It was a long time ago: but once England was a leader in the motorcycle world with engines like the Triumph Speed Twin. Things went wrong after that due to error management and strikes. Madness destroys more than you like.
But before he became practically unmanageable, Edward Turner was a genius. He is the inventor of the British parallel win.
The father of the Triumph Speed Twin
In 1938, Edward Turner and Bert Hopwood created the legendary 5T 'Speed Twin'. Drilling and stroke of the 500 cc Speed Twins were the same as the older 250 cc single cylinders. And so 2x became 250 cc ... 500 cc. Easy! The 5T proved very successful and became the basis for all Triumph-blocks until the eighties. The first model delivered 26 pk, weighed 165 kg and ran faster than 140 km / h. The first appeared in 1938 Triumph that could reach 'the ton' (100 miles per hour), the 500 cc Tiger T100. And in the early 500s, a XNUMX two-cylinder was still a heavy motorcycle. The bike in the pictures even has rear suspension. That was the 'Sprung Hub', the 'sprung hub' that didn't spring much and was absolutely deadly launching its springs when carelessly mounted, but still: it sprung.
Export to the USA
So after the war must also be the success of Triumph are placed in the States. In the context of the compensation of the costs incurred by the Americans, the 'loan and lend' system, almost three-quarters of the Triumph production to the USA. There, the brand was embraced by young Americans who did not think Harleys fast enough.
And quickly, those were the Triumphs yes
And for their time they did not steer and brake unkindly either. But they had their limitations. When I was about sixteen years old, I often came to a municipal officer who was tinkering with motorcycles day and night while retaining sick pay. He also traded in motorcycles. The early seventies was one Triumph Speed Twin just an old motorcycle. A pretty good copy didn't cost much. The Triumph Speed Twin who was standing there was adopted by a young woman / girl who was completely in love with the Triumph used to be. The key man had his doubts about selling such a heavy engine to such a small woman. But his resistance to female charm was unprecedentedly low.
Limited water resistant
I was there when the girl entered the workshop somewhat timidly, asking if it was bad if a motorcycle got wet. After some questioning back and forth the Triumph Speed Twin in the Vecht. Flew out of the corner. Unfortunately.
Now no more of those crazy things will happen to such a recognized classic
With five hundred cc the Triumph twin actually at its best. Strong enough and smoothly turning. Top! The 650 cc twins were also fine. But the 750 cc Triumphs their shoes had already grown. Not to mention the 850 cc Nortons. Every concept has its limits. Fortunately the Triumph Owners Club lively and active.
Fortunately there are still people who can work well on these British people
And the parts supply is fine. We also give our fashion model that was for sale at Dutch Lion Motors in Grubbenvoort a very pleasant life with a loving owner. And we hope it never gets as wet as the Triumph Speed Twin we were talking about.
