Go Your Own Way - Miles Apart

A Bike Is Born – It all starts in a small town that lies at the very heart of England. It was the centre of the Roman Empire in this country - called High Cross - and now forms a crucial link in the Midland's comprehensive rail and motorway network; yes this is the Town of Hinckley the home of Triumph.

From the design table in research and development we find a well tuned and highly dedicated members working feverishly to design that ultimate Triumph. Having some of the best designers onboard it is no wonder that we see Triumph taking a firm foothold in the motorbike market today. The Daytona 675 clinching the Sound of Thunder Championship in the penultimate round at Pembrey 2/3 September 2006.

To the factory floor these designs are turned into high quality machines within a factory with some of the best machinery and manufacturing procedures in the world. However it is not all machines that make the quality end product that we see. The people on the factory floor are as dedicated as any found in the Triumph factory. Insuring that only the best quality will be acceptable, giving those final finishing touches like the hand painted pin strips we find on some models. Even going as far as to sign there names on the underside of the petrol tank as there personal mark of achievement and quality.

The personal touch does not stop here as we see a high quality magazine being sent out to all Triumph owners globally, the Torque. The Torque keeps owners up to date with new trends within the Triumph network as well as events organized by the RAT Packs (Riders Association of Triumph).

The Communities – Triumph must have one of the most diverse list of owner around. They come from all walks of life and various professional backgrounds.

Some are into the nostalgic retro bikes kindling a lost error of Rock ‘n Roll, Café racing and groups of passionate bikers. Coming together in the time when biking was as much an art as a passion of the open road and the feeling of freedom. We find them lovingly talking about there Bonneville’s, Thruxton or just the plain old vintage Triumph tucked away someplace waiting to be taken out on that special run or event.

Other are more into the touring aspect and the calling of the long open roads and spaces. They have a variety of high class bikes to choose from like the Sprint ST, the new all improved Tiger and a list of older models that just won’t die. For them it is all about going places and not being in a hurry to get there. The enjoyment of the ride, the destination just being an end point to a magnificent outing.

Let’s not forget about our Sports bike fans the calling of high performance is match by the Daytona and Speed Triple giving you enough power to get the bravest of them shaking. These high performance bikes have proved themselves in the marketplace matching and beating anything else out there today. These are the enthusiasts that need to be able to get the adrenaline way up there and seek the thrills of high speed chase.

Now take them all place them in a pot shake it up and you have your RAT packs made up of the die hard Triumph enthusiast that just need to share there passion with others just like them. Brining Triumph riders together on outing and group event is what these RAT packs are all about. Backed by Triumph dealers and well organized pack leader these are the places to be if you would like to belong to a tremendous diverse group of riders. Nothing else can beat the feeling of a day out with like minded people enjoying the same exhilaration for riding and being a part of a community.

However you Triumph communities don’t stop there we have a number of great meeting places in cyberspace where from the comfort of your own home you are able to share stories and ideas with other across the globe. These are places like triumphtalk.com, bonnevilleamerica.com and .triumphrat.net to mention but a few. This is a time to reflect on a day’s ride or that modification you just need to share with others, a place to sit back relaxes and just have fun.

The Dealers – Is this to be the weak link in the vision John Bloor has of a machine with a well oiled chain of detail and quality. We here reports of dealers using the Triumph as a mere commodity with no attention to the true sole and heritage of this outstanding machine.

Fortunately all is not lost as we have dealers that see this as more than just another bike. They respect and value the vision and determination that Mr Bloor had in making this machine a true player in today’s market. They cherish the roots as much as the owners closing the link from the past towards the future. We hear stories of such dedication towards the fulfilment of outstanding after sales service and attention to details, that a rider will travel around 1000km (620 Miles) just to be able to make use of there services. One such player is our very own Traditional Triumph Edenvale South Africa giving a new meaning to a Triumph only shop.