Triumphrat

Shakey · 08-03-2007

Ummmm... let me see, Triumph gets bought out by an Indian company. The new owners move the facilities to India due to cheap labor and presto, an upscale Royal Enfield. No further R&D, no new models for decades and substandard materials, but hey... they'd be less expensive. I can't imagine Bloor selling out, but then stranger things have happened.

AAAANDYK · 08-03-2007

Reality check...EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE...IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT. I would not even consider purchasing a bike built in India....Period

raproe · 08-03-2007

If Bajaj can't "take over" Triumph, I would be happy for them to "take over" my company.

Rich

ikonoklass · 08-03-2007

It would be ruinous for the brand, just like being owned by a Chinese company will forever compromise the Benelli marque.

Old Greaser · 08-03-2007

Sad news - if true. Curry flavoured Bonnies?

Puke!!

But .... Royal Enfield lives on, though part of the old empire (retaining it's Royal status).

Don't see it happening - but trying to be vegetarian and worship many elephant Gods to keep in favour just in case. Worked in India - so don't expect to see any spare parts soon (unless pre-1947).

papydawg · 08-04-2007

maybe Raj is just trying to curry favor with its customers...

ducking
pd

sbljr · 08-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwrmedic1

I Love my Triumph and this is the third one I have owned but if this happens I guess I will go to Buell or Ducati because if I wanted what everyone else had I would have bought Japanese.

If you want what everybody else has you buy a Harley...which is what a Buell is. Not knocking Buells--I own one. But if "not what everybody else has" means Triumph must remain a small standalone company, rather than part of a huge corporation, then I don't see how a Buell would be an alternative.

IF Triumph were bought out by a big company, but still had autonomy, it would be much like Buell. Except for possibly the B-last, I think Erik Buell has been building the bikes HE thinks he should build. He's not just a puppet for MoCo marketing suits or by now Buells would just be re-packaged VRSC's with sportbike bodywork. H-D has made Buell financially able to design bikes he probably could not have gotten the capital to develop on his own, so it hasn't been an all bad thing given he didn't have Bloor's resources.

As for Ducati, last I heard it was owned by a big Euro industrial conglomerate called Investindustrial Holdings, but there have been rumors of H-D buying it!

Shawn · 08-04-2007

The idea of H-D buying Ducati is a difficult concept, but maybe they want Ducati's engine.

I just can't imagine some of the Harley Bars I've visited in Texas having sultry Italian babes mixing in the Hog crowd wearing Ducati Pup T-Shirts and using the word "Mecchanica".

A few years ago, I rode a 750SS during the summer. It was rated at roughly 85 hp and torture on any straight road (which makes one grumpy during poker runs). However, once I would hit the hills the bike rode like it was on rails - bikes with greater power and better technology had trouble keeping up (which makes one forget why they were on a poker run in the first place).

Just my opinion ...

Doc_TG · 08-05-2007

Hello all,

I was going through some auto-bike news when during my search,i came up here.
Btw,I am an Indian.I am not a major automobile/bikes fan but i like to keep tab at Business.

Bajaj trying to take over Triumph must be a nightmare for many of you.Just like Tata and Mahindra are trying to take over Land Rover and Jaguar....all British cult brands.

The reason why Indian companies are trying to take these British companies are:
1.To be known in the auto industry as a serious player.
2.Indian born car and bike companies have quality problems...they are far better than Chinese companies,but nowhere near European Brands.
3.R&D(Engine Technology) and European Design skills.
4.These Indian brands plan to foray into European market(after they spruce up their products..mainly car brands) in the next 2-3 years..they want European market expertise,showrooms,service stations to support their vehicles.

If the British brands are ever sold,it would be along with a terms and conditions like the factory shall remain in production with atleast X% employees still employed,R&D shall be well supported etc.Maybe in future,more parts will be sourced from India fro Triumph bikes than Thailand...or Bajaj may buy the Thai OEM.

When i started reading this thread,i did expect some some curry tandoori jokes..but statements like "if the bike is assembled in India,i will leave the brand for another" seems racist to me.In today's world when most companies are going mulitnational,a product development may need the help of an expert in one field...nationality of the person is not a criteria for his employment.Can anyone be very sure that a British immigrant didn't work behind the making of a bike in Britain?

I would consider a Triumph bike,designed,developed,but made in Thailand and assembled in Britain 100% British.I think its the concept,designing and development of a product that makes it a product of the country...not the men who made or assembled it.

As for me,i buy a product just for the quality and value for money it offers me.I am very proud to be an Indian but i have not and will not buy a Indian born company's car or bike as it does not offer the quality of the Japanese cars(thats my standard).And i hope one day these Indian brands come up among the top quality brands in the world and garner respect from every nationals.

Goodbye all.

Old Greaser · 08-05-2007

Well, all very assuring but ...

I've worked in India, I've worked with Indians outside of India and their culture and work ethic are not western. NO RACISM INTENDED OR MEANT. I've seen them fail miserably because they don't understand what westerners want. I don't want to see Triumph fail.

Their understanding of customer and needs are very different to what you find on this and other forums.