Triumphrat

Brooksie · 01-02-2010, 11:33 AM

I would love to see Triumph put some balls into the retro line and use the Daytona 675/Street R as the platform for a Trident based modern cafe bike. While the Street is a modern take on a cafe, it is more the streetfighter than a retro. Make it look like a Thruxton and run like a 675 and I would think every one of them made would sell before delivery. Thoughts?

davidc · 01-02-2010, 12:07 PM

No thoughts, but a question: what exactly is meant by a "street fighter"?

Coroja · 01-02-2010, 12:32 PM

A streetfighter is essentially a sportbike with the fairings removed. They started out as "customs" in England, when people wrecked their sportbikes and couldn't afford to replace the plastics. So the Street Triple is a "naked" Daytona 675.

As for a retro-cafe 675, I think it is a good idea in general (after all, I'm working on a Daytona-frame 1050 retro-cafe project), but I'm not sure about a 600-class engine. People buying 600's are generally smaller, younger, and more focused on competing with their friends. I think a retro-cafe appeals primarily to us older folks, similar to the Bonnie market. It might not be a bad idea for a model variant if/when a new, large-displacement Daytona appears.

Brooksie · 01-02-2010, 01:18 PM

To me, a 650/675 size bike is more of a retro size engine than anything over 750cc. My 72 Triumph was a 650 and ran like a rocket. It was much lighter than the current generation. I think a retro Triumph with 108hp at the rear wheel would be a great addition and put some performance into the classics line up. Come on, if it looked like the Nortons and outperformed them, with modern suspension and brakes. Admit it, you'd have one.
http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/bik...0Cafe%20Racer/
Face it, motorcycles are barely surviving sales wise and all brands are dealing with niche customers willing to pay 10k + for a decent bike. Triumph has a great package developed already. Even a cafe'd Speed 3 may work. I just like the easier insurance of 675's and believe me, they run like crazy.

weelarry · 01-03-2010, 05:51 AM

A few years ago I saw a beautiful Street Triple based cafe racer by a company called LSL. Not a retro as such, more a modern interpretation with clip-ons, single headlight and really nice components (it looked a bit like a mark one Speed Triple.

I always said I would make my bike like that if I got a Street Triple and I really hope that Triumph would do something like that. But I doubt that there is a big market for a retro 675. I don't think Triumph sell many Thruxtons as it is, so I doubt they could justify reengineering a new chassis for a niche model, when they seem to be moving more and more mainstream anyway.

I suppose the furthest they would ever go would be to use the existing Street Triple engine and frame, stick on some clip ons and single headlight, make a new exhaust and restyle it slightly. I'd prefer that to a standard Street, but I think they are making as many as they can sell anyway, so won't hold my breath.

Brooksie · 01-03-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weelarry

A few years ago I saw a beautiful Street Triple based cafe racer by a company called LSL. Not a retro as such, more a modern interpretation with clip-ons, single headlight and really nice components (it looked a bit like a mark one Speed Triple.

I always said I would make my bike like that if I got a Street Triple and I really hope that Triumph would do something like that. But I doubt that there is a big market for a retro 675. I don't think Triumph sell many Thruxtons as it is, so I doubt they could justify reengineering a new chassis for a niche model, when they seem to be moving more and more mainstream anyway.

I suppose the furthest they would ever go would be to use the existing Street Triple engine and frame, stick on some clip ons and single headlight, make a new exhaust and restyle it slightly. I'd prefer that to a standard Street, but I think they are making as many as they can sell anyway, so won't hold my breath.

http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/...l-ar82544.html
I think this may be the one you're talking about.I think a big 1050 would be ok, I'm just a bit bit bored with the over sized engine street fighter routine. I'd rather have a hot revving little bastard that'd do what a Daytona could do with the looks of the Thruxton or a Manx racer. I have a Ducati GT1000 and I can tell you the bike does out perform even a bored/cam Bonneville. The faired "S" version is glorious to ride and look at. Ducati has sold every one they made, even in black. Thruxtons may not sell as well because you're not really pumping out the performance, while the feel is right on. If Triumph would lean on that wonderful heritage and history a bit, a high performance retro would make more sense than the solid but slow bikes in the line up now. Don't get me wrong, I love the twin and I think the Bonnevilles are fantastic bikes. Triples do have a place in the retro line up.

weelarry · 01-03-2010, 05:51 PM

I did see the pictures of the bike you link to, however I prefer the elegant simplicity of this one...

Brooksie · 01-03-2010, 09:03 PM

Pretty cool bike. Slap on a half fairing and some spoke wheels and we're startin' to rock it!