Triumph resumed its civilian motorcycle manufacturing operation in 1946, and demand rose quickly, both in Europe and in North America, where the company soon re-established its sales and service network. During this time, the firm was sold yet again, to the BSA Group, which continued to offer both BSA and Triumph bikes. Then Marlon Brando introduced his two-wheel co-star.

Hollywood was not the only place where Triumphs were making an impression. Stars rode them, but so did top racers in Britain, Europe, and North America. Whether on road courses, off-road trials circuits, or dirt ovals, Triumphs were winners. A modified Triumph engine scored on the salt flats of Bonneville, Utah, as well; it powered a streamliner driven by Johnny Allen to a class-record speed of over 190 mph. Not bad for a mere 650cc powerplant.

From this accomplishment came the Triumph Bonneville. Essentially a T100 Tiger with a dual-carburetor engine, the Bonnie was a hit, much to the surprise of Edward Turner, then nearing the end of his long association with the firm. Turner had feared the new model would bankrupt the company.

Turner was wrong. Bonnevilles and other Triumphs, including the 3-cylinder Trident beginning in 1969, poured into the United States at a rate of more than 600 per week during much of the 1960s. There was, it seemed, a Triumph to suit almost every rider, whether he (motorcycling was almost exclusively a male pursuit in those days) was an executive heading to work, a weekend enthusiast setting off for a tour, a racer out for trophies, or an outlaw bent on raising hell. Although Triumph faced some competition—other British and a few Italian and German bikes were vying for the first three types of riders, while Harley-Davidson offered bikes for the latter group—the motorcycles from Meriden were firmly established among all four categories.

As the 1970s dawned, however, it all seemed to go sour. First, the Japanese entered the market. Their initial forays might have been taken lightly by the major builders—Who would choose a puny 50cc scooter over a 650cc road burner?—but more serious designs from Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki soon followed. In time, the Japanese were building direct competitors to Triumph’s bikes, challenging their performance, quality, and price.