Triumph Rumors 08 - 200mph Hurricane Superbike and Mid-Size Rocket

[Rincewind]

Folks in England are reporting that Triumph has been testing a large superbike model.  There's talk that this is the resurrection of the Hurricane project from a few years ago.  The Hurricane project was their 200mph Busa-beater, based on a 4-cylinder.  This seems to go against their current ethos of twins and triples, but who cares?

MCN had a picture of the Hurricane on one of it's covers, but it was the same picture from years ago when the bike was being developed.  Now they have a new picture out.  



Here's the text from that pic: "We're on the hunt.  We’ve had a tip-off that a much-awaited all-new superbike is about to hit a European test track sometime soon, so we’ve sent off our snappers to track it down.  We can’t say too much at the moment in case we give the whole game away and tip-off the test team we are tracking down.   But with any luck we’ll have some cracking shots of the foreign exotica being put through its paces by a range of test riders by next Wednesday. "  The license plate number has been traced - it's a Triumph.

MCN Hurricane link

MCN is also reporting in this week's issue that a new power bike is being seen in the hills of England.  This is the 2/3-Rocket which was rumored about last year.  MCN 1500 Rocket link.  From the brief synopsis: "Also spotted is Triumph’s Harley-beater. The new British-built 1500cc twin has been spotted near their Hinkley base. The bike is is expected to be seen in the showroom in Autumn 2007."

[garry]

The bike in the pic is a 1298cc Triumph. The good lads over at T595.net have traced the license plate number down in a government database. That was a four-cylinder prototype. Maybe Triumph is considering putting out a 1300cc replacement for the Trophy to compete with bikes like the new ZX-14/Connie...

[bubba zanetti]

Oh goody !!!     ... I love a mystery  

[Schneegz]

I'm surprised that Triumph would bring back an I-4 after all the hoopla about building exclusively I-3s and I-2s.  And, as long as we're discussing Triumph rumors, where the hell is the Speed Triple 675, dammit!  

[ChuckBecker]

Oh my gosh, so much news, what to say?  I really hate the idea that Triumph would build an I4 to compete with Suzuki and Kawasaki.  Massive project, and they're putting themselves back in the same position they were in with the TT600 and 600/650 Daytona's.  If they don't come out on top, speed wise, they lose.  I don't know what the capacity limit on the 1050 engine is.  I've seen Sprint ST's showing true 160mph top speeds.  With some energetic tuning and good aeros, Triumph out to be able to get 175mph from a Daytona 1050.  Fast enough to be a contender, retain their uniqueness, far cheaper than an all-new all-different bike.

I'd much rather see that than an I-4.

As for a water cooled, parallel twin cruiser, I guess they have to do something.  I hear they're selling all the Rocket III's they can make.  But they don't have a bike to compete in the entire middle of that market.  They're going to have to pull a miracle with the styling, as tall as the Rocket III engine is...

[Snowdog]

Just remember that this comes from MotorCycle News, though MCN is more usually taken to stand for Mostly Crap & Nonsense. If Triumph made every bike they have been rumoured to be developing by MCN the factory would have to be the size of a small country.

[goodhawk]

The bit about possible Tri mini sp. triple -675 - I agree.  But - I think it'd be pretty easy to remove the Day. 675 fairing, put on the twin H'lights from speed triple, Helibars, there ya go.  Depending, of course - on the Daytona 675 intro story, I think in Motorcyclist mag, a tri guy said the 675 engine was styled to look good without fairing, even on Daytona.
I wonder about the wisdom of a high perf. big bike - is that logical? ( bigger than a new Daytona with a tuned engine from the Sp. Triple . . .)

[Mookie]

Oh my gosh, so much news, what to say?  I really hate the idea that Triumph would build an I4 to compete with Suzuki and Kawasaki.  Massive project, and they're putting themselves back in the same position they were in with the TT600 and 600/650 Daytona's.  If they don't come out on top, speed wise, they lose.  I don't know what the capacity limit on the 1050 engine is.  I've seen Sprint ST's showing true 160mph top speeds.  With some energetic tuning and good aeros, Triumph out to be able to get 175mph from a Daytona 1050.  Fast enough to be a contender, retain their uniqueness, far cheaper than an all-new all-different bike.

I'd much rather see that than an I-4.

As for a water cooled, parallel twin cruiser, I guess they have to do something.  I hear they're selling all the Rocket III's they can make.  But they don't have a bike to compete in the entire middle of that market.  They're going to have to pull a miracle with the styling, as tall as the Rocket III engine is...

The baby 675 will go at least 165 mph (according to the speedometer at least) and it's terribly unaerodynamic.  I don't think they'll have any trouble at all cracking 180 or 190 with a similarly highly tuned 1050 daytona or whatever it is they are planning.  With 1300+cc's and some good aerodynamics I'm sure they could do it, the real question is, "Why?"  

[crispiegee1]

I agree with ChuckBecker and with Mookie.  I would much rather see a triple than an inline four, lest Triumph be back in a "copy-the-Japanese bikes" mode.  The triple is a great configuration and unique to Triumph.

