Triumphs and BSAs were once really common in the USA. It was either that or a big V twin like Harley and Indian. As Indian disappeared in the early '50s, there wasn't much choice until the Japanese bikes started showing up in the '60s. Other European bikes---BMW, Jawa, Ducati, Vincent and others---were scarce. Triumphs and BSAs had something in common with Harley and India---they were all based on 1930s technology. I feel the aftermath of WWII had a lot to do with it all.
I've got to say, my 2013 900 (with a couple or three mods) has been very good and done all I asked. Once you get to a certain age, top speed is no longer a factor.
In the 50s, a lot of the ex military guys from WWII were adrenaline junkies, race tracks sprang up all over and the heavy and slow Harleys of the time were usually overlooked for the faster and lighter Brit twins. This inspired HD® to come up with a lighter and faster twin, the KH (which was a flathead design) that morphed into the Sportster model. This was intended to directly compete with the Brit twins, complete with the right side shifter that the Brits had at the time (1975 saw legislation that mandated left side shifters and most manufacturers complied in order to sell in the USA).
The 1200cc versions like mine have about 80hp and 80ft lbs of torque. No power problem for me and I’ve owned a crotch rocket or two in the past. That said, I’m not popping wheelies or going over 100 mph any more so…
I used to have a 1974 BMW R90S, until a guy ran a stop sign and totaled it (and almost totaled me). It looked like this.
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How many of those "British" bikes are still made in Britain? Aren't a lot of them made in India? I know Royal Enfields are.
Triumph has six-world class factories around the world. Two of these factories are based in Hinckley in the UK, just a stone's throw from the Mallory Park race track. There are also three factories in Chonburi, Thailand, and one in Manaus, Brazil.
Royal Enfield is a special case. The Indian Army imported 500 Enfield 300cc Bullets and apparently loved them, for the next order, RE partnered with Madras Motorcycle to form Enfield India initially to assemble Bullets and then licensed to build their own in 1956. When Royal Enfield went under between 67 and 70, the Indian company carried on independently. It wasn't until 1994 that the company reacquired the right to use "Royal" Enfield instead of the Enfield India it had been using.
