I felt inspired the other day when I saw a young lady parking her Classic Motorcycle . Bonneville's only come in green, what the heck , why not, it's earned the right to be green. British Racing Green as the colour was affectionately known. Apparently they did come in other colours as the photo shows.
It is interesting to note that the Company was of all things British. but Triumph, a true Classic Motorcycle manufacturer, had a background of German origin. Back in 1886,a German called Bettman sought a more accepted name for his Company, and it was then called the Triumph Cycle Company. Twelve months later it registered as the New Triumph Co.Ltd. It received substantial monetary backing from the Dunlop Tyre Co. That same year Bettman was joined by another German, named Schulte.
It did not take long for the new company to produce it's first Motorcycle and it was fitted with a Belgian unit. One year later, 1903 it's sales topped 500, pretty good for those days.
Can you imagine today, where the "British" icon Triumph Motorcycles, arguably built the Classic Motorcycle of all time, also produced a Motorcycle called Gloria.
Triumph Dudded by F.I.M.
Back in 1955 a guy set a speed record on a Triumph motorcycle that was fueled with Methanol, He was Johnny Allen (311kph) and it was not recognized by the F.I.M. But none the less Triumph claimed it as theirs and then named the bike Bonneville, after the great salt flats. The legend was born that day,and to this day earned the right to be called a Classic Motorcycle.
