NGC: Triumph Motorcycles Seems To Be In Trouble

[TN Mark]

I knew about many of their bikes being make in Thailand. But some of the other information was a surprise. With so many new layoffs being done in the UK and Triumph moving the rest of their manufacturing to Thailand, Triumph is quickly becoming even less British. Bummer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofIHT4pOILo

[oldbike54]

 Triumph has factories in Thailand , not Taiwan .

 Dusty

[TN Mark]

Sounds like it's all moved their now. I agree with him on the false history claims, same as with Polaris Indian.

[dxhall]

He said that the factory is in Thailand, but that many electrical components are made in Taiwan.

 I was surprised by what he said - I thought that at least some of the bikes were still made (or maybe just assembled) in the UK.  He says not so.

[oldbike54]

Sounds like it's all moved their now. I agree with him on the false history claims, same as with Polaris Indian.

 Welcome to the new business model . When Polaris announced they were going with the Indian badged models exclusively we had a spirited discussion here , 'twas me who was amused at the way that Polaris was creating a false legacy , hell , the original company was the Hendee Motocycle company that built Indian Motocycles , no R . No one seemed to care , the entire discussion just faded away .

 I did however come up with a good name for the E bike that Polaris announced but we haven'r seen yet.

                                                             "The PlugIndian" .

 That has found it's way back to me from several places , folks claiming their brother or cousin or boss came up with the name . Nope, it spread from here to ADVrider first , then on to other social media , but it originated here . So far Polaris hasn't seen fit to send a check .

 Dusty

[TN Mark]

The PlugIndian, that's fantastic!

I follow a bit about what Polaris is doing with Indian as some on the Victory forums have one. But so far Polaris has yet to have an original design with the brand.

1st series - copied decades old design cues (expected)
2nd series - copied H-D design cues (not expected)
3rd series - used the Challenger motor designed for the 2018 Victory and still using H-D design cues (expected)

Polaris bought Brammo a few years ago and rebadged it as a Victory for crazy money. Perhaps the new PlugIndian is another redesign of the Brammo/Victory rebadge. But I have a look at it none the less.

I continue to be impressed that Moto Guzzis are still being assembled at the original factory. Many owners over the decades but still a continuous lineage. I greatly admire that.

Forza Moto Guzzi
 

[MMRanch]

It seems Triumph's biggest problem is the Royal Enfield Interceptor .    Along with going liquid cooled that is , they should have just done the oil cooler thing and left the anti-freeze to the cars.
So
If the Interceptor had mag/tubeless tires , I'd have one now.   Can't say the same about any of the Triumphs ...   

[Denis]

But so far Polaris has yet to have an original design with the brand.

Scout? It doesn't look like anything anyone else offers.

[TN Mark]

The Victory Octane was shown at a Victory dealers meeting, complete and running. It was the answer to their years long entry level bike requests. A few months later the Victory Octane was shown at Sturgis with new badging and a different rear suspension angle as the Indian Scout. A 100% total ripoff from the Polaris Victory side of the business. This was well before Victory was shut down. The ‘Indian’ Challenger motor, in an updated Victory Cross Country was also shown to dealers in 2016 as the updated 2018 Victory Cross Country. That engine, designed and patented by Polaris under Victory Motorcycles, then came out as the latest and greatest new motor in a Polaris Indian Challenger. The motor is excellent as is the support of it from Polaris.

Nothing on the Scout except the name on the tank says it belongs anywhere in the Polaris Indian lineup.

[LowRyter]

how did this Triumph stuff become an Indian thing?

[JJ]

how did this Triumph stuff become an Indian thing?

  (or a Victory thing!)   

"Extinct" since 2017"....

[Bert Remington]

MMRanch -- you may place your I650 order as your wheels and tires are available now: https://forum.classicmotorworks.com/index.php?topic=28166.msg321619#msg321619 

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

 Triumph Speed Twin in red with the euro taillight assembly and the Vance & Hines pipes is the sexiest new bike on the market today, I dont care if it's made in India, Thailand, or timbuktoo!

[JJ]

Triumph Speed Twin in red with the euro taillight assembly and the Vance & Hines pipes is the sexiest new bike on the market today, I dont care if it's made in India, Thailand, or timbuktoo!

[inditx]

Uh with all due respect, to each his own but that’s a no from me on the Speed Twin.
Looks like they forgot part of the back fender and I’d wind up hanging my leg on the turn signals/brake light. Looks like the SCR950 Yamaha back end with a smaller fender.
imho fwiw,
inditx

[TN Mark]

Triumph Speed Twin in red with the euro taillight assembly and the Vance & Hines pipes is the sexiest new bike on the market today, I dont care if it's made in India, Thailand, or timbuktoo!

Would it matter to you if Piaggio moved all Moto Guzzi production to Thailand?

[kidsmoke]

Anecdotal as it's one single data point in world going insane, but there's a brand new Triumph dealership in downtown Indianapolis. Opened in January. They sold 17 new 2020's in the month of May.

And this was their lot last Saturday....





