The Pre-1941 Triumph Motor Cycle Pages
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From Peter Cornelius - Triumph Specialist for the VMCC - of Britain.
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The 1927 Model N
Following on from the very successful Model P came the Model N.
Using basically the same engine the Model N was 'modernised' in a
number of ways. An oil pump was built into the crankcase and it was
no longer necessary to remember to give a lubricating pump from the
tank mounted hand pump every ten miles, but the hand pump was retained for those who
did not trust the "new fangled" 'semi-automatic' pump which was out of
sight. The hand pump was also useful to 'prime' the crankcase
when it was drained. Lubrication was still 'total loss' and the
automatic crankcase pump simply drip fed oil to the crankcase to
compensate for that lost via the inefficient leather oil seals or
burnt off by getting past the piston rings into the combustion chamber.
The forks were updated with a single Webb-style spring to replace the
Druid forks of the Model P, and the dummy-belt rim rear brake was
replaced by a proper hub with internal twin-shoes.
Probably after the crankcase oil pump, the other major change was the
use of wired-on tyres to replace the beaded edge type which had been
in use since the first days of Triumph's motor cycles. The much lower
tyre pressures would have given a much more comfortable ride.
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Brief Specifications and Variations
Catalogued for just 1927, but with a very similar model for 1928
known as the Model NP.
Just as there had been sporting versions of the Model P (Q and QA)
so there was also for the Model N, and this also had the nomenclature
of QA, so in order to differentiate I know this model as the QA-2.
494cc side-valve, 84mm bore X 89mm stroke.
3-speed Triumph gearbox.
All-chain drive.
Popular as a solo mount, or with a sidecar.
A very practical mount for transport to work or weekend pleasure
riding.
Fuel capacity 1¾ gallons, oil 2 pints.
It is difficult to determine production figures since the engine
number series continued from the Models P. However, the frames were
different. From my records of surviving machines I would estimate
that approximately 10,000 to 12,000 Models N and QA-2 were made, and
around 1,500 to 2,000 of those were of the QA-2 version.
Models NP production was in the order of 1,800 machines.
Models N, NP and/or QA-2, or parts thereof, still survive in Australia, Brazil,
Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Italy,
New Zealand, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Switzerland and the USA.
For more details, technical information, performance figures,
and much more, you really need to refer to the booklet I have written
covering these models.
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