Bob Wolf has no problem telling his customers that the rumors about Triumphs are true.
The English motorcycles, which have not been manufactured for almost two decades, are a tinkerer?s dream, Wolf said.
“Triumphs are not for everyone,” he said.
“If you are not mechanically inclined or you don?t want to see a lot of me, buy a Honda. I am always honest with people because otherwise they might hate the bike in six months.”
His love for the British bike developed when he was in high school and took a ride on a friend?s bike. The easy steering of the Triumph reeled him in, and he?s never looked back.
“A friend of mine had a Triumph, which was called the world?s finest-handling motorcycle,” he said. “I fell in love with it.”
On thing lead to another, and Wolf found himself buying original Triumphs and restoring them. Now, his dealership, which he bought in 1987, specializes in such restorations.
The cycles have grown rarer each year since the early 1980s, when Triumph went bankrupt and the name was bought by another company.
But the affection for the vintage cycles hasn?t waned for Wolf and many others.
At the recent MountainFest Motorcycle Rally in Morgantown, W.Va., John Mozuke of Hutchinson, W.Va. told The Times of West Virginia that although he rides a Honda VTX 1300 retro, he prefers older motorcycles.
“These days, it?s Harley, Harley, Harley, but back in the day, it was BSA and Triumph,” Mozuke told The Times. “I think Triumph was as big as Harley” is now.
Perhaps that?s why a large portion of Wolf?s business is selling parts for vintage Triumphs to customers throughout the world including some places that are rather difficult to find on any but the most detailed maps.
“People who own Triumphs are from all walks of life,” he said. “College students, older guys who always wanted one when they were younger or who owned one once and want them again, are the customers. Everyone from professional business people to young people want these cycles. They are from all walks of life.”
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Wolf Cycles
5413 East Drive, Arbutus
(410) 247-7420
