RE: PH2: 2012 Triumph Line-Up Previewed

[ZZ]

The Bonneville looks awesome.

I just wonder how much the McQueen relationship means to Triumph. They use it an awful lot in their clothing, now it's on the bikes. Does this sell more bikes/merchandise or does it make people like me think "COOL". Perhaps the real winners are the McQueen estate?

[sprinter1050]

It was sort of inevitable that Triumph would choose to go with a shafty & likewise an Aventure styley thing too after the success of the Tiger (in all versions)

I reckon they'll be going for a big sports tourer next with shaft & this new "over 1200 cc" motor (maybe bored out to 1500? ).

Shame they didn't see the potential of the 1050 triple in a sportier, lighter set up faired bike.
JMHO

[3doorPete]

sprinter1050 said:

Shame they didn't see the potential of the 1050 triple in a sportier, lighter set up faired bike.
JMHO

I had a chat with the owner of Carl Rosner Triumph about this. He said that the 1050 is a very old design engine with no stacked gearbox etc. and is quite heavy. It's also not far off the limit of for reliable, affordable power. A totally different design to the 675 lump. It's just too dated to try to compete with the modern Dukes, Japs, BMW, MV etc flagship sportsbikes.

Their best bet is to take a 675 engine design and scale it up if they wanted to compete in the faired sports litre market - Perhaps an 1100cc triple, with a single sided swingarm and a 675 type frame.

[Richard A]

PH2 said:

...and the Explorer also runs a shaft drive...

Good call Triumph, this could be the deal winner for me, I hate chains (OK, I can live with the ones on my small Italian sports bikes, but that's all, no way on a long distance enduro/tourer).

[Vipers]

At last a bike that looks like a bike, the Bonneville Steve McQueen Edition.

Just wish I could afford one.

[croyde]

I've have a Street owned since 2009 and when I dropped it in for some work to be done, they lent me a Bonnie.

I thought ugh! old man's bike (I'm only 49) but after 5 days I was tempted to let them keep my Street as I loved riding the Bonnie, especially around London.

I like the look of this new Steve McQueen one but his signature on the side, come on please. If I were buying one I'd ask them to delete that bit, if possible. Very uncool.

[Lord Flathead]

TimmyWimmyWoo said:

Sorry, I was busy rubbing myself raw.

I can't afford to keep buying bikes and still live any semblance of a sociable life, so come March I'm going to be trading up for a 2002 Gixxer Thaaaah with all da modz.


That Tiger does look comfortable though. I wonder if it comes in tweed? Garlic

EFA

[bobberz]

That McQueen Bonnie looks like the sort of bike I would build from a stock Triumph. Now they've gone and done the work for me! I'll probably never see one, though, at just 1100 units.

Have to say, it doesn't really look like anything from the movie, but cool nonetheless.

[binberme]

When I was a kid in the rural south of the US a neighbor sold Triumphs. I rode Asian bikes, Kawasaki's and Suzuki's of the day but was always intrigued by these Brit creations. Nice to see them being produced again.

What about passing emissions on this older design bike, can they and still keep the original caritor??? Will these models be sold on my side of the pond????

[Legacywr]

The blacked out Thunderbird they do is a great looking bike.. but 11k??

[bobberz]

binberme said:

When I was a kid in the rural south of the US a neighbor sold Triumphs. I rode Asian bikes, Kawasaki's and Suzuki's of the day but was always intrigued by these Brit creations. Nice to see them being produced again.

What about passing emissions on this older design bike, can they and still keep the original caritor??? Will these models be sold on my side of the pond????

1) They've been back for quite a while now.

2) It's as, if not more, modern than anything coming out of Milwaukee; it's not an old design at all and will have to meet current emmissions requirements as would any other new bike.

As for your third question, I'm assuming "your side of the pond" is the U.S. If so, I'd imagine that the first two would come here as well, since Triumph is well established in the U.S. I'm not sure about the Steve McQueen one, since it's a limited edition. However, since McQueen was an American star, I'd hope they'd at least offer it here.

I'm not sure what a "caritor" is, but I'm guessing it was a typo?

[ram17]

Liken the return of the Bonneville but I'm not crazy about the flat khaki colouring or the stenciled lettering. I was taught to ride on my brothers Bonneville some years ago,okay a long time ago, a gorgeous burgandy in colour with the infamous chrome Bonneville on the tank. Those were the days! This is just one more bike I'm going to have to take out for a spin come spring. Keep the shiny side up!

[J a k e]

bobberz said:

binberme said:

What about passing emissions on this older design bike[/b], can they and still keep the original caritor???

I'm not sure what a "caritor" is, but I'm guessing it was a typo?

Character?