Dumb question: why is it a Trialmaster and not a Trailmaster?

[TheDocAUS]

Does anybody know why is it named Trialmaster Edition rather than a Trailmaster Edition? When a trial is normally a court process and a trail is something you explore.

Trailmaster makes more sense when the other model is a Fieldmaster Edition

Perhaps all that litigation by Land Rover influenced the name?

 

[prjenns]

Does anybody know why it is named Trialmaster rather than a Trailmaster? When a trial is normally a court process and a trail is something you explore.

Trailmaster makes more sense when the other model is a Fieldmaster.

Perhaps all that litigation by Land Rover influenced the name.

I believe it comes from their Belstaff "motorcycle trials" jacket so its a legacy thing rather than a Grenadier relevant theme. But yes, we all call it trail in error!

 

[Krabby]

And I think “trials” were competitive events. Not sure if they were races per se, but competitions of one sort or another.

 

[Trialmaster]

Motorcycle TRIAL events in the UK of old. https://www.belstaff.com/uk

 

[Eric]

Does anybody know why is it named Trialmaster Edition rather than a Trailmaster Edition? When a trial is normally a court process and a trail is something you explore.

Trailmaster makes more sense when the other model is a Fieldmaster Edition

Perhaps all that litigation by Land Rover influenced the name.

It comes from their Trialmaster jackets that are also owned by Ineos. The trialmaster was a motorcycle jacket designed for the motorcycle trialling scene back in the 1950s I think.

 

[ADVAW8S]

I can't find the thread but there was a long discussion around the six-day trials event in Scotland that inspired the jacket.

 

[jamgolf]

It feels like a misguided choice, at least to me. The context is so local and narrow that it’s completely lost on most people unaware of the company that makes these jackets or whatever they do.

Trail-master would have conveyed the purpose of the vehicle very clearly just like Jeep’s Trail Rated badge.

 

[Eric]

It feels like a misguided choice, at least to me. The context is so local and narrow that it’s completely lost on most people unaware of the company that makes these jackets or whatever they do.

Trail-master would have conveyed the purpose of the vehicle very clearly just like Jeep’s Trail Rated badge.

Belstaff jackets are known worldwide by the biking fraternity and now known worldwide for their fashion range just behind Barbour in wax cotton wear. The exception to world wide is probably the USA where protective rain proof wax cotton I don't think really caught on

 

[Jean Mercier]

Belstaff jackets are known worldwide by the biking fraternity and now known worldwide for their fashion range just behind Barbour in wax cotton wear. The exception to world wide is probably the USA where protective rain proof wax cotton I don't think really caught on

I never heard of these jackets before being interested in the Grenadier, and to be honest, I would prefer a slightly cheaper purchase price of my Grenadier instead of a "free" Trialmaster Belstaff, so that I can choose a jacket that I like!

 

[Eric]

I never heard of these jackets before being interested in the Grenadier, and to be honest, I would prefer a slightly cheaper purchase price of my Grenadier instead of a "free" Trialmaster Belstaff, so that I can choose a jacket that I like!

I have to be careful of my words here @Jean Mercier. I thought from recollection that the trading position of Belstaff was not as good as it might be. And IMHO it is a gimmick to refresh the Belstaff brand. Obviously the base manufacture cost of a jacket would not have much impact on the price of the vehicle. If you look on the internet you can get a Fieldmaster jacket at considerable less than the manufacturers list price.

 

[Reducs]

Yeah, the Six Day Trials (ISDT) used to be a big thing. Sort of like Dakar before Dakar?

Also, it feels a little mean to dealers and sales people, in the same way Porsche is messing with them with their naming conventions now. When a customer comes in and says Trialmaster, or Panamerica, or Maycan, or... do you smile and keep trying for that sale? Or do you correct them and hope they don't get offended?

Wait... did I just express a tiny bit of sympathy for a car salesman? Sorry. Need more coffee.

 

[alvan]

When I was young, and motorcyclist, Sammy Miller was the hero of trial championship, wellknown around the World. Onviously, saying 'wellknown around the World' ha a meaning very different from now, Wit ecception of Pelé for countries interested in soccer, or John Weissmuller during the Olympics, the lack of media globalization produced a particular kind of notoriety. If we want to believe that investing a billion pounds in a niche adventure, among colossal opponents, has a lot to do with nostalgia and with the pleasure of giving emotional value to one's unlimited money (better if earning money as well...), Sammy Miller Era, BSA Gold Star, corduroy trousers and tweed jackets are part of this ethos. I could add Norton Manx or MV Agusta, but we would enter another context. There is elegance in all of this and I don't think more than ten thousand people would argue on a forum for a long time without any of them still having the subject of the discussion at home.

 

[Eric]

When I was young, and motorcyclist, Sammy Miller was the hero of trial championship, wellknown around the World. Onviously, saying 'wellknown around the World' ha a meaning very different from now, Wit ecception of Pelé for countries interested in soccer, or John Weissmuller during the Olympics, the lack of media globalization produced a particular kind of notoriety. If we want to believe that investing a billion pounds in a niche adventure, among colossal opponents, has a lot to do with nostalgia and with the pleasure of giving emotional value to one's unlimited money (better if earning money as well...), Sammy Miller Era, BSA Gold Star, corduroy trousers and tweed jackets are part of this ethos. I could add Norton Manx or MV Agusta, but we would enter another context. There is elegance in all of this and I don't think more than ten thousand people would argue on a forum for a long time without any of them still having the subject of the discussion at home.

Speaking of nostalgia, and going completely off thread have you seen and what do you reckon of the new BSA Gold Star. Modern replica, I'm smitten and may just buy one despite my age

 

[KBKLR]

 

[KBKLR]

Sammy Miller at the TT on a 900SS Ducati.

 

[Michael H.]

And Aussie’s can pretend it's named after the famous Redex Trials.

View: https://youtu.be/BoQYM7TOnLI

 

[Aurans]

It feels like a misguided choice, at least to me. The context is so local and narrow that it’s completely lost on most people unaware of the company that makes these jackets or whatever they do.

Trail-master would have conveyed the purpose of the vehicle very clearly just like Jeep’s Trail Rated badge.

Not being confused with (or tripping over the trademark of) a Trailhawk is reason enough. Trialmaster is a defensible mark. Plus, it’s much better than the Probe, Swinger, or Guppy.

 

[TheDocAUS]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I would have never guessed.

 

[Del]

Trial is an old name given in this context to a sporting challenge.

In the dog world we have field trials - the ultimate test for working dogs etc.

In the UK we have sporting car trials - check it out it’s great fun.

In academia it may be described as the action or process of trying or putting to the proof - test.

 

[DaveB]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I would have never guessed.

No guessing required
It is explained on the website and in the brochure