Triumph is the British motorcycle most people can name, and the parallel twin is the reason. For a buyer it is also one of the best-supported classics: the bikes are simple, the community is large and parts are easy to find.
Origins
Siegfried Bettmann's business became the Triumph Cycle Company in 1886. By 1902 it had built its first motorcycle, a bicycle fitted with a Belgian Minerva engine. The company that matters for classic buyers is the one that Edward Turner shaped in the 1930s.
The milestones
- 1937, the Speed Twin. A 500 cc vertical twin designed by Edward Turner, released in September 1937. It set the pattern for British twins for decades.
- 1959, the Bonneville. The T120 was a tuned twin-carburettor version of the Tiger T110, and it became known as the Bonneville.
- 1963, unit construction. From 1963 all Triumph engines had the engine and gearbox in one casing. Earlier twins are called pre-unit, and the two types share fewer parts than you might expect.
- Mid-1970s, Meriden. After a long sit-in by the workers to prevent closure of the Meriden factory, a co-operative continued production. Triumph Motorcycles (Meriden) went bankrupt on 23 August 1983.
- 1990, the restart. John Bloor bought the name and rights after the 1983 collapse and established a new company in Hinckley in 1990 and 1991. Modern Triumphs are a different story from the classics on this page.
What to know when buying
- Pre-unit or unit. Know which you are buying. Parts, handling and values differ, so check the year against the engine number.
- Numbers and papers. Many Triumphs have been rebuilt, re-engined or put together from parts. Check the frame and engine numbers against the papers. See frame and engine numbers.
- Oil and vibration. A British twin that never leaks is rare, and a little vibration is part of the character. A lot of either deserves a closer look.
- Originality. Bonnevilles are popular, and so are copies and bikes built up from other models. Ask for the history.
Parts and community
Parts supply for Triumph twins is among the best of any classic: specialists and clubs reproduce most wear parts. Start with finding parts, join a club through clubs and federations, and use the buying checklist before you pay. Browse what is on offer in the live auctions.
