Triumphrat

Mizterpink · 04-06-2008

Alright Triumph, you've got the naked bikes that have everyone excited. You have the 675 all the sport bikers are raving about.

The thruxton is a nice throw back for sure, but the scrambler can't be selling that well.

The rockets and americans are alright, but they can't be generating much excitement. I never hear anyone saying wow you see the new Triumph rocket or american...

So here is my suggestion. You need another classic throw back that is an upright sitting position, a bike with heart and soul that is a genuine alternative to a Harley. Something that people can tweak and personalize. A bike that would get everyone talking.....

A Bobber.

A Bonneville Bobber available in hard tail or soft tail.

something like this

I think it would be like when VW said they were bringing back the Bug, everyone who likes bikes would be talking about it. There is a following for oldschool Triumph bobbers already, why not tap into that?

Have a couple different versions at different price points. It would fit right into your idea of using the same parts in different models. You could use the same engine as the Bonneville. I'm sure many of the same parts could be used in both the Bobber and the regular Bonneville. Hell just call it a new variation on a Bonneville. "The new Bonneville Bobber"

To cut costs you could probably use pre exisiting soft tail and hard tail frames. Bars, both the ape hangers and the drag style bars, Oil tanks, seats etc etc. use your current Bonneville wheels, tank and engine etc etc..

It would also fit well with your classic image. You know as well as I do Mcqueen would not have rode a rocket or an american, I doubt he'd like the thruxton either. But a Bonneville bobber? No doubt he'd ride one! You need a cruiser bike with a classic feel that fits YOUR image. You have a classic image that revolves around the Bonneville/BSA look, use it.

Imagine the following, the excitement generated by a bike with that kind of "cool" in your line... There would be "new" bobber ralleys.

My guess is there would be a waiting list to get our hands on one, and I would be 1st in line!!!
you do like money right?

slowgator · 04-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mizterpink

So here is my suggestion. You need another classic throw back that is an upright sitting position, a bike with heart and soul that is a genuine alternative to a harley. Something that people can tweak and personalize. A bike that would get everyone talking.....

I've heard that there is a 1700 cc, 100-plus hp, liquid-cooled parallel twin cruiser in the works... to be introduced as a 2009 model... see page 29 of the May Cycle World: "GOTCHA! TRIUMPH'S NEW TWIN".

slowgator · 04-06-2008

Here's the article from their website:

Gotcha! Triumph’s Big New Twin

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[ email to a friend ] Spyshot shows 2009 Super Bonneville

By David Edwards
February 2008
It’s been rumored for a while, but this grainy photo taken in Wales is proof that Triumph has an all-new jumbo-sized inline-Twin cruiser almost ready for production.
In fact, when confronted with the evidence, a Triumph U.K. spokesman was unusually candid. “While we generally don’t comment on potential future models until they are launched, we can confirm the photo shows an exciting new addition to our cruiser lineup. The bike is due to be unveiled later this year,” he told England’s Motor Cycle News.
No other info was forthcoming, but from the photo we can see that this is a big motor, well north of 1500cc. Insiders suggest 1700cc and 100-plus horsepower at the crankshaft, which should get Harley’s attention. A current Twin Cam 96 motor makes between 65 and 70 hp at the rear wheel, maybe 80 at the crank. Liquid-cooling—evident in the smooth lower cylinders and well-hidden radiator—boosts power output, as do the four-valve heads the engine likely has, too. Torque should be prodigious, probably another triple-digit reading.
The badgeless development hack gives no clue as to a model name, though MCN thinks that “Speed Twin” is the front-runner.
With the new bike apparently slated for the 2009 model year, Triumph’s catalog is growing increasingly appealing. The Daytona 675 sportbike is a critical and salesroom success—likewise, the Tiger 1050, Speed Triple 1050 (revised for ’08) and new Street Triple 675, which seems to be everyone’s favorite middleweight. We also came away impressed after our first ride on the redone Rocket III bagger. Next up? No denials from Hinckley about a 675 version of the Tiger adventure-bike, appropriately named the Cub.
Sound Off! Is England about to become the new Cruiser Kingdom?

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Mizterpink · 04-06-2008

cool. That looks lke they're headed in the right direction.

Obviously it looks like a little larger bike. Road King size.
a Smaller CC like their current Bonneville engine could go into a smaller more stripped down "bobber"

That 1700 looks nice

however It does have a gas tank and many other features that look more like a Harley. My Bobber Idea keeps the classic Triumph look alive.

I think a bobber stripped down and tuff looking could generate the same kind of excitement the Harley "Nightster" did when it was introduced. A production bike that looks like a custom. Not to mention a girl could ride one too. I doubt the 1700 would appeal to many women it's just too big. I'm only 5'7" so I wouldn't be getting in line for a 1700 either. way too much bike for 1/2 the people out there

In fact I think a Bonneville Bobber would be the perfect counter to Harley's Nightster!!!

some must haves..
side mounted fold away licence plate like the nightster
optional White walls
optional saddle style seat
optional ape hangers
optional front fender
optional sissy bar and rear passenger seat which would require
optional rear foot pegs

If they marketed them with 2 shown side by side, 1 with ape hangers, white walls, and a saddle seat and another with drag style handle bars, black pipes and black tires they would look the same but radically different. But more importantly it would show how customizable they are.

LOL now after typing all this in I am so convinced that the bobber should be built, I truly think Triumph is losing $ every second they waist not building it.

Mizterpink · 04-06-2008

here is a pic of a bobber made out of a 2003 Bonneville. I only show it to show a modern engine used in the bobber style.

It's a little extreme looking. I'd like the tank lower and shorter ape hangers, but the ape hangers and look of the bike with a Bonneville engine and tank looks classic and cool.

This one uses a modern engine also. No way you could keep a bike like this in stock... This is the look your cruisers are missing, A bad boy image. A bike like this in your show rooms would look right at home next to a Bonneville, Thruxton, and Scrambler. I think you'd want a soft tail version available, and the forward controls should be an option. Or maybe that could be the basis of your 2 different models. 1 with forward controls, ape hangers, saddle seat, more chrome, and a 2nd version more stripped down, with drag bars minimal chrome etc.

Here is my original example. It's more conservative and would Look great in your show room as well.

a nice compact oldschool example. I prefer the more compact look, and it might be an easier sell.

I truely believe that Triumph is one of the few if not the only brand of bike that can play off the old school look and feel, and make "oldschool cool" bikes like this and get away with it. Triumph can get a bigger piece of harley's classic cruiser market, using an image already established.