In 1883 Siegfried Bettmann aged 20 arrived in Coventry from Nuremburg in Germany and started the S. Bettmann & Co. Import Export Agency selling bicycles made by William Andrews of Birmingham. In 1886 the name S. Bettmann & Co is changed to The Triumph Cycle Company with backing from the Dunlop Tyre Company. In 1889 Triumph started to produce its own bicycles from a factory in Much Park Street, Coventry.Triumph makes its first motorcycle in 1902. It was simply one of the company’s own bicycles with a single cylinder Belgian Minerva engine clipped to the down tube. In 1905 the company produced its first all Triumph Motorcycle with a 3bhp 300cc side valve engine and had a top speed in the region of 40 to 50 mph.

They introduced new sprung forks and redesigned the frame and engines.The company moved to larger premises in Priory Street and increase production from 500 to 1000 motorcycles per year. 1911 Triumph had four models in production, the Roadster, the TT Roadster, the TT Racer and the Free Engine model (This was the first motorcycle to have a clutch). In 1913 Bettmann is elected Mayor of Coventry and establishes the Prince of Wales fund.

At the outbreak of the first world war Triumph produces the Model H Roadster with a 550cc side valve engine and three speed gears.This is considered to be the first modern motorcycle. It later became known as the ‘Trusty’ Triumph. After a meeting between Bettmann and Colonel Claude Holbrook, the company supply’s 30,000 machines to British and allied forces.