Triumphrat

Thruxtonian · 09-23-2007, 11:36 AM

According to one report, Bajaj Auto of India is considering making an offer to buy Triumph. Apparently they lost in an attempt to purchase Ducati and are now looking at Triumph as a possibility. Who knows what that would mean, the end of Triumph as a brand, or shifting all development and manufacuring to India, or possibly just purchase of the company and everything else remains the same. It does worry me a bit, but remember, when Ford purchased Jaguar, they didn't start building xj's in Detroit (although more than enough Ford parts made their way into the Jags.

Full article here:

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Articl...ID=5318&Page=1

indy288 · 09-23-2007, 08:05 PM

well, let's hope it never happens... i love triumph..... i'm not dealing with india!!! very polite and friendly people. i wouldn't mind living next door to them, partying with or being friends with them. i have done business with them way too often..... i'd rather bite the head off of cobra.

Will · 09-23-2007, 08:06 PM

If Bajaj buys Triumph, it is because John Bloor wants to sell. Judging from his past behavior, I doubt he wants to, but you never know. If they buy it, it would surprise me a lot if they didn't try to expand its reach.

dfbike · 09-24-2007, 07:06 AM

Seems like there have been a couple of companies sniffing around Triumph. They are an attractive company that has come from producing about 2000 bikes in the first full year of operation to about 50,000 per year today and have a stated ambition of producing 80,000 units per year. So they must be turning over some 350 million UK pounds per year. They also have new models in development.

Would they sell just yet. In my opinion - like all businesses - definitely if the price is right. The problem for any business owner is to have an exit strategy. So which would pay the most - a trade sale or a stock market float? Its a money game.

For now I just enjoy riding my bike and am very happy for the Triumph story so far. I hope it continues as a development story.

Brooksie · 09-25-2007, 09:53 AM

Most companies will buy the brand, so the Triumph name will not go away. It really probably wouldn't really change much as the bikes are already outsourced and manufactured all over the world. The extra deep pockets could make things less expensive for buyers. A vast majority of bikes sold in the world are under 250cc. While here in the states that may not mean much, it carries a lot of weight on the rest of the planet. You will run the risk of "inferior" quality issues from the die hard pack, but so what. I just hope that bike sales for Triumph will continue to grow in a market that is growing ever softer for toys and expendable income so that we can still have the great variety of bikes to choose from. I a Bajaj buyout means I can get a Sprint ST made at the same factory as it is now for under $10k, I'm not opposed. Sorry about the spelling earlier.

SCbonneville · 09-26-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brooksie

Most companies will buy the brand, so the Triumph name will not go away. It really probably wouldn't really change much as the bikes are already outsourced and manufactured all over the world. The extra deep pockets could make things less expensive for buyers. A vast majority of bikes sold in the world are under 250cc. While here in the states that may not mean much, it carries a lot of weight on the reat of the planet. You will run the guanlet of "inferior" quality issues from the die hard pack. I just hope that bike sales for Triumph will continue to grow in a market that is growing ever softer for toys and expendable income so that we can still have the great variety of bikes to choose from. I a Bajaj buyout means I can get a Sprint ST made at the same factory as it is now for under $10k, I'm not opposed.

Brooksie... Why do you think the price of the bikes would decrease? Have the price of the twins decreased since production began in Thailand? Um... no they haven't...

I have been very vocal about "Thaiumphs" and we don't need to rehash any of that...

To me it would be disappointing if ownership of Triumph passed to a company that was outside of the UK... That's just the way I feel...

And it's not about "quality issues", which has never been an argument on the "Thaiumphs"... For me it's about the roots and soul of the company being British... Especially since I'm being sold a "British Icon"....

RT · 09-26-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCbonneville

To me it would be disappointing if ownership of Triumph passed to a company that was outside of the UK... That's just the way I feel...

And it's not about "quality issues", which has never been an argument on the "Thaiumphs"... For me it's about the roots and soul of the company being British... Especially since I'm being sold a "British Icon"....

+1 on that. Would just make me appreciate my made in England Bonnie and Tiger more. But would also mean I wouldn't buy another Triumph, but thats just me.

Diego · 09-26-2007, 05:03 PM

I don't know what the Nervous Nellies are worrying about. By my calculation, Triumph already died and went away some time late in 2004.

From the number of threads I've read since then, boldly declaring that Triumph are "shooting themselves in the foot" by not producing the particular model the poster wants to see, that they are "shooting themselves in the foot" with the new magazine, that they are "shooting themselves in the foot" by not attending magazine-sponsored sideshows, etc.--it appears Triumph must surely have bled to death around three years ago, and we've all been riding figments of our imagination since then!

Based on the sheer number of folks holding such views, it becomes clear that John Bloor is the dumbest person alive. He must have gone over to the dark side and is channeling Baron Saturday, the voodoo god of the undead, because the company keeps on going and going and going, despite so many righteous opinions to the contrary.

But seriously: To cynics who believe everything is for sale... no, not everything is. There are still some people who do things for reasons other than money. Believe it or not, there is still a little personal integrity left in the world. And even among those who value money highly, there are a few who make enough of it that they are no longer completely driven by lust for more.

Even things that might realistically be for sale someday aren't always on the market just because someone is ready to throw stupid amounts of money at the owner right now. When Mr Bloor tires of dealing with the challenges of a company like this, then someone might be able to make him an offer he can't refuse. Personally, I think he is running a grand experiment, proving a point by doing something a lot of experts figured was utterly impossible in modern-day England. Only he will be able to decide when he's made that point thoroughly enough; but as long as he's setting new goals and achieving them to his satisfaction, I don't see that happening soon. I mean, what else is he going to fill his time with that is so gratifying as working miracles the way he's doing now?

Brooksie · 09-26-2007, 09:59 PM

Must be an octopus? I think if a buyout happened and we were able to see good small bikes in the 250 to 650 cc range, it might be pretty cool. I remember when a big bike was a 305. I don't think a change would really effect much, again, as those changes in where the bikes are made and assembled are already done. Look at the Street Triple. Made all over the world and assembled in England and alll indications are its a great bike. 105hp for under 8 grand,that is how bikes get less expensive. Try buying a Ford or Chevy with all US parts in it.

Stiles · 09-29-2007, 12:59 AM

I'd be willing to bet a substantial amount of my own cold hard ca$h that this rumor isn't coming true.