If I was in charge of Triumph

[eurofan]

first thing that I would do would be turning the rear light of the T509 as iconic as its twin headlights turned to be.

The T509/T595 are the most beautiful motorcycles Triumph has ever made and the rear of them is the most perfect rear I have ever seen in a motorcycle.

First motorcycle to get the rear like the T509/T595 would be a more versatile and classical version of the Street Triple that could be called Trident 675. Also, the headlights would be the more classical round units of the first Street triple.

[Mr.Black]

I would leave the business to those who know business and ride whatever bike that I wished.

[eurofan]

Second would be an R version of the Thruxton with 17" alloys, upside down fork, good brakes

[Roadscum]

Second would be an R version of the Thruxton with 17" alloys, upside down fork, good brakes

How much would you be willing to pay for that Thruxton R?

Regards, Paul

[eurofan]

How much would you be willing to pay for that Thruxton R?

Regards, Paul

Like the R versions of the Daytona, Street or Speed Triple it would have to be priced 15% above the regular model.

Third: A half-faired Sprint RS 800 ( with T509 rear)

fourth: 17" front wheel version of both Tigers 800 and 1200 (180 rear in the 1200).

[Stripes]

What Hinkley Triumph do you own now?

[garry]

I think Triumph is doing fine as-is. They're on a roll. Personally, I value really good suspension and brakes, so if I was to change anything it would be to upgrade the suspension to be fully adjustable forks and shock on any model with sporty intentions (Sprint, Tiger, Thruxton, etc).

[sammyseaman]

I think Triumph is doing fine as-is. They're on a roll. Personally, I value really good suspension and brakes, so if I was to change anything it would be to upgrade the suspension to be fully adjustable forks and shock on any model with sporty intentions (Sprint, Tiger, Thruxton, etc).

This ^^^^

[coucours grad]

I'd find whomever found and incorporated the Red flamed paint on the Thunderbird and give them a big fat farking raise, find the person who said no to putting it on the Rocket and FIRE THEM.....Make a full out effort to start winning some races so I could sit in the Box and drink free beer while watching and.....


    Instead of chasing BMW around the market place I'd get the engineers working on getting BMW to chase us....


    But I'd also go after the Asians by tightening up the quality on the bikes just a tad bit more and going head to head on the reliability aspect....beat them at their own game.


    There would also be a ROCKET III Saturn 5 limited production run....I'd have Carpenter Racing mod them for us....I'm thinking 235hp at the wheel and a kick ass paint job....Faaattt rear tire and braced front end.... Just to let Willy know who's boss.


    But what do I know???

   

[bomber]

Along with riding whateer the heck I wanted, I would take a page from BWM, but a huge weight in teh middle of each R&D area, and tell em to take 3% off every model's wet weight (without reduciing fuel or oil capactity) every year.

Except the Rocket -- which seems to need it's road crushing weight, and is so ugly to look at it makes my teeth hurt.

Other than that, I'l leave em alone -- they are going great guns, and I"m sure I would only FUBAR stuff.

[loadedmind]

As garry said, shocks & brakes.  Focus more on Center of Gravity/Balance.  I've had a couple Triumphs and I don't really see reliability being an issue with the more current models.  I have an '02 Trophy with just over 30k and no issues.  The Trophy forums has a few bikes that are 100k+ with no issues as well.  My last was a Speed Triple with no issues and just over 30k and more of the same from the S3 forums for higher mileage bikes.  But maybe I don't know the whole story.  Personally, I'd like to see a full fairing speed triple like they had in the early part of 2000 with the 955 engine.  Take the current Speed Triple, keep the Ohlins shocks and brakes, but make it full fairing with a slightly more aggressive triple tree and perhaps team up with Akrapovic or Termignoni for the exhaust.

[Rincewind]

1. Helmet locks integrated onto every bike

2. 4-way flashers on every bike (like the older models used to have)

3. Outdoor temp reading on the digital instrument clusters

4. Sensible 3-cylinder roadster model like the former Tridents

5. A tall 675cc motard

6. New superbike like the former T595

7. Get a new Speed Single 300cc global-market bike out to market

8. Re-engineer to extend maintenance intervals on all models to the same as the Explorer & Trophy - 10k minor, 20k major

9. More Triumphs in movies like we used to see

10. Better fuel efficiencies across the board

11. Thruxton with big bore kit, cast wheels, and cafe fairing

12. Expanded US dealer network

[bomber]

12. Expanded US dealer network

Good call -- most everything pales to insignificance when compared to this.

[Mr.Black]

Good call -- most everything pales to insignificance when compared to this.

Huh. We have two.

[Rincewind]

Huh. We have two.

My nearest dealer is nearly an hour away.  There are some states that only have 1-2 dealers, and quite a few which have 0.

[falconati]

Yep, dealer network.

[garry]

I guess it depends where you live. PA has a bunch of them (10?).

