- Triumph Tiger 100
Infobox Motorcycle
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name=Triumph Tiger 100
aka=
manufacturer=flagicon|UKTriumph
production=1939-1940 1946-1953
class=
related=
wheelbase=convert|55|in|cm
length=
width=
height=
seat height=
engine=498cc 180 degree parallel twin OHV four-stroke
power=27 bhp @ 6300rpm
torque=
dry weight= convert|365|lbs|kg
fuel_capacity=
fuel_economy=
transmission=4 speed / chainThe Triumph Tiger 100 was a British
motorcycle made byTriumph at theirCoventry factory. in 1936 Triumph’s Chief Designer and Managing Director,Edward Turner , had developed the range to inculude the Tiger 70, 80 and 90 of 250, 350 and 500cc with numbers relating to their claimed maximum speed. In 1939 he developed the Tiger 100 - a 'sports' version of theTriumph Speed Twin - finished in black and costing £5 more you could have a tuned twin - named for its top speed of 100mph. New features included alloy pistons in rigid cylinders."cite book | last = Remus | first = Tim | title = Triumph Motorcycles Twins & Triples | publisher = Motorbooks | date = 1997 | isbn = 0-7603-0312-6 ]In March 1939 Triumph came up with an unorthodox 'launch' of the new Tiger 100. Using a Tiger 100 and a Speed Twin straight from dealers showrooms, endurance was tested with a run of over 1800 miles from
John O'Groats toLands End in Cornwall then to the Brooklands circuit for six hours of continuous high-speed laps, where riders Ivan Wicksteed and David Whitworth averaged 78.5 mph with a final lap of 88.5 mph, winning Triumph the Maudes Trophy. [cite web|url=http://tiger100.co.uk/Maudes%20Trophy.html|title=Triumph wins Maudes Trophy !|accessdate=2008-07-13]The Triumph works was destroyed by German bombers on the night of the 14th November 1940 - along with the entire city of
Coventry and bringing production of the Tiger 100 to an end until after the war. When Triumph recovered and began production again at Meriden the Tiger 100 was refined and, in response to demand from the USA Turner designed a new close finned alloy barrel and special tuning kits for independent racers who wanted to enhance the Tiger. Producton continued until 1953 with the Tiger 100C, which was a tuned Tiger 100 with the race kit already fitted although only 560 were made. [cite web|url=http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/euro/brands/triumph_twins_history.htm|title=Triumph Twins - A brief look at their history|accessdate=2008-07-13]The Tiger 100 was effectively replaced by the 650cc Tiger 110 but did set the pattern for high performance twins that lasted until the final
Triumph Bonneville twin was produced in 1988. [cite web|url=http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/classics/bike.asp?id=95|title=Evolving the original Speed Twin|accessdate=2008-07-13] The historic Tiger name was revived by the new Hinckley Triumph company in 2001.ee Also
*
Triumph Motorcycles
*London Motorcycle Museum References
Links
* [http://tiger100.co.uk/index.html The Tiger 100 web site]
* [http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/classics/bike.asp?id=95 1940 Triumph Tiger 100]
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