall, perhaps so, since it is Vintage Motorcycle Days, Paul is right. What's so vintage about my current John Bloor 2004 T100 Triumph or the Made in Thiland ones - other then retro, which is a contridiction in itself, eh?
 
#21 ·
Good reading there, Packy! Not bad either, Emanthehorse. Good topic. Shows we're all VERY EMOTIONAL about our bikes...generally we like them! Interesting ! I'm just glad the name lives on, which helps keep the OLD ones in mind! Very interesting history behind that name!
 
#22 ·
Talking of dealerships...:arghh:

I certainly hope Triumph improve their dealerships, i'm not a wealthy man, i've loved the old British/American/ Italian motorcycles since i was a kid and ridden British and Jap bikes since i was 16.

I thought my type of bikes were long gone but when i saw the Thunderbird at the Birmingham bike show in about '96 i knew i had to have it.

So, after taking up a second job, quitting smoking and drinking for over 6 months, i'd saved enough for a deposit for Hire Purchase for a new '98 TB.

Thats the first time i've ever bought new and last time, i expected the red carpet treatment, if i'd known what was to come i'd have walked, no...RUN away.

I'll cut a long story short, the dealer was Bill Heads of Preston(now closed), it had a good reputation, built by Bill himself, who had retired and handed over to his daughter who didnt know how to run a bike shop, the staff had been there for 20+ years.

I'll cut it even shorter...lets just say i was so relieved when the 2 year warranty was up, they ballsed it up every service,the only thing to look forward to was the courtesy bike(different model each cockup), i went through the entire range.

A letter of complaint to Triumph and phone calls returned nothing, but i remember the fellow on the phone saying..."we would like to uphold and maintain the good name of Triumph and recommend "this other dealer" in your area", who was just as useless.:gooff:

And i wish i'd bought second hand.

The staff left one by one, infact 5 left in one week and the mechanics that replaced them were hopeless. The shop closed a few years later.

Bike shops in this area now are little more than fashion boutiques run by havent-got-a-clue-wideboys, long gone are the "come in an 'ave a cup of tea and a natter mate" type shops.

Still got the TB and my old Bonnie and BSA though and lovin' 'em.:elated:
 
#24 ·
Maybe I'm missing something...

Why doesn't Triumph sponser regional (Say one in Colorado, one in Kansas, and one in Virginia (West, Central, East) gatherings for the "new" Triumph owners and bikes?
They could "also" invite older Meriden Triumph bikes, instead of the other way round.

By now, aren't there more "new" Triumphs on the road and active, than Meriden models?

Lastly, is it sad that the "Biggest" event of the year for the new, improved, state of the art, bike of the year Triumph, is to go look at old bikes...
 
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