Triumph Boss Talks
TRIUMPH BOSS TALKS
TRIUMPH BOSS JOHN BLOOR OWNS THE REPUTATION OF BEING the most elusive of the motorcycle business’s high-rollers. Nothing he’s done lately will change that impression, but Bloor, 49, who remains steadfast in his refusal to talk to members of the British press, recently granted an interview to Germany’s Motorrad magazine. The interview contained nothing really earthshaking, but did serve to reveal just a little bit more about Triumph Motorcycles Ltd., and the man behind it. High points include the following:
• That thanks to Great Britain’s favorable tax laws, Triumph already has written off its entire development cost, approximately $112 million.
• That Triumph will indeed begin selling motorcycles in Canada this year.
• That the company’s highest priority for next year is weight reduction, and, for later years, fitment of catalytic converters.
• That the company expects to sell 8000 motorcycles in 1993-3000 more than it sold in 1992.
• And that thanks to a general restyle of the Triumph line and the introduction of the Tiger P-D replica, the first 10 weeks of 1993 resulted in more orders than the company received in all of 1992.
The most tantalizing aspect of the interview involves the fact that Bloor made no mention of Triumph’s long-awaited return to the American motorcycle market. Current rumors hold that Triumph will return to the U.S. in the 1994 model year, and other rumors suggest that the line will be distributed alongside Ducatis through Cagiva North America. A Cagiva spokesperson says rumors of an agreement between the two companies are “without foundation.” Triumph sales and marketing manager Michael Lock said the same thing, but when asked by C W if negotiations between Triumph and Cagiva North America were under way, added, “I have no comment to make about that, I cannot give you a reply.” -Jon F. Thompson
