Resurrecting iconic names from the past will allow Triumph improved traction in retro segment that has been witnessing a renaissance of sorts across the globe
Triumph has busy days ahead, as it plans to enter multiple new markets and launch new products. The British brand is working to diversify its portfolio to include motocross bikes, electric motorcycles and smaller capacity single-cylinder bikes. The new entry-level bikes will be manufactured in India in collaboration with Bajaj. These will take on Royal Enfield in India as well as in the international markets.
Recent trademark applications reveal that Triumph is also working to revive iconic names such as Hurricane, Adventurer and Street Tracker. Trademark applications have been filed in multiple locations such as the US, UK, Australia and Canada. A similar approach is being utilized by BSA as well, that has recently filed trademark applications for Thunderbolt, Lightning and Bantam titles.
Triumph Hurricane can be a three-cylinder machine
In the US, Triumph has filed a trademark application for ‘Hurricane’ title. In comparison, the trademark paperwork in UK mentions ‘Triumph Hurricane’. As trademark application has been filed in the US, it reveals that Hurricane is likely to reach production stage. That’s because new rules in the US provide trademark protection only to names that will be used in near future. It is a way to prevent entities from registering names that they don’t intend to use. It helps avoid the so-called ‘deadwood’ trademarks.
Talking about Hurricane, the most common association is with the X-75 Hurricane. The bike was in production from 1972 to 1973. Designed by fairing specialist Craig Vetter, X-75 Hurricane used the same platform as that of Triumph Trident and BSA Rocket 3. X-75 Hurricane was specially designed for the US market. Interestingly, it was originally planned for launch under BSA brand. However, as the BSA factory shut down in 1972, the bike was launched as a Triumph. In production for just around a year’s time, fewer than 1,200 units were manufactured.
It is likely that Triumph will use a three-cylinder setup for the resurrected Hurricane. It will also borrow quite a few of the distinctive design elements. Triumph had tried to resurrect the Hurricane title earlier also, around two decades back. However, it was a completely different machine at that time.
It was the era of bikes like Suzuki Hayabusa and Kawasaki ZX-12R, when the focus was on horsepower and top-speed. Triumph was developing a challenger in the form of a 1,298cc four-cylinder bike, codenamed A13HC. HC was probably short for Hurricane. However, the project was eventually discontinued.
Triumph Adventurer – a middleweight scrambler
Trademark application for ‘Adventurer’ has been filed in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. Adventurer title has been used more than once in the past. One of the associations is with TR5T Adventurer produced during 1972 – 74. The bike utilized a 500cc twin-cylinder motor. Triumph also had Adventurer 900 triple, which was in production from 1995 to 2001. It was a cruiser based on the Thunderbird.
In the present era, most people will associate the title ‘Adventurer’ with an adventure bike. Triumph already has multiple offerings in this space such as Tiger models in 660cc to 1,200cc range. There’s Scrambler 900 and 1200 as well in the Modern Classics range. Triumph is also working on an affordable 660cc triple that will have superior off-roading capabilities in comparison to existing Tiger Sport 660. Adventurer name could also be used for one of the new single-cylinder bikes being developed in collaboration with Bajaj.
Street Tracker trademark filed
Triumph could use the Street Tracker name for one of the upcoming single-cylinder bikes. It is also possible that the new bike could be based on Street Triple. The Street range currently has only the Triple, after Street Scrambler and Street Twin were rebranded into Scrambler 900 and Speed Twin 900.