FWIW

[ozarquebus]

That Cal II? looks great in Olive Drab

[LowRyter]

I tired to watch and hear this and just gave up.  I really don't buy into the whole notion that Bloor denied and then reclaimed Triumph heritage. I think he was pretty upfront that he was building a update to the original.  And he pretty well did.  He stayed honest to the two and three cylinder history and continued the tradition of sporting Brit bikes.  The bikes are unique and won't be confused with any other brand or label.

Given Brexit, international competition, the economic recession and -, no doubt the business model will be under pressure.  By all accounts the bikes are decent machines and many long time Triumph riders like the new products.  I say, "new" but they've been going at it for nearly 30 years now. 

[kidsmoke]

That Cal II? looks great in Olive Drab

'02 California Stone

[JJ]

That Cal II? looks great in Olive Drab

Agreed!  That's one nice looking Guzzi!!

[rss29]

Thailand appears to have top notch manufacturing. I have a Triumph and Kawasaki in my garage, both Thailand-built and purchased new. Both have been flawless with not so much as a loose bolt between the two. I would have no problem buying an Italian bike not assembled in Italy.

[Canada72]

I second the desirability of the Speed Twin, but I’ll take mine in black, with a set of more aesthetically pleasing pipes. 😍

[Kev m]

The Victory Octane was shown at a Victory dealers meeting, complete and running. It was the answer to their years long entry level bike requests. A few months later the Victory Octane was shown at Sturgis with new badging and a different rear suspension angle as the Indian Scout. A 100% total ripoff from the Polaris Victory side of the business. This was well before Victory was shut down. The ‘Indian’ Challenger motor, in an updated Victory Cross Country was also shown to dealers in 2016 as the updated 2018 Victory Cross Country. That engine, designed and patented by Polaris under Victory Motorcycles, then came out as the latest and greatest new motor in a Polaris Indian Challenger. The motor is excellent as is the support of it from Polaris.

Nothing on the Scout except the name on the tank says it belongs anywhere in the Polaris Indian lineup.

Point of order. To say "Indian" ripped off "Victory" is the short bus equivalent of claiming GMC ripped off Chevy.

I think the point is Polaris created some original designs and are effectively marketing them with a visual tie to a formerly dormant brand. Looks and sounds good to me.

I feel similarly about Triumph.

I would prefer a Triumph made in Britain because I'm sentimental. The same with a Harley from York and a Guzzi from Mandello, but I'm not sure it should be a deal breaker.

I didn't always feel this way.

[ohiorider]

It's not like the 'new' Triumph hasn't been building bikes in Thailand for years.  I think they opened their first factory there in 2000 or 2001, recent history to us old dudes, but a lifetime to some of the new riders.

Bob

[oldbike54]

Would it matter to you if Piaggio moved all Moto Guzzi production to Thailand?

 If the new factory in Thailand had more than one greasepot and could get all of the thrustwashers in the right place , some of us might welcome the move .

 Dusty

[bad Chad]

Would it matter to you if Piaggio moved all Moto Guzzi production to Thailand?

Great question Mark!
For me, yes.  Would it be a deal breaker, not necessarily, but a real part of the attraction for me is that most Guzzi have and continue to come through the same factory gates for a 100 years.

[TN Mark]

Great question Mark!
For me, yes.  Would it be a deal breaker, not necessarily, but a real part of the attraction for me is that most Guzzi have and continue to come through the same factory gates for a 100 years.

I agree with you. At some point, brand continuity either matters to people or it doesn’t. Some here say it doesn’t matter where they’re made. But they’re on a single brand forum with bikes being assembled at the same location for nearly 100 years. If Guzzi production was moved to China, it would matter to some and not to others.

The point of the man in the original video is that Triumph laid off 20% of their workforce, many in Britain and they moved the rest of their production to Thailand. The person in the video was upset about what he called the ‘new’ Triumph claiming a ‘false history’. I can see his point, and listed Polaris Indian as doing the same. I listed factual historical data on how Polaris would be guilty of the same ‘history’ claims the man in the video complained of. At least Polaris had some great designs to take from Victory to use on Indian.

I’m glad that both Triumph and Indian were brought back and that they both make great motorcycles.

At this point I’m thankful Piaggio keeps Moto Guzzi going. Sure the bikes need improved build quality and consistency. That they still don’t grease bearings like has been mentioned is simply beyond ridiculous. But as long as they’re still coming out with new models there’s hope of better days to come.

[huub]

with brexit it makes no sense to keep production in the UK ,
if you are going to pay import taxes to import bikes to your main markets , you might as well produce them in a low cost country.
expect to see more business leaving the UK,

[poorBob]

I've got over 80k miles on my made in England Triumph and will not buy a Thai-rumph.

I would not buy a Moto Guzzi that was made in Thailand, either.

Same thing for Aprilia - gotta be Noale to be genuine.

I grew up on Asian bikes and have owned several - great bikes. I like having no misconception about origin of bike. I knew where my Suzukis came from just like I know where my Guzzi came from. No sleight of hand or misdirection.

I've had several Volkswagens but they've all been made in Germany. I don't think I'm a bigot, just a purist.