AGE IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A NUMBER

Triumph celebrates its 120th birthday this year, but the old boy that has built over one million bikes doesn’t show any signs of slowing down

Triumph’s history has not always been rosy, but it has been long – 120 years long – with plenty of highlights, and today the company is one of the big boys of motorcycling.

The very first production Triumph motorcycle went on sale in April 1902, starting the journey of one of the world’s best-known motorcycle brands with world-famous bikes, series of racing victories, and adulating fans the world over.

Triumph’s modern era began in 1990, seven years after the company had gone bust after struggling into the 80s. Triumph re-established itself with just a handful of new bikes and not much more staff, but it was a rise from the ashes. The new offering was completely new motorcycles, designed and built in a brand-new, state-of-the-art factory at Hinckley. Triumph was back in business under the new owner John Bloor.

In the three decades since the relaunch, Triumph has built and sold more motorcycles than at any previous time in its history. The last 12 months have been the most successful ever, with more than 75,000 bikes registered globally.

Triumph now boasts a workforce of over 3000, a network of more than 700 dealers in 57 countries, 13 sales and marketing offices around the world, and a turnover of £650 million. A new Triumph motorcycle is sold every 90 seconds. The Hinkley firm has come a long way from its humble beginnings.

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