Boy, this topic could spin into the "they're not real Triumphs" area so fast. I mean, these Thai-built Triumphs weren't built in England, won't have lots of Brit components, etc..., never mind that they will still be designed, engineered, and "born" in Hinckley. Yep, I'm sure pretty much the same argument any "true" Triumph (pre-Hinckley of course) owner could say about our bikes. Yeah, they were built in England of course, but not only by the likes of the afore-mentioned Alfie, but maybe by a guy named Bhanuprasad (who moved to Hinckley from Delhi, India), or Chan from Hong Kong, or whatever, but our bikes don't have Amal carbs, or Lucas Electrics, or even come with proper Avon Tyres, so how can we really say they're English. For God's sake, the electrics are built by the Hun!!!!(Siemens!) Hey, just ask the Brit Iron Rebels, they'll be sure to tell us that our bikes aren't classical Triumphs, cause they're bastardized standard Bonnies! Yes, it's each persons choice to spend their hard earned money on what they want, and choose to buy stuff based on where it was built, just seems kind of silly. Yeah, it was my hard earned money, but it would have been a cold day in HELL before I would have spent $8000 on a Sportster (uncomfortable, not great styling) or even a Honda (reliable as a bullet, but styling of an appliance, IMO), just because my Triumph wasn't built in Hinckley. That's my choice too. I loved the bike first, and the history and tradition too, but that's just me. So, feel free to buy a Sporty or a Vulcan, just means I get to stay exclusive and not see myself coming/going.
