2 places on the triumph factory tour for tomorrow - anyone want them?

have a wicked time spokey...wat a crackin freebie!!!

Well, traveled up to Hinkley today for the tour and was very glad I made the effort

Wasn't as polished a tour as I'd expected ( there were a few technical issues with the presentation, the number of people on the tour is restricted to 21 max - 24 people turned up ( which panicked them a bit - HSSE ), and was a problem as they didn't have enough ear protectors with intercoms - as this is the only way you can hear on the tour as they talk through the headphones which double as ear defenders ) but was still worthwhile.

Pick up from the gatehouse and take you over to the Factory 2 which is MASSIVE ... into reception and their tour chap comes down and takes up upstairs to a room with chairs and gives us a 15 minute presentation on the company.

Some interesting points -

The old Triumph and the new Triumph ( the new one being the rights to the name bought in the 80's by the bloke who owns "Bloor" home builders ) are totally unconnected - although they milk the heritage for all it's worth.
the biggest market for them is the USA and Canada which is over 25%

They have doubled their output from 25,000 bikes a year in 2004 to 51,000 bikes in 2007/8 ( this is the most bikes ever sold in a year during Triumphs history - including the old days )
There are 17 bikes in the range, they are bringing out a new 1600cc twin cruiser ( yeuch ) and WILL NOT be bringing out a 1000cc version of the 675 - the Sprint fills that gap supposedly.
They are concentrating on 2 and 3 cylinder models - no more 4 cylinders - to differentiate themselves from the competition.

They have a room off from this one which is a bit like a bike showroom with some bikes, and a load of clothing ( but you can't buy any of it which I though was an under sight on their part ) so we had a mooch round that looking at the bikes

Then we went for a walk round the factory - unfortunately, you aren't allowed to take camera's in - so no pics of the inside. They take you though a warehouse loaded with bikes in boxes ready to go out, and loads of tyres ( could have done with one of them ) - I managed to sneak a pic of this though - then into the machining area - lots of CNC machines, incredibly closely packed into a small space - with just about enough room to walk between them - never seen such a tightly packed machine shop.
VERY tidy though and seemed very well organised -

Next to that was the assembly line - this was quite small and compact compared to the size of the factory - but again - very well organised - consisting of a long 50 foot ish roller conveyor - air tools above, boxes and racks either side, with just about enough room to stand at the side of the conveyor and work on the engine as it rolled along the conveyor - the conveyor at the end made a bend and ran parallel to the last one and this carried on for about 5 or 5 rows - this was where the engines were made up - and the way they work, each engine on the conveyor could be different as they seemed not to do large batches of one of the other - the engines varied according to production plans, so you'd get a Rocket engine next to a twin, next to a speed triple. The guys each did a certain number of set tasks to each engine as it passed, like a typical production line.
Because all of the engines are black, they have special plastic covers that fit on all the engines to stop them getting scratched. When the engines are built, they are sealed and pressure tested - if the pressure test goes ok, they are run up ( engines going out as separate assemblies ) and passed off.

There is another similar production line that has a frame hanging from a rail, and as the rail goes round similar to the engine line, different components are fitted until you get a complete bike out the other end - this is then fueled and run on a dyno - if it's ok it gets inspected and passed, or if any defects are spotted ( such as a scratch or a chip) then it's returned for rectification.

It's quite a small compact operation, but seemed very well organised - the cleanliness and organisation was exemplary and the attention to detail was surprising - I would certainly have no hesitation saying that the bikes are very well designed and the assembly of them is of a very high standard indeed, and if I were in the market for a Triumph, would feel very reassured with regards to standards of manufacture.

the tour took about an hour - I would certainly recommend it if you get a chance.

Don't expect coffee and biscuits though ;o) You'll get a plastic cup of water if you're thirsty.

Thanks

Spokey

More pics

Two more

Another thing - apparently, the new twins are fuel injected, and the carbs are there for looks only - they don't actually do anything apart from feed air - but are required for the Retro look !!

bit dissapointing that they arnt doing or have no plans for a big daytona the 955i was amazing a 1050 version would be equally amazing well done to triumph for building **** hot bike's.

Thing is if they do a 1000cc sports bike, they are straight into R1 / Gixxer 1000 territory, and the comparisons are bound to be made - and I think they would in such company be bottom of the pile - and who wants to make a bike that is regarded as the bottom of the pile ?

it happened with the 955i too the journo's used too nittpick it for not being as fast or as light as the other's all the time missing the point the big daytona was making that it's just a damned good road bike that makes alot more sense on the brit roads than the others and why would they be bottom of the pile theyve single handdedly trumped the big four with the 675 no reason the big 1050 engine cant do the same.

No mention of a 675 Tiger cub?

Originally Posted by robchester

No mention of a 675 Tiger cub?

now that'd be a cracker i'd bet