[PA-guy]

4Triumph posted:::::We have a Moto Guzzi dealer right here that wants to become a Triumph dealer in the worst way, but Triumph won't let them? Triumph said the area wouldn't support a dealership yet. Almost everyone that see my Thruxton asks "where did you get that bike" They all love it and didn't even know Triumph was still alive and making bikes!


Back in the mid 1960's Triumph, along w/Harley, was the most popular big cycle around. Practically everyone wanted a 650cc Bonneville. Those baby boomers are now 55 to 60ish and many are back into cycles now that the family is grown and moved on. I'll bet that a large % of them do not even realize that Triumph is back in business. I didn't until someone told me. Within 2 weeks I did a test ride and 4 months lated bought an 05 T100.

Question.....why doesn't Triumph do a little targeted TV advertising here in the US? Do you think they have all the Bonneville business they can handle for now? I'm not talking about $1,500,000 for 30 seconds during the Super Bowl but something that would get the attention of the aforementioned age group. I recall a post a while back dealing with the average age of Bonneville buyers but I also see a LOT of guy's 45+ buying new Harleys and like myself I'd bet that many do not even realize that the Bonneville is back.

CC

 

[Silverado57]

Interesting question.

Part of me likes that we ride a unique bike. On the other hand I wonder why Triumph doesn't market itself better. Triumph's absence at the motorcycle shows is an example of how they could have been more visible.

That being said, sales in 2006 were good. The bike seems to sell itself and in a way we're part of the marketing strategy by being out on the road smiling and riding. lol

Maybe the powers that be take a conservative approach in growing the company slowly and surely?

 

[SCCTrim]

The bonnie/thruxton is definately a select market. Considering their speed triple is their best selling bike, and the wide range of bike's they offer, I think it would be difficult to select any one bike and attempt to target a particular group.

I read a article from msn.uk where triumph increased sale's by 18% and is now nearly at the production level's that equal what they were in the hay-day of the 60's/70's


...there will be a time when we see commercials, and none of us will be so unique for riding a triumph.

 

[dazco]

from what i've heard they sell as many bikes as they are capable of making right now. They don't even attend the trade shows lately. so i suppose if they're selling as many bikes as thier production is capable of theres no reason to try and sell more than they can produce by advertising or opening more dealers.

 

[bobw3592]

PA

Great Topic by 4Triumph and you.

It is a difficult balance I'm sure. On one hand, if a shop survived the darkest hours of selling Guzzi's and they still are solvent, they would probably kick a*! with the current Triumphs. Bloor appears to have a business model that led them to this "strong" sales position, so why deviate?

Flip side subjective observations. I sometimes wonder how many of these MEGA HD shops can survive in an area. The HD mandatory (?) requirements for huge properties and opulent dealerships. FLOOR PLAN costs for this and the building overhead has to be huge. How many bikes and dog leashes MUST be sold just to keep the lights on and the doors open.

Best example I can think of is Triumph joining the new multi-bike brand Rosemeyer (sp?) HD in Daytona FL. What if any impact on other area dealers? It is following the trend seen in Auto Malls, but is the product and repeat/new customer similar enough for it to work elsewhere or is it a unique setting. Lot of money spent researching market data. It will be interesting to see how much long term $$$$ the market will funnel on a non-primary form of transportation that cost in many cases as much or more than a decent small car or truck that can be used 24/7 twelve months of the year for cheaper costs per mile (tires/valves/depreciation).

There are so many people that appear to be filling the midlife crisis model. Are they here to stay in the sport? I don't know, but look at how many 2-5 year old HD, BMW, Honda, Triumph, etc., are for sale with just a few hundred to a few thousand miles of use. They are often "loaded." This group appears to have spent some big money, did that, got the T shirt and is moving on to ??? Custom builders are being forced to meet new requirements, VIN standards, etc. Indian and Norton up and down and up and down. Big money to just survive, Bigger money times Huge money to get in and stay alive if you go into the deep end of the pool. Look at Detroit vs Japan-Asia and apply to our sport. :???: :chug:

 

[ohiorider]

Triumph is making their presence known with a heavy emphasis on print advertising iin the bike rags, promoting the "Go Your Own Way" theme. I suspect someone made the decision to go heavy on print advertising and cut back on trade show presence, at least as far as participating in the "Cycle World" shows held in several US cities.

