Triumph's 2014 250 cc motorcycle surfaces

British motorcycle maker Triumph has plans of establishing a full-fledged production facility at Narsapura, off Bangalore. This factory, which will support both CKD assembly as well as full-scale local production, is said to be aligned to Triumph's plans of making India its sourcing and manufacturing hub. 

The first major motorcycle to roll out from Triumph's factory in India is likely to be a sub-300 cc motorcycle aimed at both developing and emerging markets. With this product, the company is looking at big volumes as it attempts to challenge the likes of KTM and BMW Motorrad (which also is working on sub-500cc motorcycles) in the European market and elsewhere. 

The first spyshots of the purported Triumph 250 cc sportsbike have surfaced on RideApart. The motorcycle in question, which deceptively looks like a Triumph Street Triple on first glance, is actually a single cylinder bike, said to be using a 250 cc engine. Further evidence of the motorcycle being a small-capacity bike rests with the cycle parts.

Telescopic front forks up front, a single disc brake on the front wheel and narrow tyres (relatively speaking) are the three other parts that suggest a sub-400 cc engine capacity for the latest Triumph sportsbike. Further hints of the bike being aimed at the entry-level sportsbike market include the integrated seat design with grab rails and a single piece handlebar. 

The latest Triumph is likely to take on the likes of the Honda CBR250R, the KTM Duke 200, the Suzuki Inazuma GW250 and the Kawasaki Z250. Rumours suggest that the small-capacity Triumph is likely to be based on a platform capable of supporting motorcycles with various body styles and with engine capacities of up to 350 cc.  

Now that the first clear spyshots of the small-capacity Triumph have surfaced onto the interweb, expect more details to trickle in shortly. Gauging by the motorcycle's advanced stage of development as is evident from the spyshots, a 2014 launch seems likely for the baby Triumph. 

The small-capacity sportsbike market is booming in markets across the world. Riders in both emerging and developed markets are favouring smaller capacity motorcycles that deliver better fuel efficiency than their 600 cc and liter-class siblings, while offering a modicum of performance, thrills and riding pleasure.