.

Triumph Tiger 70

.  

Make Model

Triumph Tiger 70

Year

1937 - 40

Engine

Single cylinder, single port OHV with automatic lubrication to rockers and valve guides

Capacity

249 cc / 15.2 cu in

Bore x Stroke

63 x 80 mm

Cooling System

Air cooled

Oil Capacity

3.4 L / 0.90 US gal / 0.75 Imp gal

Exhaust

One into one

Ignition 

Lucas, 6V Magdyno

Starting

Kick

Max Power

11.9 kW / 16 hp @ 5800 rpm

Frame

Single cradle, steel

Front Suspension

Rigid, dual springs

Rear Suspension

Rigid, spring loaded saddle

Front Brakes

Drum

Rear Brakes

Drum

Front Wheel

3.00 x 26", Dunlop ribbed

Rear Wheel

3.25 x 26", Dunlop ribbed

Fuel Capacity 

12.5 L / 3.3 US gal / 2.75 Imp gal

Top Speed

104 km/h / 65 mph

Jack Sangster, the owner of Triumph motor cycles from January 1936, moved Edward Turner across from Ariel, along with Bert Hopwood as Chief Draughtsman, in order to get something done to boost Triumph's flagging product line and sales figures. Val Page had produced good engines, and Turner acknowledged this, but they lacked the 'eye appeal' to attract customers.

 

With no time to design anew, and not really necessary as the 'basics' were good, Turner set to in providing that 'eye appeal' and also in providing a meaningful name. Thus, with small 'tinware' changes and 'shell blue sheen' replacing the drab black, by April Turner had three new models on the road for testing. The Model L2/1 became the Tiger 70, the Model 3/2 became the Tiger 80 and the Model 5/5 became top of the range Tiger 90. (The numbers gave an indication of their top speeds.)

 

Initially the original twin down-tube frames were used, and even the engine numbers continued their sequences, but with an addition to indicate that they were fitted to a Tiger.
With time to make further improvements later models were given more sporting looking single down-tube frames and further 'tinware' improvements were made, and these three models continued through to 1939, being joined in their last year by a further 500cc Tiger model - the Tiger 100 Twin of 1939.