Will Triumph become a major brand?

I spoke with a Triumph rep. at my shop in CO. He stated that Triumph had set a goal of putting one of the big three Japanese companies out of business. My first question is- What would it take? The second question is- Can Triumph do it? :???:

[TechmanBD]

I don't think they can put any of the 3 Jap bike companies out of business. I would like to see them around for a long time, but kind of like not having them as a major brand. I like the fact of having a distinctive bike IMO.

[DragonDan]

I agree. The idea of not having a Honyamakawasuzi was a big selling point for me. I have owned my share of "rice burners" but this bike does it for me.

It would be IMO foolhardy to try to beat the "big 3" at their own game. Triumph does not have the capitol to play on that level.

Throughout history, isn't it the little guy that has to be creative and imaginative to stay competitive in a fairly closed market?

Keep doing what you're doing, Triumph.

[idahotb]

It doesn't sound too likely to me, unless they also start producing generators, jet skis, pianos (see Robert's Yamaha), etc, etc. It also doesn't sound like a very good idea to try. They have made their (Hinckley) mark by having a relative small line of well engineered bikes that look good. If they are going to outsell HYK they will have to produced a V-twin cruiser to capture a little more of the US market. That would make me loose my lunch and also my appetite for Triumph.

[SprintST]

I think the sales rep is being a sales rep and pumping up the company image.

"Big 3"? I thought there were 4 Japanese manufacturers? And all of them have huge non-motorcycle industries, so I doubt very highly that little Triumph is going to put any of them out of business.

Realisticly if they could land enough market share to be become a 5th, or is that 6th, big player in the industry, I'd be happy. Triumph and KTM are both making very threatening moves in the overall motorcycle market. And with BMWs attempt at reimaging they could also be in a good position to make inroads.

[stevecro]

I think the 3 are Honda, Yamaha and Kawa-zuki since these two are more and more co-operating in developmental work.
eg. the latest Kawasaki Mean Streak and the Suzuki Marauder are one and the same with some visual styling cues to differentiate them.
But no, Triumph will be a major "little" brand as with all the Euro makes. There's nothing wrong with notion of "boutique"

[triumphite]

RACE!!!!

Triumph is absolutly nothing until they actually race.

Agaist the big FOUR, that is.




:lalala:

[TechmanBD]

It is 3 big companies now. Suzuki bought Kawi

[1100x]

Given the way Triumph has been run to date I doubt seriously that they would have an objective of putting anybody out of business. I think that they are concerned about their business and their customers and will let events take their course. I think that they are doing quite well at running their own company and do not have time to worry about what effect this may have on any given competitor.

[katrider]

I don't see it either, mainly because Triumph doesn't have a presence in the dirt/motocross arena. Man, a lot of the Japanese sales are in off road bikes, I mean a ton! I'd say that any of the three (four?) sell more dirt bikes than Triumph does street bikes...