Bob

 

[ChuckofTahoe]

I think John Bloor is a very cautious businessman. The philosophy sounds like a go slow approach and a concern for building too much capacity.

If motorcycle sales decline for whatever reason, Harley Davidson has kind of set itself up for a big fall IMO.

 

[SpeedyPete]

I think Dazco is getting pretty close to the answer - Mr. Bloor doesn't make any more money by investing in more advertising or distribution.

That's called good business and I respect him for it, among other things. The company is humming right now - I wish I could buy stock.

P

 

[tba-golfer]

Chuck- Definitely agree with you regarding HD. I had to go to a funeral yesterday, in southern Minnesota- saw 4 different HD dealerships along the way, 3 in relatively small towns. All huge gray boxes, with nary a car in the lots. I'm not sure how much $ exposure HD has in their dealerships, but failed partners profit no one.
HD (ticker symbol HOG, clever, huh?) is up 40% since June. They are very sharp folks, to my mind, and maybe international sales can keep them humming.

On the Triumph side, I tend to see their efforts and business plans as being less traditional, which is a good thing. IF they had sold shares, they would have been under pressure to return immediate, quarter to quarter positive comparisons. They would have been lumped with and compared to HD, which is not what Bloor or we want.

Come Show Time, there are always grousing bits about why Triumph isn't participating. They have their, I believe, thought out reasons.

While we do not have access to all the numbers, I suspect Bloor and company are heading in the direction they want. Good on them, and good on us.

 

[DetroitSlim]

I was in Austin, TX this weekend for a wedding, and every single bike was HD.

First it made me proud to own a Triumph, but by the middle of Sunday when literally every single bike was HD, and having driven past the acre-sized HD dealership (going to and from the wedding), it started to get me down. Just the sheer conformity of Harley everywhere and the IKEA sized HD dealership... surely there's some room in the marketplace for a non-HD bike. I swear I didn't see a Honda, Suzuki, or sport bike around.

I'd love to see Triumph gather more presence and more market share, but on the other hand, this was a bankrupt and defunct company a mere 10 years ago. So if keeping a low profile and selling out your production capacity is what keeps Triumph healthy and alive, then so be it.

 

[monkeyboy]

Exactly. If they were given a spot during halftime of the Super Bowl, and suddenly 1 million people wanted one, they wouldn't have the capacity to make them. And that would be bad press for them.

I often wonder how they can be in so many places and not be noticed. The Wrangler commercial, Mission Impossible, etc...

 

[sweatmachine]

DetroitSlim, you're right, HD galore in the capital of the Lone Star State...

I counted 3 compliments and 4 stares when I was out on my bike Saturday though.

I like the exclusivity. People around here (some people, I should say) on HDs seem to have a 'if it's not an HD it ain't sh!t' attitude, F those people. There are a ton of HD lemmings out here. What sucks the most is I really like Harleys, but as long as they're owned by the Hells Dentists I wouldn't touch one with my stock exhaust pipes sitting in the box on the garage floor.

 

[pigpen955]

Geez, I'd give anything for a Guzzi dealer within 200 miles.

Fred

[ This message was edited by: pigpen955 on 2006-11-13 16:55 ]

 

[Bhakti-rider]

PA-guy:

The middle-aged guys who buy Hardlys are not in the same market demographic as those who buy Triumphs. I must acknowledge that there is some crossover; I know some members here have both. But in general, these are different types of people.

 

[4Triumph]

PA-guy

I called Triumph and asked about why they wouldn't let the guzzi/Aprilia dealer become a Triumph dealer and that was the answer, they did say how ever that they wanted to place a dealership a 100 miles east of here in Albany, NY. Funny thing is BMW won't put a dealer here either, they have one in Albany and another a 130 west of here. Right here in the Utica area we have two Harley dealers, a Guzzi/Aprilia, KTM, Victory and the big four. Does this leave no room for BMW, Ducati or Triumph? And yet I know two BMW dealers in New England that also sell Triumph.