1979: Can Triumph Survive? | Man Alive | BBC Archive

Comments · 495

• RO

  @Roger.Coleman1949 · 7 months ago

  I took a friend in late 1981 who was on considerably more earnings than me to buy a new T140ES Bonneville at one of the last Triumph dealers in Uxbridge , it cost £2000 on the road with optional upgraded front brake ,  seeming a fortune at the time. It was one of the last Meriden made machines , the silencers were engraved ' made under the Triumph co-operative '.3 years later , I bought the bike and still own it till this day .I recall at the free 500 mile serivce, a replacement timing gear was fitted   , an upgrade to prevent possible catastrophic damage when using the electric starter !.They told us that they were determined to overcome  reliabilty issues compared with Japanese machines  , and in fairness , the bike has never leaked oil or even had the engine dismantled and used extensively on many memorable trips. Now used only in the summer months only and not as hard as I used to ride it, despite many other great motorcycles I have owned it is one of my favourites , I love the bike and feel immensely proud riding it - probably mad but true !.

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• ST

  @starbarrothschild6597 · 7 months ago

  For me, a 67 year old bike loving Brit,  this is very sad, indeed painful to watch.

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• LU

  @lucast4989 · 7 months ago

  These old BBC documentaries are absolutely brilliant.. they're so well produced and well edited that it seems almost like an acted Movie.   The quality of the story and production filming can still hold up today.    This video could still be shown at University courses on business history.

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• A3

  @a34rwl · 7 months ago

  The spirit of those men. It makes me want to cry.

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• HA

  @hamishsheapelletier9920 · 7 months ago

  I still have my '77 Bonneville,  thanks to all that were involved in producing it.❤

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• SP

  @splodge57 · 7 months ago

  I bought a new Bonneville in 1978 and again in 1982. Absolutely loved them. I now ride a 2020 Triumph Speed Twin 1200. John Bloor done a great job relauching them. I know they are now made in Triumphs factory in Thailand but thats the way it is today. I still like riding a bike from a British company.😊

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• DA

  @DaveFiggley · 7 months ago

  Love the old boy doing the pinstriping by hand. Triumphs may have many shortcomings but they always had the most beautiful paintwork.

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• TU

  @turboslag · 7 months ago

  The British motorcycle industry suffered from terminal complacency in the 60s. They could sell everything they made to the USA and thought it would go on forever. They didn't reinvest the profits they were making during that time into updating and retooling their ancient prewar factories, that was fatal.  Edward Turner of Triumph went on a fact finding tour of the Japanese factories in the 60s and was shocked by what he saw. Modern highly efficient plants turning out 10s of thousands of advanced machines. He returned and wrote a comprehensive report, warning the British makers that unless they woke up and responded to this competition, the industry was doomed to failure. He was ignored and told he didn't know what he was talking about. The Japanese just produced mopeds, the British produced proper bikes. The rest is history.  Ironically, the same is now happening to the legacy manufacturers with the onset of the Chinese and Indian manufacturers. The British, European and American manufacturers are pricing themselves out of the market. Motorcycles costing upwards of £12000 are just ridiculous!!  Cars can be bought for that!!

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• TE

  @TechnoJonny · 7 months ago

  The bike that's being ridden out @ 33.07 is still on the DVLA system FVC111T, although it's now green.

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• MI

  @MichaelGillett-c9w · 7 months ago

  Man alive won’t be allowed nowadays it’s too truthful. It was a really good program. I used to really enjoy that and I was only a child but it was on then I’m now 63.

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• TU

  @turboslag · 7 months ago

  Despite the gloom and despondency of the time, which I recall well, it was great to see British bikes rolling off the production line. And that Triumph riding lady in the earls court segment, what a star!!  Riding her bike as daily transport at her age and so petite, such spirit and optimism!

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• RO

  @Roger.Coleman1949 · 4 months ago

  John Rosamond , chairman of the worker's co-operative , R.I.P

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