The Triumph motorcycle company was founded in 1902 by two German immigrants, Siegfried Bettmann and Maurice Schulte, in Coventry, England. The company initially produced bicycles and then began manufacturing motorcycles in 1902.
One of Triumph's early motorcycles, the Model H, was based on a design by Harry Ricardo and was powered by a 3.5 horsepower engine. The company experienced great success in the early years of motorcycle production, winning numerous races and setting world speed records.
In 1907, Triumph released the first of its iconic 'Twin' cylinder motorcycles, the Model TT. This was followed by the release of the Model SD in 1908, which was the first Triumph motorcycle to be equipped with a gearbox.
Triumph continued to produce innovative and successful motorcycles throughout the early twentieth century. In 1923, the company released the first ' OHV' (overhead valve) engine, which was more powerful and efficient than previous designs. This was followed by the introduction of the 'Tiger' brand in 1928, which became synonymous with high-performance motorcycles.
The 1930s saw Triumph produce a number of iconic motorcycles, such as the Speed Twin, which was released in 1937 and became the world's best-selling motorcycle. Other notable models from this period include the Thunderbird and the Bonneville, both of which are still in production today.
The company experienced financial difficulties during the post-war years but regained its footing in the 1950s with the release of a number of new models, including the Tiger 100 and the Thunderbird 6. In 1959, Triumph became part of the British Leyland conglomerate, which also included other well-known British brands such as Jaguar and MG.
The 1960s and 1970s were a difficult period for Triumph, as the company struggled to compete against Japanese manufacturers who were producing increasingly sophisticated motorcycles. In 1983, Triumph was forced into receivership and was bought by entrepreneur John Bloor. Under Bloor's ownership, Triumph underwent a renaissance, with a new factory being built in Hinckley, Leicestershire. A number of new models were introduced, such as the Trophy and the Daytona
For over a century, Triumph has been manufacturing some of the best motorcycles in the world. We’ve compiled a list of the best Triumph motorcycles, take a look.
