Well, this is certainly good news, Triumph Motorcycles has reported a huge 48 percent jump in profits to a record £22.3 million ($35 million) on sales of almost 50,000 motorcycles, up 7 percent, for the year ending June 30th.
Everyone knows the global economy is hitting the motorcycle industry hard, but Triumph shows that, even in tough times, you can do well by selling motorcycles people want to buy. Let’s see, growing company introducing lots of new models at good prices and making big profits. Sounds like a plan worth following. Congratulations all around!
Link: Leicester Mercury
akaaccount says
They’ll keep doing well, too. Another year on the old SV and I’ll be looking at street triples. When it seems like everybody else is eliminating the bikes I’m interested in, it’s so good to see a company being rewarded for building something between 180 MPH supersports and overweight chrome scooters
scritch says
I currently ride a 2002 Sprint St. Wonderful bike, except that, as I get older the “sport” part of “sport-touring” gets more difficult. Soon I’ll be looking for a new ride, and from initial reports, the Triumph 800 adventure bike is exactly what I’ll be looking for. Keep it up, guys!
dannyb278 says
I’ve got over 50 thousand miles on my 02 Bonneville America, having ridden it all over the country and as a daily driver. Never needed anything for that bike except chains, tires, brakes and sprockets. it has been absolutely bulletproof. I really want a scrambler or the new tiger, but every time i jump on th BA i fall in love with it all over again.
Mule says
I like the twins because they offer a wide open starting point for many different kinds of builds. AND they respond well to numerous motor upgrades. They sound good and look good. Kinda dumpy looking stock, but all is fixable. I have bought a new streetbike in many years, but bought a new Bonnie a year ago. Now if I could get the time to finish it!
Oldtimer says
I could not agree more. I’ve done some mild modifications to the engine and played around with gear ratios on my 06 Bonneville and it just keeps getting better. Now, if some of the high end parts and modifications would start coming down in price…well, I may have to buy another…one for cruising and long trips, one for building a 100hp retro “sleeper”!
B50 Jim says
It’s wonderful to see an English motorcycle manufacturer actually doing well! Goes to show you that a company offering a superior product that customers really want will make a success no matter where it is. I wonder if Triumph is considering reviving the BSA name and building some new bikes using the same internals but with different external styling — maybe two or three lines of sporting bikes under the Lightning, Thunderbolt and Hornet nameplates. It would be poetic justice after Triumph was owned by BSA back in the “good old days”, and the Small Heath factory closed, killing BSA and leaving Triumph to suffer a protracted, inglorious end.
Dorzok says
this news makes me want to go buy a Triumph Motorcycle.
Tin Man 2 says
Is there any info out there on which models are selling well for Triumph?? The Retro line, Crotch Rockets or the new ADV bikes?? Or even that giant Twin cruiser they brought out?? Its all Good!!
Carolynne says
This upcoming year they are bringing out a new Tiger explorer adv a new version of the speed triple R, perhaps that’s an indication of where their sales have been. Apparently there is also a retro McQueen bonneville bike too
Carolynne says
I missed an and in there, the tiger is not a version of the speed triple r they are two different bikes
Will Silk says
Having ridden Hinckley triples for going on 12 years now, I can say that it is very good to see a company that works so hard to build a high quality competitive product do so well in what is one of the most difficult economic climates many of us have ever experienced.
I was a bit worried about the transition to Thailand production for the twins, but I couldn’t believe how seemlessly Triumph pulled it off. That’s something the company can really be proud of.
The wide range of bikes in their line up every year greatly helps traffic flow in the showroom. Many times people would arrive at the dealership I worked at gunning for one particular model, only to become a bit overwhelmed that such diversity exists in a single manufacturer line up.
If anyone at Hinckley is watching: GREAT JOB!
I hope they revive the big Daytona next year.
