In 1885, the company began when Siegfried Bettmann emigrated to Coventry, England from Nuremberg, part of German Empire. In 1884, Bettmann founded his own company, the S. Bettmann & Co. Import Export Agency, in London, England. The company originally produced bicycles, which were bought and sold under its own brand name. The company also distributed sewing machines imported from Germany. In 1886, Bettmann sought a more universal name. The company became known as the Triumph Cycle Company. In 1887, the company registered as the New Triumph Co. Ltd., with financial backing from the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company. Bettmann was joined by another Nuremberg native, Moritz Schulte in the same year. In 1888 Bettmann purchased a site in Coventry. The company began producing the first Triumph-branded bicycles in 1889. In 1896 Triumph opened a factory in Nuremberg, Germany for cycle production in Bettman's native city. Triumph decided to extend its production to include motorcycles in 1898. By 1902, the company produced their first motorcycle, a bicycle fitted with a Belgian Minerva engine. In 1903 Triumph motorcycle sales topped 500. During its first few years of producing motorcycles, designs were based on those of other manufacturers. In 1904 Triumph began producing
motorcycles based on its own designs. In 1905 Truimph produced its first completely in-house designed motorcycle. By the end of 1905, Triumph had produced more than 250 of that designs. In 1907, Truimph produced more than 1,000 motorcycles.
Just like Harley-Davidson, the outbreak of World War I provided a boost for Triumph as production switched to support the Allied war effort. Triumph produced more than 30,000 motorcycles to help with the Allied war effort. In the 1920s Triumph purchased the former Hillman car factory in Coventry, England and produced a saloon car in 1923 under the Triumph Motor Company. By the mid-1920s Triumph was Britain's leading motorcycle and car maker, with a 500,000 square feet plant capable of producing up to 30,000 motorcycles and cars a year. Triumph motorcycles were particularly popular overseas and income came primarily from exports to other countries. In 1929 The Great Depression hit. Triumph sold off its German subsidiary as a separate, independently owned company, which became part of the Triumph-Adler Company. In 1932, Triumph sold off its bicycle manufacturing section to Raleigh. Triumph struggled financially and Bettmann was forced out of the chairman's spot. He retired completely in 1933. In 1936, the company's 2 components became separate companies. After going bankrupt in 1939, the Triumph Car company was acquired by the Standard Motor Company. The motorcycle operation was acquired in 1936 by Jack Sangster, who also owned the rival Ariel motorcycle company. In 1936 Triumph began exporting motorcycles to the United States. Motorcycles were produced at Coventry until World War II. Coventry in England, was virtually destroyed The Blitz (1940-41). After tooling and machinery was recovered from the site of the devastation, production restarted at a new plant in the West Midlands in England in 1942. Triumph continued producing motorcycles after the 2nd World War. Triumph received a lot of publicity in the United States. Marlon Brando rode a 1950 Thunderbird 6T in the 1953 movie, The Wild One. In 1951 Triumph was sold to rival company BSA. Production and sales grew steadily and by 1965 the plant in the Midlands was producing around 800 units per week, 80% destined for the USA. In 1969 Triumph's production peaked at around 46,800 units a year. By the early 1970s Triumph experienced production delays. In 1972, the BSA Group merged with Norton Villiers and Norton-Villiers-Triumph (NVT) was formed. In 1973 NVT announced that the Meriden plant was going to be closed. This provoked a workers' sit in. As a result production was virtually halted. In 1974, almost no motorcycles were built. In 1975, after negotiation, the plant resumed production of motorcycles with capital provided by a British government grant. The co-operative subsequently bought the rights to the Triumph marque from NVT and production gradually crept up to 350 units per week. Despite further support, the co-operative went into liquidation in 1983. In the same year, John Bloor bought the name and manufacturing rights from the Official Receiver for Triumph. The new company continued the company's record of motorcycle production since 1902, making it the world's longest continuous production motorcycle manufacturer. Today Triumph still produces motorcycles. I'm sure that if you looks around in publications and on the internet that one would find various
classifieds adverts for Triumph motorcycles.
