Tiger 800 Production

[tauzero]

I'm not sure that the cheaper labour costs are that much cheaper. Minimum wage in Thailand (2019 - 331 baht = £8.08 per hour) ) is pretty much the same as minimum wage in the UK (2019 - £8.21 per hour). The only thing I can think of is that there's a higher ratio of pay between skilled and minimum wage workers in the UK than Thailand, or that there's another cost, such as employer's national insurance (around 10%), that doesn't figure in Thailand. Obviously it makes enough of a difference to make it worthwhile shifting production, but that's looking at the situation from the other end of the telescope to what buyers do. Triumph make about 60,000 bikes a year. Saving £50 per bike would save them £3 million, significant in terms of their net income, but conversely a price cut of £50 is pretty insignificant compared with the price of the bike.

[Stevie.P]

It isn't only about costs there are a lot of factors and a big one for a worldwide seller is often using another manufacturing base that has far more and simpler International access agreements to some of those prosperous world markets. I also recall from past links on here to news articles how the Thailand factory is not alone with some other major bike makes having factories in that area as it is surrounded with some of the biggest required outsourced component suppliers, i.e Nissin brakes, on their doorstep.

[dragon88]

Originally Posted by tauzero

I'm not sure that the cheaper labour costs are that much cheaper. Minimum wage in Thailand (2019 - 331 baht = £8.08 per hour) ) is pretty much the same as minimum wage in the UK (2019 - £8.21 per hour). The only thing I can think of is that there's a higher ratio of pay between skilled and minimum wage workers in the UK than Thailand, or that there's another cost, such as employer's national insurance (around 10%), that doesn't figure in Thailand. Obviously it makes enough of a difference to make it worthwhile shifting production, but that's looking at the situation from the other end of the telescope to what buyers do. Triumph make about 60,000 bikes a year. Saving £50 per bike would save them £3 million, significant in terms of their net income, but conversely a price cut of £50 is pretty insignificant compared with the price of the bike.

Thailand has a massive automotive manufacturing sector. Dozens of brands, both car/motorcycle are manufactured there and for good reason. Wages do factor, but things like corporate tax. tax breaks and incentives to relocate business there, cost of land, construction costs, ease of doing business, availability cheap labour, cheaper overheads the list goes on.

[mcinlb]

One production line will be just like any other production line regardless of country and to reject a bike just because it is built in Thailand is racist 

[Poacher67]

I hope my naive curiosity hasn't sparked a row ?...

[fastnfat]

My first T800 was a 2011 model year, not sure where that was built but it wasn’t the best!
My next T800 was  2014 model year, not sure where that was built but it was better but again, not the best.
The next T800 was a 2017 XRT built in Thailand which I thought was an excellent bike and couldn’t really fault it.
I then changed it for a T900 GT Pro in May 2020, also built in Thailand. Can’t fault it at all!😊

[Nick_2112]

I believe the change over point was 2013, my early 2013 is Hinckley built, a mate bought his from same dealer in late 13 and his was Thailand built.
He had a few minor issues that the dealer sorted but I suspect after 6 months there would be no difference where it was built.