|

Up Intro News Offers Current Bike Inventory 2008 Motorcycle Range 2007 Motorcycle Range Previous Model Years Accessories & Clothing Parts & Service Sceptre Exhaust Event Calendar Event Photo Gallery Contact Us The Team Photo Gallery Links Technical DUKER Triumph History Store Policy



| |
TRIUMPH NEWS
Triple
Powered Triumph Wins Three Years in a row!
Triumph Motorcycles (America) announces that the
Triumph’s class-leading Daytona 675 has set another landmark by becoming the
first motorcycle to win the prestigious Supertest trophy three years in a row.
Supertest is an annual event organised by 15 leading motorcycle magazines in the
world with representation from Europe, Asia and the Americas. Each publication
sends a test rider to the circuit, with each bike being scored on its best lap
times and rider feedback. The Triumph remains unbeaten in the competition,
having won each year since its introduction for the 2006 model year.
The British-built three-cylinder machine staved off competition from its
supersport-class rivals at the Almeria circuit in southern Spain. The Triumph
set faster lap times than the four-cylinder machines from the Japanese
manufacturers which, combined with the testers’ favorable comments, gave the
Daytona 675 a clear advantage.
“Winning the title three years in a row is quite an achievement,” commented
Triumph’s Commercial Director Tue Mantoni. “Our bike has proven itself against
two generations of Japanese competition and is a great testament to our design
and engineering teams. Our philosophy is to build motorcycles that are class
leading, while remaining distinctively Triumph. Strong sales figures and winning
comparison tests like Supertest are confirmation that our bikes are striking the
correct chord with riders, and continue to motivate us in developing more new
and exciting products for the coming years.”
SPRINT
ST WINS READERS' CHOICE
Triumph’s sport-touring
Sprint ST has been voted the best motorcycle in the
touring class by readers of the influential German
publication Motorrad.
More than 35,000 readers from across Germany took part
in the survey, scoring the latest bikes in all areas of
machine performance and giving their thoughts on
customer satisfaction levels.
Triumph performed very well in all categories,
especially in the touring class, where the Sprint ST
eclipsed the locally-built BMW models to take the best
in class.
All eight of the Triumph models included in the survey
made the top seven of their category. The Rocket III
Classic and Street Triple models both came second in
their class, within a few points of taking top honours,
while the Daytona 675 SE was the only middleweight
machine to be featured in the top 10 of the sports
category. The award-winning 675cc three-cylinder machine
was voted the sixth best sports bike, missing out only
by a quintet of one litre superbikes.
Tue Mantoni, Triumph’s Commercial Director, attended the
gala dinner in Ludwigsburg to collect the award. He
commented: “Overall this was a very successful evening
for Triumph and we’re delighted to have taken top spot
in the touring category. It is an extremely competitive
segment, where quality, reliability and usability are
the key. The fact that this award was voted for by the
people who actually buy our products gives it an even
greater significance and is a tribute to our skilled
product development teams at Hinckley in the UK.”
This is not the first honour bestowed upon the Sprint ST
by Motorrad. Last year the model beat off 11 other bikes
to win the publication’s gruelling 50,000 kilometer
test, a firm endorsement of the bike’s reliability and
high standard of build quality.
The Sprint ST is one of Triumph’s most popular models,
offering the handling and performance of a sport bike
with the comfort and versatility of a tourer. It has
been updated for 2008 with a number of small but
important changes aimed at improving the bike’s touring
ability, such as upgraded headlights, modified footrests
and a steel fuel tank, to which a tank bag can now be
affixed.
BUD
EKINS - A TRIUMPH LEGEND PASSES ON
Bud Ekins, one America’s
pioneering off-road motorcyclists, died on October 6. He
was 77 years old.
Ekins’ racing career
spanned from the days of desert and mountain endurance
runs to the modern era of scrambles and motocross and he
was one of the first Americans to take part in the World
Motocross Championship in Europe in the 1950s. He also
earned gold medals in the International Six Day Trial.
Following his racing career, Ekins went on to become one
of Hollywood’s leading stuntmen and his most famous
stunt was the motorcycle jump scene in the 1963 movie,
"The Great Escape," starring another famous
motorcyclist, Steve McQueen. Ekins also went on to be
one of the country’s leading collectors of vintage and
rare motorcycles. At one time, his collection numbered
over 150 motorcycles and was considered to be the most
valuable in the country.