Related Links:
Triumph Motorcycles - Official Website
In 2003, Tom Wiberg from Sweden built a motorcycle with a front wheel diameter of 16 mm (0.62 inches) and a rear wheel diameter of 22 mm (0.86 inches). He rode it for more than 10 m (32.8 feet) in Hökerum, Sweden. The motorcycle has a wheelbase of 80 mm (3.14 inches), a seat height of 65 mm (2.55 inches), weighs 1.1 kg (2.4 lbs). It powered to a top speed of 2 km/h (1.24 mph) by its 0.22 kW (0.3 hp) engine. In my opinion, this was built by the designer just to obtain the Guinness World Record for the World's Smallest Motorcycle. Any sane person would not be caught riding on a motorcycle of this size through daytime traffic. If you are looking for a bike like this you might just find it advertised under "model toys" instead of "motorcycles" in the classifieds. What's genius about this motorcycle is that the designer managed to fit a motor into this tiny design.
In 1851, Torakusu Yamaha was born in his native Japan. In 1890, Torakusu Yamaha incorporated the Nippon Gakki Company Limited, for the purpose of making pianos and organs. Yamaha had its origins as a musical instrument maker. This is still reflected in the Yamaha logo, which depicts 3 interlocking tuning forks. In 1916, the founder, Torakusu Yamaha passed away. In the years after World War II, the company’s president Genichi Kawakami realized Japan needed affordable transportation to rebuild after the war. In 1955, Yamaha introduced it's first motorized product, the YA-1 Motorcycle. It was a 125cc, 2-stroke, single-cylinder motorcycle. It was patterned after the DKW RT 125. It was dubbed the “Red Dragonfly,” and was so successful that Yamaha decided to incorporate the Yamaha Motor Corporation. In 1957 Yamaha introduced the YD-1, which was an improved version of the German Adler bike. In 1958, Cooper Motors started selling Yamaha motorcycles as an independent importer in the United States. In 1959, the YDS-1 was released by Yahama. This was a tuned-up version of the YD-1 motor in a double-cradle frame. This bike established the pattern of sporty Yamaha two-stroke Twins for 20 years. In 1960, Yahama Internation started selling motorcycles in the USA. In the 250cc class, Phil Read won Yamaha's first ever World Championship in 1964. The DT-1 Enduro was introduced in 1968 by Yamaha, possibly the first dual-purpose motorcycle ever made. In 1975 Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock production motocross bike. 
In 2002, the Yamaha R1 gets fuel injection, a first for a Yamaha sportbike. Valentino Rossi won the 2004 & 2005 Moto GP World Championship on a Yamaha bike. In 2006 the Yamaha R6 was introduced with a Yamaha Chip-Controlled Throttle or YCCT. This partial fly-by-wire system was a first in the motorcycle industry first. In 2007 the Yamaha R1 was introduced with a Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake or YCCI. This system varies the length of the inlet tract depending on throttle position and engine speed. The Yamaha R1 was also introduced with a slipper clutch. Yamaha won the Manufacturer’s Championship in the same year. After an incredible run of more than 20 years, the Yamaha Vmax was finally put out to pasture in favor of a new version powered by a monstrous 1700cc V-4 engine pumping out a claimed 200 hp earlier this year. Yamaha will continue to make motorcycles for many years to come. This truly is one of the best motorcycle manufacturers in the world. It truly is no surprise to find adverts for Yamaha in the classifieds, since it's one the most popular brands. 
In 1952, Audrey Hepburn, the Hollywood actress side-saddled Gregory Peck's Vespa in the feature, Roman Holiday for a ride through Rome. This resulted in over 100,000 sales. In 1956, John Wayne, used a Vespa, originally to get between takes on sets. By the end of the 1950s Marlon Brando, Dean Martin and various others had become Vespa owners. Ben Hur was filmed in Rome in 1959, Charlton Heston took a spin on his Vespa between takes. By 1956 Vespa had already sold 1 million scooters. By 1960 they had sold 2 million. If you had a Vespa for sale in 1950s or 1960s you probably sold it quickly. By 1970, 4 million units had been sold. Sales reached 10 million units by the late 1980s. Vespa celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1996, by then more than 15 million of the scooters had been sold worldwide, making it the most successful scooter of all time. Vespa still continue to produce scooters today. It's not odd or strange to find Vespa classifieds in publications or Vespa fansites or fan clubs all over the globe.
