Triumphrat

eurobikesean · 10-01-2007

I'm one of many people who goes to the Motorcycle Shows every year because it gives me an opportunity to sit on and look at the bikes with no sales pressure. The are no sales people "humping my leg" trying to get me to but the bike today. The shows also give me a chance to compare brands side by side (i.e.: Triumph vs. BMW) that I would not see in the same showroom and would have to drive miles to compare without the shows. I also like to catch up on all the latest gear.

The essence of marketing is competition. The Motorcycle Shows provide a great opportunity of all the major motorcycle brands to compete on the same (not so level) playing field. I still think Triumph makes a great product, but they need to get out there and compete side by side with the other major brands. If Triumph chooses not to compete on the race track (with a factory sponsored effort) they should at least compete on the sales floor.

Diego · 10-01-2007

> If Triumph chooses not to compete on the race track (with a factory sponsored effort)...

Surprise! Guess what they did last week?

doglanta · 01-18-2008

This is a pretty old thread but I am going to reply to it anyway. This afternoon after work I am going to the IMS here in Atlanta and I am like most everyone on this website who is puzzled and disappointed in Triumph's decision to be a no-show. Up until a couple of years ago I have owned nothing but Jap bikes having never even considered purchasing a Triumph. I bought my first bike in 1975. This all changed three IMS’s ago when Triumph had a nice display at the show. I was in the market for a new bike and I took advantage of seeing all of the models in one place being able to compare instantly bike-to-bike.

Again I have never thought about purchasing a Triumph but at that show I found myself going back to that Rocket III display again and again. It was on an elevated display that rotated. The spot lights made the bike glow. It was a fantastic display and selling tool. Sometimes it was hard to get close to look at it because there were so many people trying to look at it. I was hooked. The next day I gave a dealer a thousand dollars to reserve one for me when they became available nine months later. I was not alone either as the dealers I talked to all said that after the show they received many deposits on the Rocket III and other Triumph models.

My point is that without Triumph being at that show I would never have purchased a Triumph. Plus, if Triumph were not at that show the chances are great that I would not also be waiting for my new Street Triple to hit my dealership. Without a presence at the show a couple of years ago Triumph would have never sold me two new motorcycles and a lot of apparel and accessories. I guarantee you that I am not an isolated case as far as this goes. They may not literally sell bikes at the show but I guarantee that the buying decision is made for many, many bikes of all makes and models at the show.

I saw one comment in this thread I need to reply to. It was written here that Triumph is a European company and not an American company. I disagree. Triumph is a global company who just seems to care more about their European market. I believe it is a true statement that companies that are not growing are in fact losing ground. I think this is why so many people see the decision to not represent at the show the past couple of years troubling. It is also true that Triumph can do whatever they want to do with their company and the consumer can weigh the pro’s and con’s of purchasing a Triumph and then act as they see fit. I think it just bothers a lot of people who like the Triumph brand and would like to be enthusiastic Triumph loyalists see the company follow such questionable business tactics,

I have had the opportunity to talk to the marketing person from Triumph in Newnan at a Rat meeting. He seemed very passionate about his job (which was a great sign) but he also seemed very busy to the point of maybe being overwhelmed. I have nothing good or bad to say about Triumph Customer Service as I have never needed any help from them.

I have been very happy with my Rocket III. I honestly believe this is the first bike that I will never consider replacing. My happiness with this bike is the biggest reason I have a deposit down on a Street Triple without having seen one in person. But I still can’t say I am a Triumph exclusive purchaser and a lot of this has to do with I am not completely sure Triumph is serious about being successful anywhere but Europe. What this means is that if I see something at the IMS this afternoon that really grabs me like the Rocket III did at the show a few years ago I very well may cancel my Street Triple order and buy it. Would the opportunity to see the Triple on display and get the warm fuzzies by sitting on it lesson my chances of changing my mind about buying the Triumph instead of something else? Without a doubt, yes.

As I mentioned earlier I am eagerly looking forward to the Atlanta IMS that opens today.
Ken

Diego · 01-18-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by doglanta

This is a pretty old thread...

Exceedingly.

And with Triumph selling all the units they can make at this point, and the American market being at about the percentage of sales they've targeted for it, they apparently still see no compelling reason to waste time and money on a traveling medicine show.