TheMotoShack says
Does anybody have any experience with the Triumph Tiger? I’ve been looking at adventure bikes lately and saw the Tiger as an alternative to an F800GS.
bob wark says
I have ridden a number of the new Bonnevilles as part of my work installing/aligning sidecars. Everytime i ride one it puts an enormous grin on my face and i want to run out and buy one! And i am a very jaded fellow. A ‘normal’ seat that one can move around on a bit instead of being locked in place, good brakes, sweet motor with great mid range, sounds good, and it’s purdy! They are a bit porky but once rolling you would never know it. I am not surprised they are selling well. Good job Triumph!
Oldtimer says
Glad to hear someone say that. Most of the cruiser guys I ride with can’t seem to understand the concept of an all around comfortable bike. They always ask when I am going to upgrade to a “real” motorcycle. At which point I just roll on the throttle and leave them begging. Most of the sport bike guys I ride with ask the same question, for different reasons. At which point I stick large in their rearview on 180 degree freeway ramps until their hp takes over and they pull away! What a great all around bike!
steve w says
Great news. I don’t have a new one, just old ones but if i were a younger man, i would become a Triumph dealer.
todd says
I was THIS CLOSE to buying a Triumph but I waited on the rumors of a Tiger Cub (Tiger 675). They tried to sell me the Street Triple but it was a tad too aggressive for my (commuting) needs and I felt the 1050 Tiger was a bit much in almost every way except styling and ergonomics, which I felt was right what I was looking for. I really enjoyed riding the Bonnevilles, especially the Scrambler but felt a little too young to own one.
I think my problem is that I’ve always waited for “The Perfect Motorcycle” (2004-05 Yamaha FZ6 comes mighty close). Good for Triumph for understanding how to find the growing segments and become popular instead of relying on the same old niche.
-todd
OMMAG says
This is a good news/bad news story.
The fact that Triumph is prospering is great ….. BUT …. it looks like they would be doing even better if the economy was not in the toilet.
Another issue is highlighted by the fact that they out sold Honda in Britain. This is a pretty clear indication of how the global giant has lapsed in it’s estimation of what the public really wants.
It is a truly odd situation …
Zippy says
Triumph, BMW, Ducati, Victory, and yes even “The Motor Company” (Harley) are all seeing sales and profit increases in these tough (to say the least) times.
Meanwhile, the Japanese keep pushing the same generic rebadged product and market share is dropping and dealers are closing. You can only blame so much on the earthquake/tsnami.
Good for Triumph, I have owned a few, folks really covet thier product.
Hooligan says
Triumph deserve to be doing well. Their range of bikes covers a lot of ground. They are well made and their warranty is very good.
As far as the best sellers? Well, I would imagine it is the Street Triple which has been a huge success, not only in Europe but throughout the world. Because it is a great bike that ticks so many boxes. That 675 triple is one of the great modern engines. And here in England the basic Striple sells for the same price as the current Honda 600 Hornet. A fine but but bit bland bike, where as the Striple has character and soul.
I have a Street Triple R which apart from looking one of the best bikes currently available, is fast, light, flickable and handles a dream with sportsbike quality brakes and adjustable suspension.. The new 800 Tigers are proving to be big sellers as well. They are real usable torque monsters for that “adventure” stuff.
The Daytona 675 sportsbike is as good as the Japanese competitors. Probably a bit too hardcore for some but …..
And in race series like British Supersport in BSB it is up there with the Japanese now.
The big trailies/tourers are popular if you want that sort of thing.
But Triumph are making bikes with distinctive traits not some boring Pan World concept. Unlike the Honda Crossrunner we talked about a while ago.
The volume of sales they have achieved shows are they doing the right thing.
So well done Triumph. I had a Trident T150 in the mid 70’s and swore I would never buy a Triumph again. But I did and am very happy with it.
Yeti2bikes says
It’s good to see any company doing well these days! I’m about half way there saving up to purchase a Daytona… So I can be Yeti3Bikes