Just sent this to the editor at Motorcycle Consumer News...
Quote:
In Scott Rousseau’s article “Moto Guzzi Black Eagle” in the May 2011 issue, he states that Moto Guzzi is the third oldest continuously operating motorcycle brand behind Royal Enfield and Harley Davidson. That is incorrect. Triumph Motorcycles is the oldest continuously operating motorcycle company in the world.
Triumph traces their roots all the way back to 1883, taking the name “Triumph” in 1896 and building their first motorcycle in 1902. In 1983, Triumph did file bankruptcy, but was bought (before the bankruptcy was completed) by John Bloor. John Bloor hired Les Harris to continue building Bonneville’s under the Triumph name to keep Triumph in continuous production. Triumph Motorcycles is still producing motorcycles and is showing no signs of slowing .
Harley Davidson started as a company in 1903, but did not complete building their first motorcycle until 1904, then did not sell a motorcycle until 1905 (they sold three that year).
Royal Enfield did start building bicycles with small engines in 1900 (Triumph started doing this in 1895). Production completely stopped in 1905 and was revived in 1910 with a 425cc V-Twin. The actual English Royal Enfield company completely closed their doors in 1970. In 1955, Madras Motors formed “Enfield India” in India to assemble Enfield Bullets (with all the parts shipped in from the U.K.) for the Indian government. Enfield India was a completely separate company from Royal Enfield. Enfield India sold their motorcycles branded as “Enfield” not “Royal Enfield”. They did not acquire the rights to the Royal Enfield name until 1995.
The Royal Enfield company that currently exists, did not start until 1955. The Royal Enfield company that would have been the oldest continually operating company closed their doors in 1970, Triumph Motorcycles is the oldest continually operating motorcycle company in the world.
