What’s come as a disappointing piece of news yesterday is the Visordown’s report of Triumph shelving its Indian-built 250cc motorcycles. Two new models were being developed – a Street Triple-styled naked bike that would have been possibly christened ‘Street Single’, and a faired ‘premium’ variant that would have taken styling cues from the Daytona series.
Many a times test mules of both these bikes were spotted testing and in fact, Triumph had shared the official sketch of the 250cc sportsbike with the media last year. The two small Triumphs were expected to be officially unveiled sometime towards the end of this year or early next year (2015) with production starting soon thereafter!
The baby Daytona was possibly the production-ready faired 250 that was caught being tested on European roads on more than one occasion. The bike was completely undisguised everyone had suspected an unveil at the Intermot show this year, which begins on the 1st of October later this month.
*Triumph’s 250cc mini-Daytona test mules. Click for more details Pic: motorradonline.de
Now, Paul Stroud, Director, Sales & Marketing, Triumph, has apparently announced that the company has placed the 250cc bikes’ project “on hold” for strategic reasons relating to its specific segment.” Stroud added that the British bike maker would unveil its 2015 range at the Intermot and Milan motorcycle shows later this year.
However, not all is lost as it seems that the company is just trying to establish Triumph’s identity first as a ‘premium motorcycle manufacturer’ in new (for the company) markets globally and would then make a foray into the 250cc segment. That also means that the quarter-litre Triumphs might turn out to be the most expensive in the segment whenever they are launched in India.
Looks like the KTMs will remain the unmatched leaders in their respective segments for a long time to come! And while we are at it, did Paul hear RC390’s pricing… 😉
