When you think of Triumph Motorcycles, your mind wanders off to popular names like the Street Triple or the behemoth Rocket III. What doesn’t come to mind is a motocross bike, and that’s exactly what the British giant wants to address. This is precisely why Triumph engineers are burning the midnight oil and preparing the company’s first MX bike. While the project is still a little far away from a full unveil, we now have our first look at its powerhouse and chassis. Here’s what you need to know.
The Triumph Motocross Bike Will Feature A 250cc Engine
Quarter-liter engines are arguably the most popular in professional MX racing. And Triumph’s approach is no different. It has whipped up an all-new 250cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke engine. There’s liquid cooling as standard, along with fuel injection and a double-overhead camshaft setup.
Interestingly, the design of the engine heads and cases is awfully similar to KTM’s 250cc four-stroke mill. So even though Triumph is tightlipped on the power output, it’s safe to assume there will be nearly 50 ponies to enjoy, just like the 2024 KTM 250 SX-F. Let’s just hope the similarities don’t go beyond the design, as it’d hurt Triumph’s brand value/image.
According to brand ambassador Ricky Carmichael, “This engine has its own identity and I think one of the best things about it is the way that it's designed and developed, which enables riders with a very wide range of abilities to be able to ride the bike. Normally everything is give and take. You either have good low-end or good top-end, whichever you prefer. But I feel like this engine gives both of that”.
The Triumph Motocross Bike Is Built Around A Special Chassis
Like the engine, there’s an all-new chassis holding the motorcycle together. It’s a double-cradle frame, carved out of aluminum and welded completely by hand by Triumph engineers. According to the company, aluminum offers the correct balance of strength, lightness, and rigidity than other options such as steel. Plus, it still allows enough flex for riders to exploit every ounce of performance while belting around.
What we still don’t know, though, is what company Triumph will pick as its suspension supplier. KTM has the top-tier WP setup, Honda uses Showa, while Yamaha has KaYaBa. So there’s plenty of variety already, but not much scope to stand out per se, which seems the British marquee’s key focus. A 21-inch front wheel and 19-inch rear spoke wheel combo seems a sure-shot sight, though.
When Will The Triumph Motocross Bike Debut?
With the chassis and engine out, Triumph’s next video will show Carmichael riding the MX bike and reveal some other details. There’s no word on when the full reveal will take place, but the 2023 EICMA seems like a solid venue for the bike’s first public appearance. Expect an American launch in early 2024, after the bikemaker makes its debut in the AMA MX series.