Triumph

· HistoryIn 1887, two years after Siegfried Bettmann started his enterprise, he was joined by engineer Mauritz Schulte. Both decided the future lay in manufacturing their own machines and Schulte found suitable premises in Coventry, where production started in 1889.In 1902 the first motorcycle emerged from Triumph’s Coventry works. Known since as ‘No 1’, it was essentially a strengthened bicycle with a 2.25bhp Minerva engine hung from the front down tube. Drive was via a belt from the engine’s crankshaft to the rear wheel while the bicycle’s pedals, chain and crank were retained. Schulte chose the Belgian-made Minerva engine simply as a matter of quality – he was a perfectionist and, at that time, the cutting edge of internal combustion technology was coming out of continental Europe.Triumph motorcycles had now proved themselves worthwhile machines and in 1910, a new advance was made to make riding a Triumph even easier - the ‘free engine’ device. Essentially a small, foot operated wet drum clutch it meant that the engine could be started with the bike on its main stand, via the pedals, rather than either bump starting or pedaling furiously for 30 yards or so. Once the engine was firing the clutch could be disengaged, the bike placed on its wheels and the rear hub clutch selected for forward motion.By the outbreak of the First World War the Type A, as it was known, had a 550cc engine slugging out 4bhp. The British Government placed orders with Triumph in order to equip army dispatch riders at the front.The outbreak of WWII put a different complexion on Triumph’s commercial aspirations, as all production was geared up for the armed services. The 343cc Model 3H became Triumph’s warhorse, and was renamed the 3HW for service application. A prototype 350cc twin – the 3TW – was on the blocks and approved as the standard service bike when, on the night of the 14th November 1940 the Triumph factory was completely demolished in the blitz of Coventry. Undaunted, motorcycle production was resumed in temporary facilities in Warwick, while a brand new factory, in Meriden (the so-called centre of England) was built. The new plant opened its doors in 1942.Post war the range on sale consisted of three models - the Tiger 100 and Speed Twin, as they were six years’ previously but with the bonus of telescopic front forks (and a ‘sprung’ rear hub), plus the smaller ‘touring’ 349cc 3T.In next decades Triumph was growing as company and had the Glory Years from 1963 - 1972. But ten years after in 80's factory was destroyed among with the Triumph company.In 1990 at the Cologne Motor Cycle Show, six new Triumph models are shown, powered by three- and four-cylinder DOHC engines with high horsepower and torque, all liquid-cooled: Trident 750 and 900; Trophy 900 and 1200; Daytona 750 and 1000. 2,390 machines are sold this year, 974 into the UK. Triumph is back on line again.In 2005 Triumph offers bikes of 3 classes:Cruisers - Rocket III, Speedmaster, AmericaUrban Sports - Speed Triple, Daytona 650, Daytona 955i, Sprint ST, Tiger, Speed FourModern Classics - Thruxton 900, Bonneville, Bonneville T100