Triumph sales and profits accelerate...

[Rocket Ronnie]

Being a hybrid might not be that far away from the truth. The Muppets in the European Union are looking at legislative changes around motorbikes. We are in their sights and they don't like us. Things like anti-tampering design to stop any modifications to bikes, stricter noise and emissions limits, mandatory ABS on all bikes, On Board diagnosis to monitor what you have been doing (Sorry Officer I wasn't speeding won't cut it of they can plug into your bike and check it) and things like the mandatory wearing of High Viz vests.

France has already banned some bigger bikes and make High Viz vests mandatory. But its the inability to alter any aspect of the stock bike that should get us all worried. Forget pulling the secondaries, or plugging the GIPRO in, this will be all banned in Europe....and perhaps the bikes will then be manufactured to harmonize these things acroos the world...Who knows....Anyway All you Aussies I'm off the watch Wales thrash Australia at Rugby this afternoon - going on my R3 for a little light relief...Cheers...Ron

 

[webmaster]

I think smaller motorcycles will grow in sales. Enfields, Bonnies, and other medium-sized bikes.

Triumph is in a good place.

 

[Gkiller]

I visited the International Motorcycle Show in Dallas this past weekend, and I can tell you that the Triumph showcase area was just as crowded - or moreso - than any other bike area there...including Harley Davidson. In fact, I had to go back several times to the Triumph area just to get in and look at the bikes because there were so many people there looking at the Triumphs. Surprisingly, the only Rockets I saw were a Touring and a Carpenter Racing prototype, which really made no sense to me (and was somewhat disappointing) that the Carpenter bike was there and not a stock Roadster.

 

[TriumPhil]

The only major visual difference between a stock Roadster and Carpenter's "Silverback" is the exhaust system so why the disappointment?

 

[Gkiller]

The only major visual difference between a stock Roadster and Carpenter's "Silverback" is the exhaust system so why the disappointment?

I guess my use of the term "disappointment" was incorrect usage..."surprised" would have been a better description. The Carpenter bike was "hands off", so no one could actually sit on the bike and get a feel for the Rocket (other than the Touring model). And...is Triumph trying to sell Carpenter-mod bikes, or trying to sell Roadsters as they would from a dealer?

No big deal...just surprised there was not an R3 stock bike there that the attendees could look at, sit on, and get a feel for like they had the op to do on the Touring, America, T-Bird, Bonny, etc.

 

[TriumPhil]

I agree with you that it's surprising and shortsighted, IMO, that Triumph doesn't make a stocker available to the public at these shows. Most folks want to fondle the goodies, if you know what I mean.

 

[Gkiller]

I agree with you that it's surprising and shortsighted, IMO, that Triumph doesn't make a stocker available to the public at these shows. Most folks want to fondle the goodies, if you know what I mean.

Exactly!!!!!!

 

[GPMAZ]

I wouldn't expect to see Triumph put much time or money into the Rocket. The new Tiger models are jumping off the salesroom floor. With the new 1200 they're taking aim at BMW and Yamaha in both the mid size and large ADV bikes. The GS has been BMW's biggest seller for years so its already proven that there is a big market for the do anything bikes.

They're also very committed to the retro models and the Speed/Street triples are good sellers.

I think they built the Rocket just because they could. I doubt the sales numbers warrant much in the way of model enhancements. If the Thunderbird continues to sell well I wouldn't be surprised to see Triumph leave that model as its sole cruiser and drop the Rocket at some point.

 

[Rocket Ronnie]

I agree with you totally GPMAZ. Its all down to the Marketing Strategy about which bikes at which shows and R3 wouldn't be the most popular potential. I hear from my US friends complaints about the price of gas. Here in the UK gas runs at over $10 a gallon and my buddies here say why would you want a motorbike with a 2300cc engine that isn't the fastest on the road? I love the R3 but they have a point. And it isn't a top seller - look at the used values and how long it takes them to sell.

Environmental issues coupled with its niche status means its doomed in the long run. Unfortunately. Get it while you can. Ron

 

[xhdskip]

IF they, Triumph came out with a 6 speed tranny,
I'd pop for a new one.
Of course i'm thinkin' about getting a wrecked one anyway.
One for modifying, I'm wanting to make a unibody.