Triumph production in Thailand has some of the highest quality in production ratings one can find anywhere in the world.
Having worked for them and having friends who are sales managers my experience is they have never been better. Nothing like my old ones-that's for sure.
Now, I'll take my Guzzi all day every day but if I wanted another Triumph overseas production wouldn't hold me back one little bit.
I'm sure the Triumph - Thailand quality is fine. But their pricing reflects Made In England, not Thailand.
When you remove all connection to England (manufacturing/R&D etc) from a Triumph, what are you left with? IMHO, a Thaiumph.
The 'heritage' at Triumph, at this point, is pure Marketing spin. It's simply not reality. If I were English I'd be embarrassed they use the UK flag at all. That time period has simply passed.
Same with Indian Motorcycles under Polaris. That 1901 'heritage' marketing was pure nonsense. In Indian's case, even worse as the two best selling lines, the Scout and the Challenger/Pursuit were pure Victory DNA with minimal engineering differences and a badge change.
The Victory Octane was shown to Victory dealers as their entry level bike years before it came out at Sturgis as the Indian Scout.
Same with the Challenger. It was also shown to Victory dealers as the new 2018 Victory Cross series line. Again, only to be released years later looking like a Harley with Indian badging.
If Polaris didn't have the Victory design folder to rob from, Indian wouldn't have lasted 5 years with Polaris. I kept wanting Polaris to come up with something, even one thing, that was new, original and unique for the Indian line. Nope, nothing, not one single thing.
For me, the Victory was all new, original and unique because the entire line was new. Polaris Marketing was poor but the bikes were solid.
Moto Guzzi, 100% pure heritage back to the inception in 1921. Even in the same location. I have no issue honoring and congratulating them on that feat.
Recent Posts
