Thames Valleys Triumph

Sept 27th

By kind invitation of Roger part of the Thames Valley Massive (well 2300cc is massive), we were invited on a factory tour of the Triumph Factory.

Covert messages passed around, and at 9.30 0n a Wednesday morning I was found at a secret location 60 miles from home (ok it was “on yer triumph” near Aylesbury) soon to be met by Baz and finally (late) the rest of the vultures and a Steve and Nick.

Having ooohed and aaahed at the bikes in the dealership, we headed off on a very spirited ride down very scenic country roads, chasing a sales guy on a speed triple. It was fun.

Lunch in a pub near to the factory, and the shock return of our deposit money, apparently they keep it as your lunch money, result.

Repast over and a short trip to the factory. Sadly cameras had to be left behind here.

The main entrance is like a small gallery in itself with a “to die for” flat tracker just waiting to leap from the stand.

A brief resume of the history of triumph over coffee, and then looking not unlike radio controlled cybermen with our radio-linked headphones we followed our guide around.

To say the warehouse is impressive is an understatement, and then we reach the real industry, we were taken through the whole process from grinding and machining cases and cranks, to assembly of engines and complete bikes.

Not being a great engineer, the talk of cases and cranks did little for me, but seeing the bikes assembled was fascinating. Eddie was fascinated by all things bolt like.

They can fill and bleed a whole brake system in less than a minute, oh how we wish dealers could, and you see the bikes grow before your eyes..

At the end of the tour we caught glimpses of the new models for 2007, but no real secrets given away. The new tiger looks interesting.

So then time to head home, after a couple of outside photo’s and Barry led back down all the nice roads again, and still at enthusiastic rates.

A great day out and a big thanks to Rog and Centre 12 for the invite.

Triumph run two tours daily and they have to be prebooked via the dealers, up to 20 people per tour.