Norton History - 1

There were some abortive attempts at revival - Norton, Hesketh, Quasar - in the interim, but it wasn’t until John Bloor resurrected Triumph a decade later that the British motorcycle industry made a real comeback. Bloor’s success came because he continues to upgrade and improve his production line equipment, has stringent quality control and keeps his company focused on the competition to find new trends, technologies and styles. Triumph has also identified owner loyalty as a large part of the marketing, and catered to it through its own line of branded products, magazines, web site and riders’ clubs - taking a page from the very successful Harley Davidson.

Motorcycling is enjoying a boom in the new millennium. Sales have risen (in Canada alone, sales for 2000 were up 28 per cent over 1999 and up 28 per cent again in 2002), as a generation of baby boomers with disposable incomes want to recapture their youth turn to motorcycles as the time machine to bring it back for them. Triumph, recognizing this market, has in its mix several models that provide the nostalgic styling and evocative lines that recall those younger days, including a newly launched Bonneville. Ironically, trading in the now-vintage and classic bike market is stronger than ever, propelled by enthusiasts trying to keep alive the spirit of British motorcycling in its heyday. It was a special time, and it should never be forgotten.