If we had one or two really serious manufacturer-oriented expositions in this country, it might be a different story.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

doglanta · 01-18-2008

Hmmm, waste of time? It is only a waste of time if they do not want to grow in both sales and service in this market. And if that is really the case then maybe it is the consumer who is wasting time with Triumph as support for the product will never be as good as it should be. Without this "waste" of time I would have never purchased two Triumph bikes with an order for my third. I think the packed convention centers all over the country over a three day show period count for more than a traveling medicine show label. It's a great place to see bikes from "almost every manufacturer". And it's a wonderful tool for anyone considering a motorcycle purchase in the near future. I think if the major motorcycle manufacturers also consdidered this a waste of time they would also be no-shows, but they are there so that the public can see their products. There are a ton of buying decisions made at this show. But I guess we can agree to disagree about intelligent marketing strategies. Who knows, maybe Triumph's sales plan of requiring the buyers to seek them out instead of bringing the product to the consumer will work for them in the long run. Wow, if this works imagine how expensive it will be to re-write all of those Business textbooks we studied in school? I hope Bloor has taken that into consideration....
Ken

HospiceRN · 01-18-2008

North Georgia Triumph will be present at the Atlanta show, per their sales staff.

Diego · 01-18-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by doglanta

I hope Bloor has taken that into consideration...

You can bet on it.

If they intended to grow any faster, it would be another story. But for now, if you can't manufacture any more than you're already selling, it's better to spend the money on more pressing needs, like building a solid dealer network...dealers like North Georgia Triumph, who are willing to go the extra mile for brand exposure and their own sales figures. Hats off to them.

It's the dealers you buy from anyway, not some doofus hired by the factory to stand in at a trade show.

HospiceRN · 01-18-2008

I must be North Georgia Triumph's biggest fan. They helped me sell my Bonnie in record time with little pain, went the extra mile in helping get financing for my Tiger and remember my name when I drop by. They go the extra mile for their customers and make life easy for us. I look forward to seeing them tomorrow at the Cycle World show in Atlanta.

doglanta · 01-18-2008

**It's the dealers you buy from anyway, not some doofus hired by the factory to stand in at a trade show.**

Actually the doofus (as you call them) you see at the show is the same doofus you will see in the dealership as the displays are manned by local dealership salespeople.

I just got back from the show. I saw a lot of good looking bikes but what I really got out of it is confirmation that the Street Triple is my best choice. There was a Ducati Monster that I also liked a lot. Now if N. Georgia Triumph had not stepped up and not been there and I was not already familiar with Triumph, come next week I would most likely be a Ducati owner. A professional display on a manufacturer level would have gone a long way in opening the eyes of potential bike owners who before may not have considered a Triumph.

We all have our own opinion on Triumph's strategy. But I cannot tell you how many times other bikers have come over to look at my Rocket III to see what it was and after I tell them it was a Triumph they responded with something like "really, I did not know Triumph still made motorcycles?". I have to believe that even Triumph would not want to hear a statement like that.

Quick fact: After my Street Triple arrives soon I figure that in the last three years I will have given Triumph around $46,000 of my hard earned money on three Triumph motorcycles and loads of Triumph accessories. That number would have been zero had I not seen the Rocket III on display at the show three years ago. I have made an investment with Triumph, but idealy I would like to see them show the American Triumph consumer a bit more love. I m not a Triumph hater, if I were I would not care and would not take the time to express my opinons here and for sure I would not continue to buy their products.

Subject is closed as far as I am concerned. I hope everyone has a good weekend and that plenty of good riding weather will be with us soon.
Ken

Diego · 01-18-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by doglanta

I cannot tell you how many times other bikers have come over to look at my Rocket III to see what it was and after I tell them it was a Triumph they responded with something like "really, I did not know Triumph still made motorcycles?". I have to believe that even Triumph would not want to hear a statement like that.

.
You'd better believe they have heard such statements. Just like the rest of us.

In fact, in a good many locales, those of us who know about the continued existence of Triumph are a tiny minority. Clearly, all those bikers aren't depending on this show for their motorcycle information needs!

Remember, Triumph was in the show for roughly the first decade of their return to the States. With Triumph still hearing such reactions after all that time and money, don't you reckon that played a role in their decision not to participate now?