Affordable Classic

HINCKLEY TRIUMPHS

Fancy a classic bike, but within budget? Here’s the first of a series on affordable machines from the 1980s and ‘90s

Back in 1983, when the old Meriden factory closed, it seemed like the British bike industry had finally rolled over and died. Few people even noticed that the rights to the name had been bought by an unknown house builder by the name of John Bloor. Seven years later Triumph was back, with an all-new range of liquid-cooled threes and fours, powering the Trident roadster, Daytona sports bike and Trophy tourer.

They weren’t radical bikes, more a conservative amalgam of then-current best practice; overengineered, some said, but that was meant as a compliment. What surprised everyone was just how well made and reliable they were. Sales began to gather speed, and new variants like the Thunderbird, Speed Triple and Tiger were added. By the late 1990s, when these first carburettorfed bikes, with their steel spine frames, were gradually replaced by a new generation of fuelinjected, alloy-framed machines, Triumph was a fully fledged manufacturer with a good reputation.

Today, the Hinckley-built Triumphs make a good secondhand buy. Hinckley’s determination to distance itself from the bad old days meant that its bikes have usually been solidly made and well finished. Not only that but despite that name on the tank it’s still possible to pick up an early Hinckley Triumph for less (sometimes a lot less) than £2000.

Of course, they’re not perfect. Even when new, these were relatively tall, heavy bikes, thanks in part to the spine frame and solid engineering. They also slurped fuel at a fair old rate when ridden hard. Mechanically, there are few inherent weaknesses, though the starter sprag clutch can fail. If the starter motor just spins over without turning the engine, then you have a problem.

Fortunately, there were and are plenty of pluses, not least of which is the characterful three-cylinder engine. Launched when fours were the norm, the Hinckley triple stood out with its gutsy power delivery, strong mid range and distinctive sound. The four-cylinder Triumphs (offered in 1000 and 1200cc form) were soon overshadowed and outsold by the 900cc three, which secured rave reviews from the motorcycle press across the world. That was backed up by decent period brakes and suspension. The early Hinckleys weren’t in the FireBlade class, but they handled very well with no nasty habits.

Like many good sellers of the 1990s, these Triumphs are still available in reasonable numbers, often at good prices. You might or might not agree that it’s a true classic, but a Hinckley Triumph is certainly affordable.

Above: Bright yellow Daytona was the sports version Top: These bikes are solid and long-lived Above left: Retro Legend and Thunderbird followed

What’s your Affordable Classic?

Do you own a bike more than 25 years old and generally available used for less than £3000? Tell us about it in 500 words (with a few high resolution pictures) and send to: editor@bmf.co.uk