Triumph Triple
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Triumph Triple is an inline motorcycle engine manufactured by the Triumph Motorcycle Company. It has received credit for "bringing Triumph back from the grave".
The 1st generation motor from the reborn Triumph company in 1989 was available as an inline 3-cylinder carbureted 4-stroke of either 748 cc (known as the 750) or 885 cc (known as the 900). The primary difference between the two engines was the stroke. The shorter stroke, higher revving 750 used a bore/stroke of 76.0 x 55.0 mm while the 900 used a longer stroke of 65.0 mm. The 750 engine with its eager revving performance was initially believed to be finer machine, but time and customer's money soon proved that the longer legged 900 was the favourite. As a result the smaller triple was quickly relegated to a budget bike status and was eventually phased out in the late '90s, while the larger engine proved popular and was used in a number of different models.
The first variation on the 900 triple theme appeared in 1992 with the Tiger 900. This made use of softer cam profiles to produce a less powerful engine but with an even broader spread of torque. Further changes appeared a few years later with the Daytona Super III. This time Triumph collaborated with the tuning gurus at Cosworth to produce the first high performance variant of the triple. Using higher compression pistons and a redesigned cylinder head claimed power was increased from 97 bhp (72 kW) to 115 bhp (86 kW).
1995 also saw the introduction of another variation of the 900 triple engine in a model intended for Triumphs first foray back into the US market. This was the Thunderbird 900. Using even softer cam profiles and new carbs power dropped again in favour of docility. The engine also received a cosmetic overhaul, gaining polished alloy covers and fake cooling fins on the barrels. In 1997 a sportier machine was produced, the Thunderbird Sport, using the Thunderbird engine with hotter cams and other details changes to produce an engine in a remarkably similar state of tune to the original Tiger.
The triple received its first major update in 1997 with a ground up redesign to produce the fuel injected 955 cc T595 Daytona engine, and the 885 cc T509 Speed Triple engine, the latter using the original bore and stroke of the first generation engine. The claimed power outputs for these engines were 128 and 108 bhp (81 kW) respectively Over the next few years the 885 engine grew to 955 cc and was used in the newly launched Sprint ST and the later Sprint RS. In this updated form it was still claimed to produce 108 bhp (81 kW), the full fat 128 bhp (95 kW) being kept for the Daytona. The injected 885 cc triple lived on for another couple of years in an updated Tiger. The range received minor updates until 2001 when it received another major update, first debutting in the Tiger 955i and soon spreading across the rest of the range. Power and torque was increased across the range and this updated model sought to remedy the faults apparent with the earlier 955 engine. The most lively performer to use this updated triple was the Daytona 955i, in this form claiming 147 bhp (110 kW), the most powerful triple to emerge from Triumph. The 900 triple in its original form lingered on until 2002 in the form of the Trophy 900, being outlived by its four cylinder relative, the Trophy 1200.
In 2005 the next generation of the triple emerged in the form of the Sprint ST 1050, swiftly followed by the Speed Triple 1050. The last of the 955 engined bikes - the Tiger - was updated, receiving the cases of the 1050 engine and other small changes although staying at 955 cc capacity until replaced by an all new 1050 Tiger in 2006. 2006 also saw the last year for the Daytona 955i, ending the production of big bore sporting triples.
BiKE, the British motorcycle magazine, ranked the Triumph Triple as the 10th best motorcycle engine of all time. The Triumph Triple motorcycle engine has been used in the Thunderbird, Adventurer, Legend, Tiger, Speed Triple, Sprint ST & RS, Sprint Executive, Trophy, and Daytona motorcycles.
In mid-2004, Triumph introduced an entirely new triple for use in a new heavyweight cruiser motorcycle, the Rocket III. The engine is 2294 cc, the largest purpose built mass produced motorcycle engine in existence. It is liquid-cooled and mounted inline with the frame. As a first for Triumph it was paired with a shaft final drive. It produces 140 hp (104 kW) at 6000 rpm and 147 lb·ft (199 N·m) of torque. In 2006, the Rocket III was joined by the Rocket III Classic, a more conservatively styled cruiser.
In 2006, Triumph unveiled a third different triple engine to power the all new middle-weight Daytona 675 Triple sports bike, replacing the marques previous flirtations with four cylinder middle-weights. The engine is 675 cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, transversely-mounted and produces 123 bhp (92 kW) at 12,500 rpm and 53 lb·ft (72 N·m) of torque at 11,750 rpm. This makes it more competitive with the Japanese 600 cc inline fours that dominate the market. For late 2007 this will make it's first appearance in another model in the form of the Street Triple, a detuned and unfaired version of the Daytona intended for the naked middle-weight market and launched to rave reviews from the worlds motorcycling press.
Triumph Motorcycles are manufactured in the UK and are today sold throughout the world.