In 1955, Ekins won the
Catalina Grand Prix, one of the most prestigious races
in the country, taking almost 10 minutes off the race
record time while riding a Johnson Motors Triumph. He
also won the Big Bear Run three times during the 1950s,
including the 1959 victory in which he completed the
153-mile course over half an hour ahead of the
second-place rider - despite suffering a flat tire and
breaking a wheel. For a period during the late-‘50s and
early-‘60s, Ekins was easily the most dominant racer in
desert events. He was also a founder of the famous Baja
1000, making record runs down the Mexican peninsula in
the early-1960s.
Ekins’ greatest
accomplishments came in the International Six Day
Trials. In 1964, Ekins, his brother Dave, and Steve
McQueen raced in the ISDT in Germany and the team led
the international competition before McQueen was
involved in a crash and Ekins later broke his leg. In
all, Ekins won four gold medals and a silver medal
during his seven years of competing in the ISDT during
the 1960s.
: By the mid-1960s, Ekins
owned a Triumph dealership and had become something of a
hero to Hollywood’s young movie actors, who would often
hangout at his shop. One of those actors was McQueen.
Ekins helped McQueen learn off-road racing and the actor
became an accomplish racer.
Through his association
with McQueen, Ekins began his career as a movie
stuntman. In 1962, McQueen asked Ekins to come to
Germany to do some stunt riding for the filming of "The
Great Escape." Ekins was in Germany for more than four
months working on the film and it was at the end of
shooting that McQueen and Ekins came up with the
now-famous jump scene.
Ekins continued doing
stunt work until he was in his mid-60s, his stunt career
spanning some 30 years.
Visit
BudEkins.com or more information.
ROCKET
III TOURING REVEALED
The
2008 Rocket III Touring is revealed in the December 2007
issue of Motorcycle Cruiser on newsstands now. There
are nine full color pages detailing this new
motorcycle. Alex Hearn had the opportunity to visit the
factory and not only get a sneak peak but got to ride
this, much rumored about, new model. He also had the
chance to speak with our Product Manager who offered
many details. Their comments about the bike include,
"The new Touring strikes a distinctly American-style
profile, with large capacity, hinged saddlebags, a cushy
two-up saddle and spacious floorboards. The new exhaust
system arrangement distributes one muffler on each
side," "The screen is spring-loaded and detached in
seconds," "improved low-speed handling with much lighter
steering at all speeds," and "discernible character and
soul quite its own."
Be sure to pick up your
copy today to read more about this all new Rocket model.
AMA
ANNOUNCES MARQUE OF THE YEAR
The
American Motorcyclist Association has named Triumph, one
of the most historic and popular names in motorcycling,
as the 2008 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Marque of the
Year.
The 17th annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is scheduled
for July 25-27, 2008. The event returns to the Mid-Ohio
Sports Car Course near Lexington, Ohio, for the 14th
time.
Triumph's long history makes it a natural choice for
Marque of the Year. The company dates to the late 19th
century, when two German brothers began selling bicycles
in London. Motorcycle production began in 1902.
2008 also marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of
production of perhaps Triumph's most beloved and
sought-after model of all time: the Bonneville. Named to
commemorate the company's achievements in land-speed
competition on the Utah salt flats, the Bonneville won
success for both its styling and performance, and the
name lives on as one of the best-selling Triumph models
of today.
One of the special activities planned for 2008 Vintage
Motorcycle Days is a display of 1980 and earlier cafe
racers, a style that's closely associated with Triumph.
Owners of cafe racers of any brand who would like to
participate can learn more at
www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com.
THE WORD ON THE STREET!
The world press launch
for the new Triumph Street Triple was held recently in
Lake Garda, Italy, and was a rip-roaring success.
The press loved the
location and came away raving about the latest edition
to the Triumph family. This has been confirmed in the
subsequent articles published and below is just a
snippet of what they had to say:
‘The Street Triple will
sell by the thousands because I can see no better way to
commute, scratch or stunt than this’ – Simon Roots,
Superbike.
‘It combines the
Daytona’s engine performance, chassis layout, character
and light weight with the Speed Triple’s aggressive
naked style to make a stunningly lively and agile
machine that is easy to ride and brilliant fun.’ –
Roland Brown, MCN.
‘Big Brother’s Little
Brother is absolutely brilliant!’ ‘It is more than
capable of thrilling bikers from every walk of life’ –
Jane Omorogbe, The Sun.
‘I would have been happy
if this bike was as much fun as a Hornet. The fact that
it’s as thrilling as a 675 or Speed Triple is almost
unbelievable’ – Martin Fitz-Gibbons, Bike.
