c1972 Triumph SS Blazer Motorcycle

Description

With a history dating back to 1902, Triumph quickly established a fine reputation for building powerful and rapid motorcycles, becoming one of Britain's foremost exponents of two-wheeled machinery. Under new ownership in the 1930s, Triumph began turning out some highly successful bikes, starting with the Tiger family of singles followed by the legendary Speed Twins. In 1951 Triumph became part of the BSA Group and enjoyed strong sales in the decades that followed the Second World War, with 60 per cent of all production exported to the US during the 1960s. Having owners like Steve McQueen ride their products certainly did Triumph no harm and it was arguably the last British manufacturer to hold out against the arrival of the Japanese invasion. Based on the mechanically similar BSA B25, Triumph developed two new 250cc models, one aimed squarely at the US market (the T25T Trail Blazer) and the other for the UK market (the T25SS Street Scrambler), cashing in on the burgeoning off-road craze. Differences included the front brake size, the higher set of the front mudguard and off-road tyres found on the Trail Blazer. Offered between 1970 and 1971, Triumph marketed the pair as ?two big bikes that can take a bad trail lightly? and both were powered by the same four-stroke single with a bore and stroke of 67 x 70mm. Few survive the often harsh punishment meted out by owners and those that do are now becoming increasingly collectible, with plenty of support from clubs and specialists around the world.