Les Harris (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Leslie Frederick Harris was a Torquay
businessman and motorcycle
enthusiast who resurrected the Triumph Bonneville
. Born in 1939, he was described as the "saviour of the British motorcycle industry". Invited to Buckingham Palace
and the Houses of Parliament, in 1987 he was visited by the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
. He died in February 2009, aged 69.
and Triumph went out of business, Les Harris bought as many spare parts as he could and set up L F Harris International Ltd at a warehouse in Newton Abbot
. The venture was a success and he expanded by purchasing an engineering company in Leighton Buzzard
and a retail shop in Paignton
, Devon
.
in 1983 Les bid for the rights to the Triumph name and the opportunity to build the Triumph Bonneville T140
with the former Meriden Triumph engineer Brian Jones
. Instead, under licence from the successful bidder, John Bloor
, the new owner of Triumph
, Les Harris manufactured Bonnevilles for five years. He moved to a bigger factory and warehouse - and because of the Les Harris Bonnevilles, Triumph can claim to have been in continuous production of motorcycles since 1902, making Triumph the oldest continuous production motorcycle manufacturer in the world. There was a lot of media interest in the venture and Les Harris was described as the "saviour of the British motorcycle industry".
494 cc air-cooled engine, there was also a Harris Matchless G80 built with a twin front disc brake and an electric starter. These were produced until the recession of 1990 when the business returned to the producing much sought after spare parts for classic motorcycles. Les also built 8 Matchless G80 for trial with the White Helmets Display Team. However, these were not taken on and were returned to the factory where six were supposedly dismantled and reassembled as road bikes. However two were supposedly presented to the Colonel and Adjutant of the Royal Signals regiment. One is known to exist in Northern England, the other is in the Salisbury area.
on 17 February 2009, aged 69, from a progressive lung condition, from which he suffered for more than ten years. His company built the Triumph Tiger motorcycles used by the Royal Corps of Signals
White Helmets Motorcycle Display Team
and at his funeral at St Matthias Church, Torquay
, six soldiers from the team carried his coffin and provided a 'throttle roar' in his memory.
Torquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
businessman and motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
enthusiast who resurrected the Triumph Bonneville
Triumph Bonneville
The Bonneville is a range of British motorcycles, made in three different production runs from 1959 to 1983, and 1985 to 1988, by the now-defunct Triumph Engineering in Meriden; and since 2001, by Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley. It is named after the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, where Triumph and...
. Born in 1939, he was described as the "saviour of the British motorcycle industry". Invited to Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
and the Houses of Parliament, in 1987 he was visited by the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. He died in February 2009, aged 69.
L F Harris International Ltd
Les began his own business in 1974 manufacturing and selling spare parts for classic motorcycles. As the leading British manufacturers such as Norton Motorcycles, BSABirmingham Small Arms Company
This article is not about Gamo subsidiary BSA Guns Limited of Armoury Road, Small Heath, Birmingham B11 2PP or BSA Company or its successors....
and Triumph went out of business, Les Harris bought as many spare parts as he could and set up L F Harris International Ltd at a warehouse in Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parish in the Teignbridge District of Devon, England on the River Teign, with a population of 23,580....
. The venture was a success and he expanded by purchasing an engineering company in Leighton Buzzard
Leighton Buzzard
-Lower schools:*Beaudesert Lower School - Apennine Way*Clipstone Brook Lower School - Brooklands Drive*Greenleas Lower School - Derwent Road*Dovery Down Lower School - Heath Road*Heathwood Lower School - Heath Road*Leedon Lower School - Highfield Road...
and a retail shop in Paignton
Paignton
Paignton is a coastal town in Devon in England. Together with Torquay and Brixham it forms the unitary authority of Torbay which was created in 1998. The Torbay area is a holiday destination known as the English Riviera. Paignton's population in the United Kingdom Census of 2001 was 48,251. It has...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
.
Triumph motorcycle production
When the Triumph motorcycle factory closed in MeridenMeriden, West Midlands
-External links:*****...
in 1983 Les bid for the rights to the Triumph name and the opportunity to build the Triumph Bonneville T140
Triumph Bonneville T140
The Triumph Bonneville T140 is a British motorcycle with a capacity engine that was designed and built by Triumph Engineering at Meriden near Coventry....
with the former Meriden Triumph engineer Brian Jones
Brian Jones (motorcycle designer)
Brian Jones was a motorcycle designer and engineer born in Gloucester, UK in 1928. Notable for his contribution to the original design of the Triumph Bonneville, he died in Coventry, on 4 March 2001.-Career:...
. Instead, under licence from the successful bidder, John Bloor
John Bloor
John Stuart Bloor OBE, is an English business magnate.Having built Derbyshire based Bloor Holdings into a leading housebuilding organisation, Bloor bought and revived Triumph Motorcycles.-Early life:...
, the new owner of Triumph
Triumph Motorcycles Ltd
Triumph Motorcycles Ltd is the largest surviving British motorcycle manufacturer, which was established in 1984 by John Bloor after the original manufacturer Triumph Engineering went into receivership...
, Les Harris manufactured Bonnevilles for five years. He moved to a bigger factory and warehouse - and because of the Les Harris Bonnevilles, Triumph can claim to have been in continuous production of motorcycles since 1902, making Triumph the oldest continuous production motorcycle manufacturer in the world. There was a lot of media interest in the venture and Les Harris was described as the "saviour of the British motorcycle industry".
The Matchless G80
In 1988 Les decided not to re-licence the rights to the Triumph and began to design his own motorcycle, the Matchless G80. Fitted with a RotaxRotax
BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG , commonly known simply as Rotax, is an Austrian engine manufacturer. It develops and produces four-stroke and advanced two-stroke engines for Bombardier Recreational Products products as well as for motorcycles, karts,...
494 cc air-cooled engine, there was also a Harris Matchless G80 built with a twin front disc brake and an electric starter. These were produced until the recession of 1990 when the business returned to the producing much sought after spare parts for classic motorcycles. Les also built 8 Matchless G80 for trial with the White Helmets Display Team. However, these were not taken on and were returned to the factory where six were supposedly dismantled and reassembled as road bikes. However two were supposedly presented to the Colonel and Adjutant of the Royal Signals regiment. One is known to exist in Northern England, the other is in the Salisbury area.
Funeral
Les Harris died at Torbay HospitalTorbay Hospital
Torbay Hospital is South Devon's main hospital. It is run by the South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.-External links:*...
on 17 February 2009, aged 69, from a progressive lung condition, from which he suffered for more than ten years. His company built the Triumph Tiger motorcycles used by the Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
White Helmets Motorcycle Display Team
Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team
The Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team , also known as the White Helmets, is a group of serving soldiers from the Royal Corps of Signals of the British Army, who give public displays of motorcycling skills, acrobatics and stunt riding...
and at his funeral at St Matthias Church, Torquay
Torquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
, six soldiers from the team carried his coffin and provided a 'throttle roar' in his memory.
