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Triumph Motorcycles are arguably one of the most famous names in British Motorcycling history. The company began with Siegfried Bettmann who came to England from Nuremberg- Germany in 1883.
It was in 1902 that the first motorcycle emerged from Triumph’s Coventry works. Known as ‘No 1’, it was essentially a strengthened bicycle with a 2.25bhp Minerva engine hung from the front down tube. By 1910 Triumph motorcycles had proved themselves worthwhile machines; and it was at this time that 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 pedalling furiously for 30 yards. 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.
During the outbreak of WW I, the British Government placed orders with Triumph to equip army dispatch riders. It was the Type H that proved the most reliable, earning itself a nickname ‘the Trusty’. The outbreak of WWII brought new challenges and all production was geared towards the armed services, this time it was the 343cc Model 3H that became Triumph’s warhorse. On the night of the 14th November 1940 Triumph was dealt a major blow, their factory was completely demolished in the blitz of Coventry. Undaunted, motorcycle production was resumed in temporary facilities in Warwick, while a brand new factory was built in Meriden.
In 1951 Triumph was sold to BSA and in 1959 that the famous Triumph Bonneville was launched, arguably the most cherished and loved motorcycle ever produced. Throughout the ‘60s a healthy profit had been made, but times would change and it was the 1970s that were to prove disastrous for Triumph. Management of the BSA group was unstable and constantly changing, with the added pressure of the competitive Japanese market, Triumph was in trouble. The BSA group recorded a loss by 1971 of £8.5m with a further loss of £3.3m a year later. By July 1973, in a government sponsored move, a new company was formed - Norton-Villiers-Triumph. Against the wishes of the Triumph workforce Norton-Villiers-Triumph planned to move Triumph production to the BSA location in Birmingham. As a result the Meriden workers staged a sit-in that lasted almost two years. It ended finally when in March 1975 a workers’ co-operative was set up purely to manufacture the Bonneville 750cc. but in the end the factory closed its doors, money had simply run out and liquidation followed. It seemed like the end of the road for Triumph…. fortunately it wasn’t. Property developer and self-made millionaire John Bloor bought the Triumph name and a new, privately owned company - Triumph Motorcycles Limited - was born, Triumph would once again be a force to be reckoned with.
The 21st Century saw Triumph build its 100,000th bike at its Hinckley plant as well as launching two new motorcycles, the TT600 and the improved Bonneville, which proved to be an immediate success.
Disaster struck again! On the 15th of March 2002, the factory was devastated by fire. The blaze saw complete destruction of the chassis and final assembly lines as well as the injection moulding area. The machine shops, engine assembly area and paint shop were affected by water, heat and corrosive soot. At the time the fire was one of the largest industrial conflagrations ever to occur in Britain. Bike production was halted for six months and a shortage of 20,000 machines resulted, naturally as in WWII a comeback was eminent and almost six months later, the factory was rebuilt and fully operational.
The Triumph Owners Motor Cycle Club (TOMCC) was founded in 1949 by a group of dedicated enthusiasts around South London. This
soon grew into a major National One-Make Club catering for all owners of Triumph Motorcycles. Whether they be Pre-Meriden
(up until 1942), Meriden (the Classic Era), or Hinckley (the latest range of beauties), all are very welcome.
www.tomcc.org
Welcome to the home page of the Metro Triumph Riders, a group of Detroit-area bike enthusiasts dedicated to the care and feeding
of Triumph motorcycles, old and new. We are a nonprofit Michigan corporation, an affiliate of the American Motorcyclist Association,
with membership open to anyone interested in Triumph motorcycles made in the cities of Coventry, Meriden, Small Heath or Hinckley, England.
www.metrotriumphriders.com