Triumph Motorcycles
A Brief History
By Stephen Taylor - Ridenow Powersports Concord
The Initial Start
In today's modern world, Triumph Motorcycle is a cultural icon and Britain's leading motorcycle manufacturer. Their rich and unique history can be traced back to the late 1800s. In 1883 a free thinker from Nuremburg, Germany named Siegfried Bettmann moved to Coventry, England to start up his own company. Bettmann was formed in that year-a small company that imported sewing machines and bicycles. Triumph's initial start was born.
By 1887 the small company was growing and had a few investors. The name was changed from Bettmann to New Triumph Co. Ltd-the first appearance of the Triumph branding. One investor of the newly named company in particular stood out. John Dunlop was a former veterinarian with a lot of great ideas. His main invention of sorts was the pneumatic tire, and although he never held the actual patent he was the first person to essentially commercialize the idea and put it to good use in a public sphere. Along with Dunlop Bettmann was joined by engineer Maritz Schulte. The three together made the decision that in 1888 the company would stop importing and start producing their own products.
Maritz Schulte (left) and Siegfried Bettmann (right)
John Dunlop
The First Triumph Motorcycle
In 1895, after years of studying different ideas the group appeared ready to make Triumph's first motorcycle but an odd English law called the Locomotive Act was preventing such matters at the time. The act stated that all powered vehicles in the country were bound to a 4 mph speed limit and that a gentleman must walk with ahead of the machine waving a red flag to alert other patrons on the streets. With this law in place the commercial success of a two wheeled motorcycle was probably not going to be realized.
In 1902 the act was amended, leading to what would become the first Triumph motorcycle. Known simply as "No.1" the bike was essentially a bicycle with a 2 hp engine attached to it. The first machines that were based off of No.1 proved popular. Triumph would begin production in 1903 and by 1905 their own designs were being produced inside their Nuremberg factory. Triumph was off the ground and running.
An Early Model Triumph
World War I and the Great Depression
Minor disagreements within the company would not slow down Triumph's roll through World War I. As with many companies the production was quickly transferred over to assist the direct war efforts of the country-in the case of Triumph Great Britain. Triumph became a motorcycle used excessively throughout the war by the allies, with more than 30,000 "model H's" being supplied. After the war not only was Triumph well-known and established as one of Great Britain's motorcycle manufacturers, they were also producing cars.
The Great Depression would hit Triumph as a company hard. As with many companies in the same realm, Triumph began to struggle from a financial standpoint. This would lead to disagreements and different ideas about how to move forward. Different aspects of the company were sold off to various bidders and Bettmann, who started the original company, was booted out of position by 1932. He would quietly retire the next year. By 1936 the car manufacturing side of the company was in chaos-by 1939 the division would be completely bankrupt.
During this same time the reins to the motorcycle side of the company had now been acquired by Jack Sangster-a known British industrial maven. Triumph began importing their products to the United States around this time period as well, which would become a hugely important market for them in the future. Although many ideas were adopted and used going forward in this time period including the perfecting of the parallel twin engine Triumph would continue to feel the effects of the depression. The motorcycle side of the company would forge onward at their Coventry factory until the onset of the 2nd World War. After the war Triumph would undergo an ownership change in 1951 as it was sold to the Birmingham Small Arms Company, or what was commonly known as BSA. Sangster would eventually become the Chairman of BSA in 1956.
A 1930's Triumph Automobile
Jack Sangster
Building Heritage
After World War 2, Triumph's Speed Twin and Tiger 100 models would develop a following among motorcycle racers. Triumph caught on and would build the Trophy Twin in 1948. The machine would lead Great Britain to a victory in the 1948 Six Days Motorcycle Trials. Edward Turner, the man now turning the ideas at the company and the person responsible for the original Speed Twin went to work on a 650cc version of the original design which would go on to be called the Thunderbird (Triumph would lend the name to Ford in a few years for one of their car designs). The bike would soon gain notoriety and become a well known staple bike to use in many Hollywood blockbusters of the time. The bike would also become known as the world's fastest motorcycle as it held the top speed record from 1955 to 1970.
As it grew in market share due in part to its publicity within films and its success in the realm of auto racing, Triumph would in 1959 re-badge their Tiger T120 as the Bonneville to honor the accomplishments of the brand at the famous Utah Salt Flats. In 1969 Triumph would win perhaps Britain's most important motorcycle race. Malcolm Uphill would ride his Triumph Bonneville to the win in the prestigious and dangerous Isle of Man TT race. The bike was the first production motorcycle in history to turn a lap on the famed island road at over 100 mph average.
1955 Triumph Thunderbird
Malcolm Uphill - Isle of Man 1969
A Period of Change and Struggle
By the 1960's Triumph had a lot of competition on US soil, which was its main area of success. Japanese expansion of their brands had infiltrated the US by this time period and Triumph's technology was behind in many areas. The pricing and the technology of the Japanese models appealed to many buyers, and Triumph faltered. As Japan began to take over much of Triumph's US market the brand struggled-they were not financially equipped or advanced enough on a technological standpoint to compete with the cheaper priced and more reliable brands being produced by the likes of Honda® and Suzuki.
By 1972 Triumph/BSA was bankrupt. After posting massive losses in the millions in 1971 the British government had intervened in the company. Through the next 10 years Triumph would see multiple ownership changes-1st with Norton Villiers and then with the Meriden Motorcycle Co-operative. Each new group would struggle-by August of 1983 the company would be bankrupt once again.
Company Strife
Recovery and Success
After again going bankrupt Triumph would be purchased by English businessman John Bloor, who set about re-building the company in a timely and well researched fashion. With the proper funds being invested and some well thought out research of his Japanese competitors Bloor started the process of recovery. By 1990 Triumph was again producing their own successful motorcycles. By the year 2000 Bloor's persistence and investment had paid off as the company broke even and started making a profit.
Triumph would continue its success and expansion into the 2000's re-establishing itself as Great Britain's most well-known and successful motorcycle brand. From 2005 to 2006 Triumph had a massive growth of 18% and it would continue on its upward trend do to smart thinking, new, exciting models, and a true embrace of the cmpany's history and heritage that was extremely appealing to the masses.
In today's world Triumph is a successful and iconic Motorcycle brand. The name produces many popular models like the Street Triple and the Daytona all the while maintaining its heritage with classic name brands like the Thunderbird, Bonneville, and Tiger still in production. Triumph through its multiple changes has ultimately persevered, making it one of the oldest and most iconic names still in production today. The brand shows no signs of slowing down. The Triumph legacy lives.
John Bloor
2006 Triumph Bonneville
Modern Day Triumph - the 2017 Street Cup