went too the factory today for a guided tour at 12.30. chose a week day as the production line is closed at weekends, turns out they finish at 12 noon on Fridays. Bugger. still we had a good time, I wanted to see Steve McQueen's triumph but that wasn't there either. seems like 95% of bikes are made in Thailand. treated myself to a T shirt 50% off. £15.
The Steve McQueen bike was there when we visited on the Racing Champions evening. 6 mins into the vid (sorry quality is not great as I filmed it on my phone.
Booked to go this Sunday, be the 4th tour I have done but its a nice ride out and a reason to go back to the factory.
Steve McQueen bike was there last week when me and crispey went. Depends on the day you go I guess, only three of us on Wednesday and it took around 2.5 hours, no rushing at all - even found the time to let us pose our bikes by the door. Looks like Friday is to be avoided!
Very late to this thread I know but,......... What’s the point of this “factory tour” nowadays? If all production has been shipped to the Far East (cheaper to build, more profit) surely there is nothing to see being built or assembled? Is it now just a Triumph museum and a lifestyle shopping experience? A few years back I did the Ducati fact tour which was excellent. Saw everything being made in house, from cranks to final rolling road tests. ( no point treating ya new Duke with kid gloves, it’s already had the arse ragged out of it by Giovanni canning its brand new engine to max revs! ) But there was definitely an Italian built pride there. For how much longer can Triumph play the heritage card? How stupid to they take their customers for? I for one am not interested in buying a new Thai-umph, nor am I bothered about seeing a “Steve McQueen” replica. Everything Is only original once. A sad situation for sure. If you want to go to a museum the https://www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk/ Is the place to see real British bikes with heritage and Ted Simon’s real unrestored Triumph lives there, (or at least it did the last time I was there)
Kind of agree, seems sad, and it appears to be following other brands. Perhaps when they end manufacture there it will be called a research centre or something. I have worked in a factory and it certainly isn't always the romantic image of people proudly making things for others, lots of jobs are hard, often monotonous work that I am glad I don't still have to do.
I’ve worked in several factories myself and I’m well aware of the production line work ethics, but if you are manufacturing something you are interested in and have a feeling of satisfaction when you see what you have helped produce roll out the doors it should give you a feeling of pride. Obviously it depends on what your are manufacturing and ultimately what you are getting paid! I doubt the Hinckley workers thought of it as romantic, but I’m sure most of them were pissed off when they were told they were being made redundant and their jobs were going to Thailand! I wonder if the workers In Thailand were ever told what Triumph were paying the Hinckley workforce compared to them? BTW, how much has the cost of new Triumphs reduced since the move?
I think its a very different story with Ducati, first of all the wages are lower in Italy and Ducatis are a bit more expensive and have some ravingly expensive models. I do imagine Ducati customers are willing to pay a bit more for bikes and their parts than most other brands. But I would still love to do a factory tour at some point.
I posted some photos from my visit to the museum last year. https://www.thetriumphforum.com/gallery/albums/hinckley-factory-museum-2019.906/
You have a very interesting and real view point on this which I can see straight away. In fact you couldn’t have hit the nail any more central!! There’s nothing British about triumph and I could say that even Bmw are Less German Nowadays and now part chinese Too! I’ve never been to a ‘real’ factory tour ever yet. All have been gimmicks in one way or another and just glorified selling.
Yeah, there must be some pride as it would be cool to say you worked for Triumph Motorcycles. It must be a blow for those that have lost their job, especially at the minute. I certainly didn't mean to downplay that and obviously hope people are able to find something else quickly.
I don't know all the details but no one could have foreseen the Corona virus and the dip in sales that comes with it. But the 400 jobs that's been cut its worldwide with the majority (240) in the UK as far I understood it. Hopefully the sales will go up and that some can get employed again.
I’m pretty sure Triumph had the move to Thailand all sorted long before covid19 showed up. Even if sales do rise it obviously won’t be the ex British Hinckley workers getting their jobs back. The manufacturing of Triumph motorcycles In Britain has gone for good.
