Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Was at the dealer today...

"Does this tank make me look fat?"

I dont see where as this thread moved along, that the term "ugly" was used other than by Satxron in his post, who seemed to read something or create a whole new thread by injucting ugly into the thread. Its like a "pc" post, not to hurt the feelings of non-old tank owners.

It seems pretty clear that the new tank is a sharp look, just not a heritage look that most of us believe fits with the twin. Is not like anyone is advocating treating new model owners like red headed step children.

If I had never seen the old tank, the new one would look a lot nicer to me. But, the "old" America - S/M tank doesn't look near as nice to me as the one that was on my '49, maybe they should have gone with that style.

Actually, this thread had two points and only the tank preference point is being adressed. The other point is whether or not Triumph management, in this case represented by a factory rep, cares what the buying public (especially us loyal BA riders) thinks of their designs. I suppose free market economics will decide that, but then again, I am old enough and well read enough to have seen both the Triumph car company and the triumph motorcycle co. go under by mismanagement and ignorance of public taste. I am just loyally concerned.

I believe in the end the co cares what the buyer thinks. They do want to sell bikes after all. That rep probably couldn't give fairys fig what anyone thinks as long as his pay check gets signed. The co. also doesn't care what you or I think just what will sell.

Well, as I looked around at the pictures in the "show yourself" site last week, I was surprised (maybe I shouldn't have been?) at the number of guys who looked my age. So if they are concerned about future sales they had better care what we think. Also, since I have old Trumpets, like you do Ian, you'll understand I was instantly attracted by the marriage of new styling and old styling on my BA, so I figure the marketing guys are trying to straddle the fence between us old geezers and the younger cruiser crowd. If they take away the old styling bits that we find attractive, they will loose half their base sales of this model, and I would hate that.

I agree 100% and was attracted by those same points. I would never have purchased a new Triumph if it hadn't been an air cooled vertical twin and with the semi-nostalgic look. I really liked the T-100 and that line but wanted the forward controls and such, to me the America and Speedmaster are very much like what I would want to do to a T-100 if I had it with no other option. I would have liked a valve train similar to the old bikes, so easy to adjust, can be done in about 15 min. Would have liked a kickstart even if it had the electric start too. Would have like a point conversion kit too. If that expensive CDI goes slap some points in there.

Ian,we agree so much, they'd better keep up apart. Ditto the valve train, kickstart, points, (you know those young pups are gonna laugh at us!) Anyway, I wish there was a way we could make the Co. more aware of our opinion, other than a sales rep who occasionaly reads us, and then with what sounds like disdain.

Being a salesman, I thought the arrogance of his view was foolish at best. To openly state that we will "come around" to his view that the new tank is progress and thus better was so self possessed, that if he had to actually sell to end user customers, he wouldnt make much money.I guess what cn be distressing in this, is that I assume that Triumph relies on its salesmen to forward what "we" want out here, and if he doesnt respect us, then he hardly can/will forward the truth, but only what he likes ( or his preferences, so if he likes sport bikes, then he would only endorse them, or if it was preference for tourers, etc ). That misinformation can damage what is produced and before they know it, they could have a Edsel or two on their hands and that can damage cash flow, money for product development, etc.


I also think that avoiding websites because on gets too peeved ( in about 5 or 10 minutes ) and has to log off, is a way of avoiding others views ( ones that dont jibe with his ), and again, does he really respect Triumph's customers?

All very good points and I agree, I also think, as you said ,that is no way to keep the product in line with the buyers desires.

I still think the new bike looks great, but like many others here, I just don't see it as an "improvement". I owned an old Triumph and when I went to the showroom to look at the new (Hinkley) Triumphs, I went to see the Bonneville and T100. I ended up buying the America that very day because I loved the cruiser that retained the classic styling features of the original. The tank, wire wheels, twin headers, fake air filter chrome covers all kept the classic aspects in a design way more to my liking. I actually wanted a cruiser, but loved the classic Triumphs.

I suppose the next thing to go, now that EFI is coming, is dropping the fake air filter covers. I'm sure it will be a beautiful bike, but it does appear they are separating the cruisers further from the classics. I love my '05 more every day and the changes will probably make me want to keep it longer than I ever imagined.

Why would they drop the fake air cleaner covers? They didn't need them from day one. They're just a design element. You think they're going to continue "modernizing" the look?

Double ditto to Dog and Henery's last post.

In some corporations, the field agents DO actually acquire the info to feed to the corporate mother ship and can, if the upper level guys decide they wish to accept it, be influenced by it. It all depends on the company and the people employed within it.

Well Todd, if you're lucky enough to work for such a company(and rarity indeed), then my advice to you is...NEVER LEAVE dude!

The probelm is buyouts, I ve been 5 of them in the last 10 years, and they dont always keep everyone ( this year's version has gone okay though ).