Just like Harley-Davidson, the outbreak of World War I provided a boost for Triumph as production switched to support the Allied war effort. Triumph produced more than 30,000 motorcycles to help with the Allied war effort. In the 1920s Triumph purchased the former Hillman car factory in Coventry, England and produced a saloon car in 1923 under the Triumph Motor Company. By the mid-1920s Triumph was Britain's leading motorcycle and car maker, with a 500,000 square feet plant capable of producing up to 30,000 motorcycles and cars a year. Triumph motorcycles were particularly popular overseas and income came primarily from exports to other countries. In 1929 The Great Depression hit. Triumph sold off its German subsidiary as a separate, independently owned company, which became part of the Triumph-Adler Company. In 1932, Triumph sold off its bicycle manufacturing section to Raleigh. Triumph struggled financially and Bettmann was forced out of the chairman's spot. He retired completely in 1933. In 1936, the company's 2 components became separate companies. After going bankrupt in 1939, the Triumph Car company was acquired by the Standard Motor Company. The motorcycle operation was acquired in 1936 by Jack Sangster, who also owned the rival Ariel motorcycle company. In 1936 Triumph began exporting motorcycles to the United States. Motorcycles were produced at Coventry until World War II. Coventry in England, was virtually destroyed The Blitz (1940-41). After tooling and machinery was recovered from the site of the devastation, production restarted at a new plant in the West Midlands in England in 1942. Triumph continued producing motorcycles after the 2nd World War. Triumph received a lot of publicity in the United States. Marlon Brando rode a 1950 Thunderbird 6T in the 1953 movie, The Wild One. In 1951 Triumph was sold to rival company BSA. Production and sales grew steadily and by 1965 the plant in the Midlands was producing around 800 units per week, 80% destined for the USA. In 1969 Triumph's production peaked at around 46,800 units a year. By the early 1970s Triumph experienced production delays. In 1972, the BSA Group merged with Norton Villiers and Norton-Villiers-Triumph (NVT) was formed. In 1973 NVT announced that the Meriden plant was going to be closed. This provoked a workers' sit in. As a result production was virtually halted. In 1974, almost no motorcycles were built. In 1975, after negotiation, the plant resumed production of motorcycles with capital provided by a British government grant. The co-operative subsequently bought the rights to the Triumph marque from NVT and production gradually crept up to 350 units per week. Despite further support, the co-operative went into liquidation in 1983. In the same year, John Bloor bought the name and manufacturing rights from the Official Receiver for Triumph. The new company continued the company's record of motorcycle production since 1902, making it the world's longest continuous production motorcycle manufacturer. Today Triumph still produces motorcycles. I'm sure that if you looks around in publications and on the internet that one would find various classifieds adverts for Triumph motorcycles.
When World War 2 broke out, Harley-Davidson produced large numbers of motorcycles for the US Army. Harley-Davidson produced over 90,000 to contribute to the Allied and Soviet War efforts. The company produced the WLA & WLC model for the war effort. Production of this model was halted when the war ended. Harley-Davidson then resumed civilian production, producing a range of large V-twin motorcycles that were successful both on racetracks and for private buyers. In 1950 they produced the WLA motorcycle again to help with the Korean War Effort up to 1952. In spite of a media-accelerated negative image of motorcyclists, a period of poor quality control, competition with Japanese manufacturers and a workers strike in 2007, the company still keeps on producing motorcycles. William S. Harley, Arthur Davidson, William A. Davidson and Walter Davidson both used and believed in their products and relied on dedication of their employees to produce quality motorcycles, all 4 of them were inducted into the Labor Hall of Fame. There's nothing like hearing a Harley-Davidson power its way around in traffic or on the open road. The bike's engine has a distinct sound (very loud I might add). The company only produces motorcycles over 750cc, so all the bikes have powerful engines. You can find adverts for Harley-Davidson parts and bikes in various classifieds publications and on websites around the world. Harley-Davidson has a loyal brand community, licensing of the Harley-Davidson logo accounts for almost 5% of the company's net revenue. Harley-Davidson supplies many American Police departments with motorcycles. Harley-Davidson has always been associated with the biker, motorcycle club, outlaw biker & outlaw motorcycle gang sub-cultures. This brand has truly left it's mark on motorcycle history.
