Triumph Going NHRA ProStock Bike racing...

[crazy steve]

This is a fairly big deal. For years it was a all-Suzuki show (with the odd Kaw thrown in here and there), then Harley brought in the V-Rod. S&S brought in their 'Buells', and that's been pretty much it. A bit boring really....

http://www.nhra.com/story/2012/6/27/burley-chicago/

It'll be interesting to see how much success these guys have!

[TADracer]

Probably their success will depend largely on how long it takes NHRA to adjust their competition weight to 'achieve parity in the class' like they always do.

[EricHa]

Did a little reading/searching on this. Sounds like it is a rebadged Buell..... Now that sullies the name of a great marque.

http://www.dragbike.com/forum/showthread.php?63108-Prostock-Triumph&p=637312

It's a shame, because this story got me really excited. I could already hear the sound of a parallel twin at 12,000rpm in my head!

[crazy steve]

...Sounds like it is a rebadged Buell....

That's what I thought at first, but there's too many 'wrong' details for it to a 'Buell'. The engine sidecover (what little you can see) is different and the exhaust exits on the wrong side. While all of these bikes only have a passing resemblance to their factory origins, they do require the basic layout to be the same...

The weight breaks are interesting... the V-Rods are up to 660 lbs, the Buells are at 615 and the two-valve inline fours at 595.

[EricHa]

Rear cylinder exhaust exits on the left, and the case covers look the same. If it walks like a Buell.......

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[crazy steve]

Better pics that what I saw....

So, I wonder what makes that bike a 'Triumph'? The eligility of the 'Buells' will be going away before too long as they're out of production, did S&S make a deal with Triumph to keep the race bike legal? Looks like some obvious corporate whoring, but what else is new...