[maddjack]

I think Triumph is doing fine as-is. They're on a roll. Personally, I value really good suspension and brakes, so if I was to change anything it would be to upgrade the suspension to be fully adjustable forks and shock on any model with sporty intentions (Sprint, Tiger, Thruxton, etc).

 THIS  

Oh and a Under belly can on a few more models to eliminate the damm cut out in the bags, non ablity to mount soft bags due to fear of melt.

[motociclista]

The T509/T595 are the most beautiful motorcycles Triumph has ever made and the rear of them is the most perfect rear I have ever seen in a motorcycle.

I partially agree. I have always felt that the best angle to view my T509 (and I've been looking at it for 14 years now!) was from the five o'clock position. But I know it's not the most beautiful Triumph ever because it's only the second best looking Triumph in my garage (all IMHO, natch). Evidence:

[falconati]

Jesus that's a great-looking motorcycle

[motociclista]

Jesus that's a great-looking motorcycle

Thank you. Considering it's six years old, the design has aged very gracefully. Most six-year-old sportbikes look like clunky antiques.

Here's my ode to my 675: http://www.theridesofar.com/2012/09/09/the-luxury-of-an-unnecessary-thing-of-beauty/.

And just to keep somewhat close to being on topic, here's a gratuitous shot of my T509 from behind:

[eurofan]

Second would be an R version of the Thruxton with 17" alloys, upside down fork, good brakes

Apparently it's in the pipeline

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/General-news/2012/November/nov2712-new-mcn-nov-28/

[expatbrit]

Apparently it's in the pipeline

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/General-news/2012/November/nov2712-new-mcn-nov-28/

I always believe everything in MCN. Everything.

[Rincewind]

"Bonnie meets Speed Triple in modern take on Cafe Racer."  What a headline.  Please have a triple inside!  

[eurofan]

"Bonnie meets Speed Triple in modern take on Cafe Racer."  What a headline.  Please have a triple inside!  

I think it will be Bonnie frame and engine with Street triple fork and brakes.

Rear tire shoud be 150/70 for looks and handling.

[Rincewind]

I think it will be Bonnie frame and engine with Street triple fork and brakes.

Rear tire shoud be 150/70 for looks and handling.

That sounds less exciting to me.    Let's see a 800 triple in there already.  MV Agusta is taking a lead in putting their 800cc triple in both a Brutale and the Rivale supermotard thing.  Triumph needs to take up some slack and look beyond the a/c parallel twin for a sporting package.

[eurofan]

That sounds less exciting to me.    Let's see a 800 triple in there already.  MV Agusta is taking a lead in putting their 800cc triple in both a Brutale and the Rivale supermotard thing.  Triumph needs to take up some slack and look beyond the a/c parallel twin for a sporting package.

What you want already exits, it's called Street triple

[expatbrit]

That sounds less exciting to me.    Let's see a 800 triple in there already.  MV Agusta is taking a lead in putting their 800cc triple in both a Brutale and the Rivale supermotard thing.  Triumph needs to take up some slack and look beyond the a/c parallel twin for a sporting package.

I'm not sure they need the 800. If they do, I'm not sure they want the 800 out of the Tiger; it didn't seem to me to be as 'sporty' of an engine, while the MV 800 is definitely tuned that way. Haven't looked at bore/stroke comparisons, but their objectives appear clearly different.

That said, a new Legend? 675 Triple engine, cafe looks, and add good suspension? HAWT.

[Rincewind]

I'm not sure they need the 800. If they do, I'm not sure they want the 800 out of the Tiger; it didn't seem to me to be as 'sporty' of an engine, while the MV 800 is definitely tuned that way. Haven't looked at bore/stroke comparisons, but their objectives appear clearly different.

That said, a new Legend? 675 Triple engine, cafe looks, and add good suspension? HAWT.

While it's true that the 800 does not have quite the edge of the 675 in terms of top-end HP, it would still be vastly entertaining in a retro-standard package such as an updated Legend.  The 800 would be a more suitable engine for such a retro-triple, imo.  

Or just drop the retro pretense and make a Trident 800, as was suggested earlier.  Even more relevant would be a 800cc stripped-down supermoto, but that does not align with the MCN headlines.

[Rincewind]

Un-pixelated view of the new Bonnie test mule shows a twin with Ohlins springs, USD fork, Brembo twin front brakes, 17" wheels and maybe some rearsets.  

[crispiegee1]

1. Helmet locks integrated onto every bike

2. 4-way flashers on every bike (like the older models used to have)

3. Outdoor temp reading on the digital instrument clusters

4. Sensible 3-cylinder roadster model like the former Tridents

5. A tall 675cc motard

6. New superbike like the former T595

7. Get a new Speed Single 300cc global-market bike out to market

8. Re-engineer to extend maintenance intervals on all models to the same as the Explorer & Trophy - 10k minor, 20k major

9. More Triumphs in movies like we used to see

10. Better fuel efficiencies across the board

11. Thruxton with big bore kit, cast wheels, and cafe fairing

12. Expanded US dealer network

With the exception of being ambivalent about #11, I agree with Rincewind on all these points.