‘Good looks, wonderful
chassis, British name on the tank and a bargain price
tag to boot. What more could you honestly want?’ – Jon
Urry, TWO
‘In a crowded niche packed with excellent motorcycles
the Street Triple looks gorgeous, sounds sumptuous and
makes riding a joy. Charisma this potent requires
rigorous design and development. Triumph has harnessed
both to excellent effect. The Street Triple will be many
reviewers' tip for motorcycle of the year.’ – Tim
Luckhurst, The Independent.
Want to find out more?
Then take a look at our
Street Triple micro site
or pick up one of the publications above.
THE STREET TRIPLE MAKES
AN IMPRESSIVE ENTRANCE IN NEWCHURCH
The
countdown is over! The much awaited Triumph Street
Triple was officially unveiled to over 5,000 Triumph
owners on Saturday, 30th June, at Triumph Tridays in
Neukirchen, Austria.
The Street Triple offers
675cc of pure, naked aggression, combining the
streetfighter styling of its older brother, the Speed
Triple, with the 675cc engine, chassis and performance
of the award-winning Daytona 675.
Genetically engineered by
Triumph, the Street Triple is set to become the most
desirable naked middleweight motorcycle in the market.
Packing a powerful punch, 108PS to be exact, and 69Nm
of effortless torque, the Street Triple is set to see
off any naked middleweight competitor with ease, and
quite a few of the heavyweights too. The proven 675
engine delivers strong low and midrange performance,
from tickover to the redline, while the distinctive
three cylinder feel, and unmistakable sound, offer an
electrifying and emotive ride.
The Street Triple’s
aluminum frame and swingarm come directly from the
Daytona 675, while the Nissin two pot sliding calipers
with sintered pads (the same material as used on the
Daytona 675) give braking power that is top of its
class. The lightweight five-spoked wheels also come
straight from the Daytona 675, with Dunlop Sportmax
Qualifier tires fitted as standard (120/70 ZR17 front
and 180/55 ZR17 rear). Approved options are the Pirelli
SuperCorsa Pro and the Bridgestone BT014 G. Lean and
agile, the Street Triple is equipped with Kayaba
suspension front and rear, with rear preload adjustment,
giving class leading handling.
The low dual seat and new
footrests and handlebars provide a comfortable riding
position for rider and pillion without jeopardizing the
aggressive streetfighter styling of the bike.
The headlights echo the
distinctive units used on the Speed Triple, while the
comprehensive instrument console shares the same
functionality as that on the Daytona 675 but is restyled
to fit neatly within the lines of the Street Triple.
Priced at $7,999, the
Street Triple will be available in dealers from October.
More details on the Street Triple can be found at –
www.triumphstreettriple.com
TIGER WINS CYCLE
WORLD 10 BEST AWARD
Cycle
World’s awarded the 2007 Tiger 1050 "Best Standard" at
their annual awards ceremony.
In their presentation,
Cycle World said:
"It hardly seems
plausible that the comparatively small bike-maker from
the British Midlands should keep cranking out the hits
like it has over the past several years. And yet, here
is Triumph, once again. Last year, we were still high
on tire smoke and wheelie-induced oxygen depravation
caused by too much hooliganism on the Best
Standard-wining Speed triple. This year, we continue
the vary antics, only now we’ve got a fairing and
increased comfort. Seriously, the Tiger 1050 takes the
same three-cylinder engine bolted into a new chassis and
impresses with its versatility, fun and excellent
performance the first time you throw a leg over it. And
with optional hard saddlebags in place, it continues to
impress thousands of miles down the road."
RIDER
AWARDS TIGER 1050 '2007 BIKE OF THE YEAR'
Monday, April 30th Triumph's Marketing Manager, Jim
Callahan attended the 11th Annual Ehlert Powersports
Awards in Newport Beach, California. Triumph is proud
to announce that the Tiger 1050 received an award for
“Best Sport Standard” by Rider Magazine.
At the very end of the
night, Mark Tuttle, the editor of Rider Magazine,
returned to the stage for one last award. The Tiger
1050 was honored as the 2007 Motorcycle of the Year. A
quote from the evening’s “Awards of Excellence” program
says, “The real beauty of the Tiger is that it’s just as
comfortable two-up down a long highway as it is in the
tight stuff. With the spacious hard luggage, there’s no
reason why a weekend getaway with a co-pilot shouldn’t
be a regular occurrence.”
Be sure to read the full
article in Rider Magazine.
TIGER 1050 PROWLS ITS
WAY TO THE TOP
The
Tiger 1050 has started to collect comparison test
victories and awards from magazines worldwide.
