ABOUT THE TRIUMPH TR6
The Triumph TR6 was produced from 1956 to 1973, when it was replaced by the fivespeed 750cc Triumph Tiger TR7V. During this time it was a successful model, particularly in the US. The TR6 grew from the success of the 650cc Thunderbird in America, where the higher engine capacity was desirable. The success of the 1954 500cc T110 and later TR5 Trophy led to the creation of a 650cc TR6 'Trophy-bird' model, developed and produced specifically for the US market, including California desert racing. The TR6 was introduced in 1956, with the same engine as the T110, but a new alloy cylinder head giving 42bhp. The power delivery made it ideal for off-road competition, and the bike had a Siamese 2-into-1 exhaust system and a 7-inch front brake. The following years saw a bigger front brake and a move to a Lucas Red Label Competition Magneto as standard. For the 1959 model year, the Trophy was offered in two variants, the TR6/A and TR6/B. The TR6/A was the roadster model with low exhausts and the TR6/B was the highpiped street scrambler.
Trophy-bird became Trophy in 1961, with home models renamed the TR6, while the US export models were named TR6C for the competition model and TR6R for the road model. Ruby Red and Silver were used for all models. For 1962, the US models were renamed TR6SR and TR6SC. Unit construction arrived in 1963. Introduced in 1962 and offered through 1966 was the pre-unit TR6SS model, which sported a two-into- one exhaust, but was otherwise similar to the road model. The Triumph TR6 was perhaps the last example of an all-around motorcycle. Capable of being raced successfully on mud or desert tracks, or ridden daily on errands with just a single carburettor to maintain, many consider the Trophy a more desirable machine for road use than the Bonneville, as their real-world performance is on a par.