Triumph gearing to launch low capacity bikes
Triumph is developing new product at the opposite end of the spectrum, in the form of a small-displacement, single-cylinder beginner’s bike. The Street bike is mainly targeted to the 250cc category class. The bike will be produced at Triumph’s Thai factorie.
The Street Single will be presented in 2012 and will be powered by a liquid-cooled, four-valve, single-cylinder engine displacing 267 to 350cc, depending on where it’s sold. This will be a potent rival for the Indo-Austrian KTM 350 Duke in developing markets, and a distinctive and desirable alternative in America to the Kawasaki Ninja 250 and Honda CBR250R.
We could expect this bike to make an entry in India as Triumph has officially announced its entry into the India two-wheeler market. Triumph is currently working to develop small capacity bikes for India which it hopes to launch in about three years.
The UK based company is currently gearing up for big bike assembly here, along with setting up a sales and service network to cater to major Indian cities. While doing so, Triumph has rightly identified a good long-term strategy for India that involves making affordable bikes with smaller engines, with more mass appeal in this important market.
Triumph first announced its entry into this two-wheeler market in 2011, and revealed competitive, well thought-out pricing for its existing bike line-up at the January held Auto Expo. Seven Triumph’s will first land in India, starting with the famous classic bike born in 1959, the 865cc Bonneville that shall be offered at an affordable Rs 5,50,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi), going all the way up to the world’s largest capacity production bike, the 2300cc Rocket III Roadster to come in at approximately Rs 22 lakh.