For the first time in
history, the BMW R1200 GS has failed to win a
back-to-back comparison test against its direct
competitors! Motorrad, the most influential magazine in
Germany, and probably the world’s most objective
motorcycle magazine, awarded the Tiger 1050 the top spot
in their travel enduro test, which saw the Tiger pitched
against the BMW GS, the KTM 990 Adventure, the Suzuki
V-Strom 1000 and the Honda Varadero 1000.
Motorrad heaped praise on
the Tiger 1050, declaring it to have the best engine by
far and the best riding position for the rider. They
cited the Tiger’s performance on twisty roads as
particularly impressive due to the fantastic engine
power and great steering precision, handling and
stability. Motorrad also remarked that, despite its
road-bias, the Tiger offers surprisingly good off-road
capabilities, even with road tires, thanks to the
smoothness of the engine, perfect throttle control and
good front suspension.
The Tiger’s success
continues across the Atlantic where it has just scooped
the award for Best Sport-Standard bike in Rider’s 2007
Motorcycle of the Year awards programme. This makes it a
finalist and a strong contender for the Motorcycle of
the Year 2007, which will be announced in early May.
Back in the UK, the Tiger
1050 has won Motorcycle Sport and Leisure’s (MSL)
‘Tall-Rounders’ test, beating the KTM 950 and the Ducati
Multistrada. MSL summed up the Tiger’s award-winning
performance with accuracy when they concluded that the
Tiger 1050 is ‘pretty damned good at absolutely
everything’.
Triumph Launches the Street Triple!
After
much media speculation, Triumph is pleased to confirm
that rumors of the brand new Street Triple are
definitely true! Deriving its genes from the iconic
Speed Triple streetfighter and the award-winning Triumph
Daytona 675 Supersport, the Street Triple is 675cc of
pure naked aggression: lightweight, agile, and fantastic
fun to ride.
With an expected
MSRP of $7,999 the Street
Triple will be the most affordable of all Triumph sports
bikes.
This exciting new
motorcycle will initially be available to customers
through a Priority Reservation Program. Customers who
wish to be the first to own one of these new bikes can
place an order at any authorized Triumph dealership.
Orders will be accepted as of July 1 and the first units
will be delivered in October.
The all new Street
Triple will make its first North American appearance at
the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at the Laguna Seca Raceway
held July 20-22. The official factory operated website
for the Street Triple,
www.triumphstreettriple.com,
will provide customers with more information on the bike
and is scheduled to go live in late June.
Bruce
on the Loose
It's been almost two
decades since Die Hard blasted into the action-movie
stratosphere, rocketing Bruce Willis into big-screen
orbit and launching a franchise that has grossed nearly
$1 billion worldwide. In Live Free or Die Hard, which
hits theaters on June 27, Willis plays John McClane for
the fourth time. In this exclusive footage from his
shoots for the June V.F., cover boy Willis takes to the
desert and the beach with photographer Annie Leibovitz.
2007 MOTORCYCLE OF THE YEAR!
Monday,
April 30th Triumph's Marketing
Manager, Jim Callahan attended
the 11th Annual Ehlert
Powersports Awards in Newport
Beach, California. Triumph is
proud to announce that the Tiger
1050 received an award for “Best
Sport Standard” by Rider
Magazine.
At
the very end of the night, Mark
Tuttle, the editor of Rider
Magazine, returned to the stage
for one last award. The Tiger
1050 was honored as the 2007
Motorcycle of the Year. A quote
from the evening’s “Awards of
Excellence” program says, “The
real beauty of the Tiger is that
it’s just as comfortable two-up
down a long highway as it is in
the tight stuff. With the
spacious hard luggage, there’s
no reason why a weekend getaway
with a co-pilot shouldn’t be a
regular occurrence.”
Be
sure to read the full article in
Rider Magazine.
DAYTONA
675 WINS SUPERTEST AGAIN!!

For the 2nd year running
the Daytona 675 has won the SWA Supertest bike of the
year award.
The Supertest world
association comprises of 10 magazines globally.
Magazines and
Daytona 675 rating:
Solo Moto 1st
Motojornal 1st
Due Route 2nd El Periódico 1st
Motorrad MO 1st
Moto Revue 1st
0-300 2nd
Young Machine 2nd
L'Integral 1st
SM30 1st
Moto73 1st
Motor Sport Schweiz 2nd
MC Folket 2nd
Moto! 2nd
Scoring:
1. Daytona 675 - 539
2. CBR600RR - 492
3. ZX 6R - 472
4. GSX R600 - 469
5. R6R - 458
TRIUMPH AND THE ACE CAFÉ GO WILD
AT BRENT MUSEUM
April 2007 sees the world-famous
Ace Café, in conjunction with
Triumph Motorcycles, exhibiting
a series of stunning and iconic
images from its photography
archive in an exhibition at the
Brent Museum, London. “Wild
Ones: The Ace Café and Youth
Culture: 1955-65” celebrates a
part of the history of the
legendary venue and the advent
of teenagers during the ‘50s and
‘60s, with the emphasis on the
motorcycle riding rockers who
hung out at the Ace.
