I t is perhaps an anomaly that Triumph , one of the most quintessential British motorcycles , was started by a German . Siegfried Bettmann arrived in Britain in 1883 to make and sell bicycles . Two years later he founded Triumph . He enlisted the support of Maurice Schulte , another German immigrant , who was a mechanical engineer . The first Triumph motorcycle was produced in 1902 , and they are still being made in England today , a hundred and eighteen years later . The company , however , was founded in 1885 , and fits neatly into four principal periods . The company under Bettmann lasted until 1936 . Next came Edward Turner ’ s leadership from 1936 to 1973 . The union of Norton , Villiers , and Triumph occupied stage three with the Workers ’ Co-operative at Meriden until 1984 . John Bloor ’ s ownership of Triumph from 1990 was the beginning of stage four , and the subsequent development of the Triumphs of today . Triumph , perhaps more than most motorcycles , has an enviable list of iconic models , the names of which are familiar to almost any classic enthusiast ; Speed Twin , Bonneville , Trophy , Thunderbird , Trident , and , of course , Tiger . Many of these names live on , having been given new life