I would venture to say that the members of this forum have put their wallets where their mouths are and actually bought these bikes. We have over 100 posts so far on this subject with about 50% of it negative. A split on focus groups is not really bad if you can count on selling to 50% of the population. We must keep in mind that this split means you will lose 50% of your loyal customers. You also lose 50% of the goodwill on the street. I cannot recommend to others who talk about my bike to go buy one. In my mind, I know its silly, its not the same bike.
Now, if I was Triumph and did a focus group of current owners and found 1/2 of them would walk as customers if I did something, I would listen.
I am left with one conclusion. They will build the 675 and the Sprint in England along with all the units to be sold in Europe. The U.S. and non European countries will get Thailand built bikes unless they are buying sport bikes.
The bikes they care least about will be made in Thailand as they could really care less if market share falls or not with the savings they realize on labor the profit will be the same or more. If sales fall from Thailand they can build and ship to Europe also again saving big money on salaries and government controls.
It all makes sense, I don't like it, but I understand it and they have lost me as a customer.
Dealers should have to disclose where it is made, not just a letter in the VIN>