Highly influential in the music
and café racer culture of the
era, the exhibition offers an
exciting insight into the style,
machines and racer culture that
existed. Wholly capturing the
spirit of youth and rebellion
that the Ace has fostered,
Triumph is integral to the
exhibition, with the marque
featured frequently as the model
of choice.
The 60’s saw a stream of
Hollywood and home-grown
celebrities riding Triumphs and
cementing its global cult
status; Steve McQueen, Marlon
Brando, Clint Eastwood, James
Dean and Bob Dylan to name a
few. This tradition continues
today with many high-profile
figures, such as Tom Cruise,
Matthew McConaughy, Hugh Lawrie,
Nicholas Cage and Joseph
Fiennes, choosing to ride
Triumph’s.
The exhibition will run at Brent
Museum from 10th April – 9th
September 2007, with a launch
date on Saturday 7th April. The
launch day itself is perfect for
families and motorcycle fanatics
alike. Activities such as
motorcycle simulation and
hula-hoop workshops will keep
the kids entertained, while the
display of classic motorcycles
and variety of competitions will
keep the adults occupied. There
will also be a number of
ride-outs from various sites to
Brent Museum. Details can be
found at
www.brent.gov.uk/ace .
SPEED
TRIPLE 1050: THE PERFECT ENGINE
Bike,
Britain’s best-selling motorcycle magazine, went on a
quest to find their perfect engine in their February
2007 edition. Pitching 11 different motorcycle engine
layouts against each other through a series of eight
tests, there could be only one winner: the Triumph Speed
Triple.
Scoring highly on all the
tests, the Speed Triple was the first to cross the
finishing line on the ‘Traffic Light GP’ test thanks to
a combination of its clutch balance, right gearing and
weight distribution. The Speed Triple was the fastest on
the ‘Low-Speed Overtake’ test, which saw the bikes
accelerated to 40mph in fourth and then the throttle was
fully opened to let the engine pull to a measured 60mph.
The Speed Triple covered 146ft - the equivalent of four
18-wheeler truck lengths - in two seconds dead. The
‘Fuel Consumption’ test proved the Speed Triple to be
one of the most economical engines of those tested,
whilst the Speed Triple was declared the smoothest
engine in the ‘Vibration’ test.
This, combined with its
unique sound and one of the best-shaped power and torque
curves, led Bike
to conclude that the Speed Triple 1050cc inline engine
is a great achievement for Triumph and declared it as
the best engine for UK roads. So, in the words of
Bike
magazine – “Go and try one”!
SPRINT ST
WINS ENDURANCE TEST
The Sprint
ST has just fought off the BMW K1200S and the Honda VFR-ABS
to win Motorrad’s 50,000km endurance test, beating 12
other competitor bikes to the top spot.
Motorrad, Germany’s best-selling and most influential
motorcycle magazine, found that after 50,000km the
Sprint ST’s compression and performance figures were the
same as a brand new bike, the oil consumption was
marginal, the engine, clutch and gearbox were all in
very good condition and the painted parts, frame and
exhaust pipe showed no sign of corrosion at all. The
inspiring, characterized engine and the excellent
handling of the bike also impressed them.
The condition of the bike after the 50,000km endurance
test is outlined below:
Cylinder head:
- All valves were leak proof
- Valve seats were satisfactory
- Valve guides and stems were within figures for new
- Camshaft-bearings had visible marks but were within
tolerance
- Cam lobes are very good
Liners/Pistons:
- All liners had visible marks but were within
tolerances
- RHS liner slightly more noncircular but still within
tolerances
- Piston free play is satisfactory with not much
charcoal
Crank assembly:
- Main bearings like new
- Big ends perfect
- Small ends and gudgeon pins slightly worn
Transmission:
- Gear box in very good condition with no pitting
- Clutch plates like new
Frame/Chassis:
- Premium and reliable paintwork
- No hidden corrosion on powder coated frame
Motorrad concluded that, as a result of the moderate
depreciation and reasonable costs of the Sprint ST,
combined with the proven reliability and excellent
condition of the bike during and after the endurance
test, the Sprint ST was the sure winner for this test.
back to top
|