Truimph Here For 1995
TRUIMPH HERE FOR 1995
Riding a crest off popularity, Triumph will introduce its line off motorcycles to the U.S. starting with the 1995 model year, said Michael Lock, Triumph export manager.
Triumph sold 6000 units in Europe in 1993, reported Lock, and the entire 1994 production run is already spoken for. Buoyed by that performance, the company is expanding its Hinckley, England, plant in preparation for tackling the U.S. market, once the largest sales arena for the old Triumph company. “We’re excited about things; the time is right to be in the American marketplace,” said Lock.
As reported in January’s Roundup, after looking at several distributorship options, Triumph decided to set up its own U.S. operation. Headquarters will be in the Atlanta, Georgia, area. Lock said that the U.S. will get the entire 10-bike line of Triumph’s current modular Triples and Fours, with the possible exception of the 750 Trident standard. He expects a ’95 price range of between $7500 and $15,000, and hinted that a lighter-weight, higher-performance sportbike may be in the works, as well as a su per motard-sty le roadbike.
Lock didn’t want to be pinned down on sales forecasts for the U.S. market, but did say that Triumph would be happy with “Ducati or BMW” levels, which would put sales between 2500 and 4000 units per year.
“The first year or so, we won’t have complete stateside coverage,” Lock said. “We’d like 50 or 60 dealers in four key sales areas, the Northeast, the industrial Midwest, the South and California. We’re going to start small, but don’t plan to stay small.” -David Edwards
