Originally Posted by mollydog

I'd love to see Triumph enter more seriously into the ADV/Travel bike market.
Charlie Boorman would be an excellent ambassador for the mark, IMO.

I hope Triumph don't blow it again as they did with Ted Simon preceeding Ted's last foray RTW. (7 or 8 years back?) In that case Ted had been in talks with John Bloor (owner, CEO) at Triumph about possible sponsorship and "special" bike for the journey.

In the end, Triumph cut off talks cold (according to Ted) and nothing was offered. ... so Ted ended up paying his own ticket and had built a custom R80 BMW ... which fell on him in Africa, broke his leg badly.

IMHO, huge mistake by Triumph.

Problem is, Triumph currently have nothing all that great in the ADV area. The new 800 XCX Tiger is a start (and a really good road bike) but IMO, still WAY too heavy, expensive and fragile. (I'd rather have one of J'Mo's Honda CB500X!)

The Bonneville engine is a low power, super heavy lump, absolutely NOT GOOD for any sort of Off Road work ... or anything really, having tested several. So put that one in the bin. (for ADV bike)

Triumph need either a NEW super light weight twin, or an all new Single. OR ... Several times I've suggested Triumph buy CCM. With Triumph money & marketing, CCM could be a serious player in this market niche. Will it happen? Who knows?

A super light weight 500cc single could be the perfect engine if placed in the appropriate chassis. Call it a "better" CCM. Better? HOW?

Better for overall travel. More room, more comfortable, better road manners yet still good off road capability. Dream bike, yes? ... oh, and it should be very affordable, priced well under current CCM or any BMW or KTM.

KTM will be coming with smaller cc twins and the Japanese are busy too .... so fierce competition all round. Look for Yamaha to do a FZ-07 ADV version. Everybody wants it ... should happen if economy does not explode in the next year.