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New Triumph Singles Spied

Hugh Janus

By Hugh Janus
in MOTORCYCLE REVIEWS

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Hugh Janus

Hugh Janus

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Two new, small-displacement Triumphs have been spied undergoing tests in Europe. The first is a more conventional street-going model, expected to be in the 500cc range.
Two new, small-displacement Triumphs have been spied undergoing tests in Europe. The first is a more conventional street-going model, expected to be in the 500cc range. (Bernhard M. Hohne/BMH-Images/)

Shortly before the coronavirus pandemic threw the world into disarray, Triumph had announced a tie-in with Indian firm Bajaj to create new engines and bikes in the 200cc–750cc class. The first fruit of the partnership has long been expected to emerge in 2022, and right on schedule, Triumph has been spied testing two new single-cylinder machines at the firm’s test facility in Spain.

With an estimated capacity of around 500cc, the bikes are expected to be manufactured by Bajaj in India to directly compete with the likes of Royal Enfield and the newly reborn BSA brand, owned by Mahindra. Meanwhile, the bikes will form a new entry-level step in the Triumph range worldwide, slotting in below the current cheapest models—the 900cc Street Twin and the 660cc Trident triple—to give younger, less experienced riders the option to get on a Triumph earlier in their motorcycling lives.

Both bikes have a standard tube steel frame and are powered by a single-cylinder engine, seemingly related to the parallel twin in the Bonneville.
Both bikes have a standard tube steel frame and are powered by a single-cylinder engine, seemingly related to the parallel twin in the Bonneville. (Bernhard M. Hohne/BMH-Images/)

The two machines spotted in Spain are very clearly based on the same set of components. The engine is a single that appears to be directly related to the existing 900cc and 1,200cc parallel twin used in the Bonneville and related models. The engine’s side covers and even the bolt patterns around them closely match the Bonneville twin, but there’s clearly just one cylinder here.

It’s a sensible shortcut to a smaller-capacity engine. Using the Bonnie engine as a template means things like the combustion chamber shape, intake and exhaust porting, valve sizes, cam profiles, and piston design can be informed by the existing design, potentially even carrying over some common components. For instance, it’s quite possible that the valves and piston in the new single are shared with one of the iterations of the Bonneville twin. Ancillary parts like the water and oil pumps might also be able to be shared, and perhaps even some transmission components.

Rumors have long suggested the first new Bajaj-Triumph machine would be a 500cc single, and this certainly appears to be that size. With one cylinder of the Bonneville engine in either 900cc or 1,200cc, 450cc and 600cc capacities would be easy to achieve, while adding slightly longer-stroke cranks could turn those into more category-conforming 500cc and 650cc machines.

Related: 2020 Triumph Street Twin First Ride Review

The more streetwise bike gets 17-inch wheels, an upside-down fork and a monoshock strut out back.
The more streetwise bike gets 17-inch wheels, an upside-down fork and a monoshock strut out back. (Bernhard M. Hohne/BMH-Images/)

The prototypes here show the engine to be fitted to a conventional-looking tubular steel frame, with a simple alloy swingarm at the back, supported on a monoshock strut, and upside-down fork. These prototypes might initially look similar, but they represent two models. One is a very straightforward streetbike—”Street Single” would be a name that fits with Triumph’s existing nomenclature neatly, although it would be nostalgic to see a more evocative name from the past, like Cub, revived. The Street Single version has 17-inch wheels front and rear, with a single exit on an exhaust that copies the Bonneville’s trick of using a fake outer section to disguise the first muffler and catalytic converter and trick the eye into believing it runs straight from the cylinder to the end can.

The second bike is more scrambler-styled, with a larger front wheel, skid plate, and higher-mounted dual exhausts.
The second bike is more scrambler-styled, with a larger front wheel, skid plate, and higher-mounted dual exhausts. (Bernhard M. Hohne/BMH-Images/)

The second machine shares a similar chassis but has a more scrambler or flat-track style, with a larger front wheel—around 19 inches in diameter, but still a cast alloy design. It appears that the steering head on this prototype is further forward than on the Street Single, giving enough clearance for the enlarged front wheel ahead of the radiator. This version’s exhaust differs, too, with dual exits from a stacked, shotgun-style end can, and it’s missing the trim section to hide the under-engine muffler. Under the front of the engine, an alloy skid plate adds to the off-road look. Hand guards are another clue, along with conventional mirrors as opposed to the bar-end design used on the Street Single version.

The scrambler-style model also has a two-piece seat, whereas the street version has a one-piece design, and the footpegs are mounted lower and further forward. On this prototype, the final position of the pillion pegs appears to be undecided—they’re temporarily mounted on a large, billet alloy panel that allows them to be moved around until the best posture is found. While the tail bodywork is similar on both versions of the bike, the scrambler version has a wider license plate hanger that doubles as an extended rear mudguard.

The scrambler-type bike also has a two-piece seat and more relaxed rider footpeg positioning.
The scrambler-type bike also has a two-piece seat and more relaxed rider footpeg positioning. (Bernhard M. Hohne/BMH-Images/)

Both models appear to share a similar circular LED headlight, ahead of a simple, rectangular digital instrument display. At least three bikes were spotted on test—two examples of the Street Single and one of the scrambler-style version. One of the Street Singles was a later prototype, with finalized designs for the pegs and the triple clamps, while the other, earlier prototype had billet alloy versions allowing for adjustment, as seen on the lone scrambler prototype on test.

Both test mules look nearly finalized, so we might well see them in Triumph’s range late this year or in early 2023.
Both test mules look nearly finalized, so we might well see them in Triumph’s range late this year or in early 2023. (Bernhard M. Hohne/BMH-Images/)

| 5.TigerCub3.jpg | Both test mules look nearly finalized, so we might well see them in Triumph’s range late this year or in early 2023. | Photo: Bernhard M. Hohne/BMH-Images |

Given the bikes’ near-finished appearance, it seems that Triumph is on schedule to unveil the first single-cylinder models later in 2022, joining the firm’s 2023 range in showrooms either late this year or early next. However, it’s worth noting that the company doesn’t hesitate to cancel new models even at a very late stage, so if these machines don’t reach expectations, there’s no guarantee they’ll see the light of day. The most recent U-turn was the decision to drop the much-publicized (and officially confirmed) range of 250cc single-cylinder models including a Daytona 250 sportbike, which were due to be launched for the 2015 model range. Those bikes were dropped at the last minute as the market had evolved by their due date, with rivals like the Yamaha R3 and MT-03 having moved the goalposts.

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