Motorcycle manufacturers have always had to strike a balance between true innovation and the whims of the consumer market. The result has often been feats of creativity that fizzle out, only to be rediscovered by collectors after the fact. In such cases, only a handful of unique machines are in existence, making them rare and desirable. This is the case with the Triumph X-75 Hurricane, which was only manufactured by BSA/Triumph for about six months between June of 1972 and January of 1973, yielding just 1,171 bikes total.

Conceptualized by Craig Vetter, the genius designer who created the beloved Phantoms, this bike really began as the 1969 BSA Rocket Three. Vetter took the boxy, bullish, straight-line aesthetic of the bike, which wasn’t entirely popular with an American audience anyway, and turned it on its head. Pulling from international influences, including Japanese styling, Vetter aimed to create a bike that was entirely new, a streamlined work of art that just happened to propel riders to their destinations in speed and comfort. He wanted to make a truly American bike for the discerning American rider, one seeking a unique expression of style, as well as a powerful mode of transportation.

The result was a body designed not only for comfortable seating and aerodynamics, but also meant to hug and highlight the beautiful engine, formerly hidden by bulky, molded panels more in keeping with a car than a motorcycle. Vetter’s swooping tank exposed the engine compartment, taking immense visual weight off the frame. It also served to add an inviting forward arch to the seat, as opposed to the bench-like appearance of the Rocket Three. The dragging tail of the Rocket Three became a springy, trailing fender with an upturned taillight. The dramatically flared exhaust pipes completed the picture frame around the newly displayed engine compartment.

Vetter took a bike that appeared heavy enough to leave a dent in the pavement and turned it into one that looked like it could achieve liftoff with lightweight but powerful styling. It was a bike built to compete with Japanese advances in the motorcycle market, but still appeal to western riders. Despite the power, speed, and innovative styling of the 1973 Triumph X-75 Hurricane, it was a bike ahead of its time. Today, this rare piece of machinery is a true prize for any serious collector.

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