Timeline
– 1902 to today
The roots of Triumph motorcycles go way back to the late 19th century when founding entrepreneur, Siegfried Bettmann, settled in Coventry, England and capitalised on a ripe English bicycle market. Bicycles soon became motorcycles and the evolution of one of the most famous names in motorcycling had begun.
 |
 |
 |
 |
1910'S
Triumph motorcycles had now proved themselves worthwhile machines and in 1910, a new advance was made to make riding a Triumph even easier - the ‘free engine’ device. This device meant that the engine could be started with the bike on its main stand, via the pedals, rather than by bump starting or pedalling furiously for 30 yards or so.
By the outbreak of the First World War the Type A, as it was known, had a 550cc engine slugging out 4bhp. The British Government placed orders with Triumph in order to equip army despatch riders at the front. The now legendary Triumph Type H was pressed into service from late 1914 onwards and, in the face of the mud and misery that existed for its riders in the Great War, earned itself the nickname ‘the Trusty’.
The decade ended on a sour note though as Schulte parted company with Triumph in 1919 after disagreeing with Bettmann’s desire to diversify Triumph’s manufacturing capabilities.