The updated power figures are ARAI certified on each of the locally assembled models and there was a delay in updating the website which lead to the confusion.
There has been little clarity on the issue of reduced power output on Triumph’s range of offerings in India. While the CBU models did not receive a drop in power, the locally assembled range saw a reduction in power output with the highest being on the Street Triple facing a reduction of around 25 percent on the India spec version. Triumph India has updated its website with the India spec power figures and the following can be termed as a rather valid explanation for what the issue is all about.
The power figures updated of the locally assembled motorcycles now on the website are the ones tested and certified by ARAI for India. However, the numbers originally listed were of the European spec models and added before the products were officially launched in the country. Compared to the European spec figures, the Indian models have lost power of around 8-10 percent, which in most cases is marginal. For example, the Bonneville shows a drop of power by 7 PS bringing down the output to 61 PS. Such kind of discrepancy in power outputs is completely plausible since individual bikes do show slight variations (also testing methods and fuel quality could differ). Triumph also stated that another reason for the variation in power could be in the way ARAI approaches the measurements which are different from that of Europe, where the specs were originally taken from.
While the above explains minor variations in power, the 25 percent reduction on the Street Triple has been indigestible. So, what went wrong with that bike in particular? Triumph sells two versions globally – Street Triple and Street Triple R but both models produce the same output in developed markets. In developed parts of the world like Europe that offer higher and consistent fuel quality, the Street Triple is sold with 106 PS of power; while in emerging markets like Brazil that offers inconsistent fuel quality, the Street Triple is sold with 85 PS of power. Unfortunately though, India falls under latter section of the world and what we received was the Brazilian spec version right from the start. This clarifies that the actual drop in power is not of 25 percent, but that of around 8 percent to 79 PS from 85 PS.
Since inception, the Triumph website carried a disclaimer stating that the figures listed were European spec and could vary, thereby keeping the company away from legal hassles now. Speaking on the issue, Triumph iterated that they never mislead customers in any way and all the power figures on the registration papers have been the ARAI certified ones. The issue here has rather been the delay in updating the Indian website with the new figures. What the company should have done is used the Brazilian spec figures right from the start since India was already identified as an emerging market by the British brand.
Meanwhile, owners of the Triumph Street Triple are furious, many opted for the bike over the Kawasaki Z800 which is considerably more powerful now. Even the sales force at the dealer-end were quoting European figures, thereby misleading prospective buyers. Triumph completes one year of sales in India on 28th November 2014 and the feelings of customers is far from positive to call for celebrations.
