Reality is perception, or, the reality of a situation with a company is the way it is perceived by its customers.
There are a number of things that affect a bike's sales numbers. Lack of accessories was a real issue for me. Triumph knows bikes are in good part about their specs & features, about their capabilities, but also about accessories & customizing. They made a big deal about how there were "hundreds" of accessories - until they discontinued them all, that is. Aftermarkets go where the numbers are - money and quantities. Only those with a love of the product will invest themselves & their time & money into a bike, unless there is a large enough following to make it profitable in a big way.
It was an uphill battle against the gorilla in the room (HD), with Triumph getting into big cruisers. The largely American market for cruisers meant taking on the establishment. If another American company (Victory) had issues in the beginning, OF COURSE Triumph was going to struggle. It needed to be a ten year commitment in time, design, accessories (until the sales numbers came up enough for the Aftermarket to see it through). The first year, maybe two, would be exciting - the new kid on the block - but it was destined to drop off. They needed to have Revision 2 (not just 100cc bump & a color change) ready in year 3, maybe year 4 at the latest, roll out the touring frames as they did with Revision 3 at year 6 (but the lost Rev2 gave up the new kid momentum & spotlight long enough that the LT / Commander was lost in the shuffle).
Clutch cable snaps on an international trip with me as the road captain, within the warranty period. Cheap part. Opportunity to foster big goodwill - overnight it, have the local dealer make a spot to install it ASAP. Better - overnight it to my hotel so I can install it myself. Nope, has to go to a dealer, who's a 200 mile tow away. DAYS lost, others thrown into disarray because the guy who planned the trip is sidelined & had to hand the maps down the food chain while I wait for international shipping, customs, and the uppity dealer to be darned good & ready to help.
But later, out of warranty, they'll replace a hugely expensive gas tank for nothing. *shakes head*
They needed to have a buyback / loyalty trade in program - buy Rev 2, get 75% trade value - etc. to enhance longer term brand loyalty, get the cycle turning over. From a dealer perspective, they just can't try to dictate what a dealer should have on the floor, how many bikes they should have in inventory, or to be able to assess dealers' finances. Poor business practices. If a blue Bird sits on the floor at a certain for two years, you can't expect to ram another blue Bird down the dealer's throat to "maintain inventory" - you go with what's selling, mix it up. And if a dealer isn't moving cruisers but is moving Bonnies... well, you sell Bonnies!
I bought the Bird as "not-HD", like buying my old 911 was "not-corvette". Something you didn't see 10 of every day.
I sold my old 911 5 years & 50k miles later for EXACTLY what I bought it for. Not counting the extras, maintenance, tires, paint matched hard bags & top box, I'll be lucky to get 50% of my initial (discounted, leftover new) purchase price back.
I'll always have great memories of my Triumphs - as so many people who "had one in the 70's" have told me at fill ups. But, for me, this has been a learning experience in what I do, and don't want from a bike - and from its manufacturer.