A propos of nothing in particular and more LBB (read bike rather than bus)
than LBC related, I saw evidence today of how the Triumph motorcycle has
evolved since passing into the hands of its current owners. I know this
isn't a bike forum - but I hope I'm forgiven for using it as a comparison of
product names - past, present and future.
This morning, I was minding my own business in town when several Triumph
motorcycles drew up outside my favourite coffee shop. The guys in their
leathers were, shall we say 'mature' men and it transpired they were all
friends reliving an earlier youth. In point of fact, they'd all had 60th
birthdays and as they'd met years before as owners of Triumph Tiger Cubs,
they'd all agreed that the big 60th would see them buying a NEW Triumph
bike. This past weekend had seen them reliving their youth as a foursome
with machines newly delivered within the last 4 weeks.
Personally, I've always loved Triumph bikes - both pre and postwar, though
I've never owned one and today was the first time I'd had the chance to see
the latest versions of some of the current product range. The Rocket III
Classic was a delight, as were two Bonnevilles and a Bonny T100. Superbly
finished, unmistakably Triumph bikes and all making a very distinctive
noise. I was enchanted and admired them for all of 20 minutes before leaving
for home and lunch.
As I trudged down the road, I reflected that Siegfried Bettmann would have
been proud to see the two wheeled product bearing his brand-name was in such
good hands and still under totally British ownership and management. I just
wish the same could be said for the four-wheeled variant because I'm pretty
damned sure that if BMW ever does make a Triumph car, it'll probably look as
unconvincing as a Triumph, as BMW's interpretation of what a Rolls Royce
should look like. No doubt the (Bavarian) Royce is a technically impressive
piece of transportation, but whenever I occasionally see one, I'm reminded
of the many surviving concrete blockhouses that once formed part of the
Atlantic Wall and can still be seen along the north coast of France. VW have
IMHO done a better job with the Bentley but both these prestigeous makes
have lost their visual pedigree. I guess the TR9 (or whatever it's one day
called) might resemble a hammerhead shark - or worse. Ah, well ......
Apologies for BW
Jonmac
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