Mookie ponders, "The question is: Why?"  I also agree.  What does Triumph gain by building the new top speed king?  It sure wouldn't interest me, unless it was a better sport touring bike than the Sprint ST.

I disagree with you, Mookie, that the Daytona 675 is unaerodynamic... not that they couldn't make it MORE aerodynamic.  It would just end up looking fugly... like a Hayabusa!    (I keed!  I keed!)

The baby 675 will go at least 165 mph (according to the speedometer at least) and it's terribly unaerodynamic.  I don't think they'll have any trouble at all cracking 180 or 190 with a similarly highly tuned 1050 daytona or whatever it is they are planning.  With 1300+cc's and some good aerodynamics I'm sure they could do it, the real question is, "Why?"  

[ChuckBecker]

Secondly, the Triumph Hurricane is not a massive project because a lot of the research & development was already done a number of years ago.  It seems to me that it would be one of the easiest projects for them because they only need to finish it off.

Might be easy, but if any significant time has passed it could turn out to be a lot bigger job.  Not just the technology (not just engine, look at how frames are fabricated now compared to just a few years ago) developing, but the target is moving.  Granted, Triumph has had some very decent I-4's.  I just think they're better off sticking with Triples...

[bubba zanetti]

Might be easy, but if any significant time has passed it could turn out to be a lot bigger job.  Not just the technology (not just engine, look at how frames are fabricated now compared to just a few years ago) developing, but the target is moving.  Granted, Triumph has had some very decent I-4's.  I just think they're better off sticking with Triples...

Could be that they just used a four exhaust muffler to disguise a new triple and make folks think that they had brought the old bike out of mothballs.  Ok ??  Now I gotta run back to my conspiracy and coverup novel.    

[stk0308]

On the topic of speed chasing I'd like to remind you all that Triumph was the first manufacturer to tell the EU to f@ck-off with a 120hp 1200 Daytona, and never agreed to their stupid 100hp 'gentlemens agreement'.  I doubt they've agreed to the 300 kph limit either.  Something to ponder.

[bluedogok]

Could be that they just used a four exhaust muffler to disguise a new triple and make folks think that they had brought the old bike out of mothballs.  Ok ??  Now I gotta run back to my conspiracy and coverup novel.    

That is what I was thinking, use the Hurricane prototype and stuff a new triple in it for testing. If that is like the exhaust tips on the Sprint, that is just a decorative piece and why change it out for testing.

[Schneegz]

Count me in the camp that would prefer Triumph maintain their maker of twins and triples image.  However, I don't think a bored and stroked 1050 is the way to go.  I think they need a whole new engine.  I propose an in line triple exactly twice the displacement of the 675, which would yield 1350cc.  This bike would compete with the ZX-14 (ZZR1400 for those across the pond), Busa and BMW K1200S.  Triumph could then build a new Trophy based on the same engine and chassis, but with shaft drive, just as Kawasaki did with the Concourse.

What I really want from Triumph, though, are a Speed Triple and a Tiger based on the Daytona 675 engine and chassis.  I'm disappointed to not hear any news on the development of such bikes.  

[Snowdog]

The bike in question is subject to a SORN - Statutory Off Road Notice. Triumph have declared that it is off the road and so it cannot be legally used on the road.Therefore that picture was either taken inside the factory grounds or, more likely considering its in MCN, it is a four year old picture. Triumph do usually run their test bikes, suitably disguised, on the road.

Always take everything in MCN with a pinch of salt - they are renown for talking bollocks.

[forester]

Personally, I think 200+ MPH bikes are completely impractical...






























....and 100% a GREAT IDEA to produce!  Go Hinkley, GO!

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

....the real question is, "Why?"  

The real question is "why not?"

Speed sells, folks.  Suzuki would sell zero 'Busas if they only went 120.  Kawasaki couldn't pay me to buy a fugly ZX-14 if it wouldn't be ridiculously fast.

So a "King of the Hill" speed demon makes sense- if they can pull it off.

On the other hand, I'd not be interested if it is a I4.  The world is full of cookie-cutter fours.  Triumph sold me on the Sprint because of the I3 engine and its glorious sound.

[garry]

Bikes like the Busa and ZX-14 aren't just about top speed. They're also about having an endless/effortless power available at all RPMs in a sporty bike with sane ergos. I rarely hit triple digits, but I'd love to own a ZX-14 after test riding one this past June. Handled well, good brakes, good suspension and more smooth, controllable power than you'll ever need. Great fun.

[Schneegz]

This is what the guys at T595.net came up with when they ran the plates.

Date of Liability 01 12 2006
Date of First Registration 04 12 2002
Year of Manufacture 2002
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1298CC
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type Petrol
Export Marker Not Applicable
Vehicle Status SORN Expired
Vehicle Colour BLACK

That is an old picture!

[crispiegee1]

I'm a broken record on this, but I'd still rather have Triumph focus their energies on building a Sprint 675 - basically a Daytona with more comfortable seat and ergos, a bit higher windscreen and more relaxed handlebars.  It would be lighter than the 1055 Sprint and more economical to run besides.

If they built that, I'd forget all other bikes.  

As cool as a Triumph hyper-GT is, it sure wouldn't be anything I'd ever consider buying.