Not one to waste a nice day Su n me got all our old bikes out, dusted them off and checked the oil and tyres and then rode them all around the block.
Hmmm Very nice collection but i`d say you need 2 more! One for Saturday one for Sunday.....then you can start on one more for Bank holidays etc
Darkman Can't add any more to what's been said. But i would add perfection but i know you made them like that. You are a genius. I love all of your creations. Joe.
What a terrific collection, @darkman! I'm sure they were happy to be spruced up a bit and sit in the sun. I'd love to know a few particulars about each of the bikes--mainly year and specific model. Thanks for sharing the photos with us!
L to R, 69 T120R Bonneville 650cc, 69 T100R Daytona 500cc, 66 T120 Bonneville TT Special 650cc, 70 TR6C Trophy 650cc and last 71 T100C Trophy 500cc. All of the bikes are US market bikes re imported apart from the 71 T100C that is a US export model but was registered from new in the UK. All of the bikes have been restored and retain nearly all there original parts as i only use pattern parts as a last resort if i can't find NOS Triumph parts even down to little details like the correct factory bolts
I’ve often considered getting a true classic Triumph, but money, time and a variety of other crap excuses have stayed my hand. I really want a 68 “something” but not sure which bike to go for... which are the best to work on/avoid? I’ve been steered away from the tridents...
Certainly the 650 and 500's are more plentiful and easy to get on with, the 750 triple is a like it or loath it bike mostly down to peoples lack of engineering/mechanical skills.
The TR6 of around that year is ofen considered to be the most 'practical' and 'accessible' (whatever either of those words might really mean in this context) of the range. I say "around that year" because anything from late '67 to '70 (or even '71pre-OIF) would be much the same with minor style and colour differences being the primary distinguishing factors. The TR6 or Trophy is more practical as it is a single carb and milder cam version of the Bonneville so it benefits from the same engine and cycle parts; has oodles of smooth power and the same assured handling without the carb balancing required on a Bonnie. The only thing it lacks - in the real world - is the cachet of the name.
Happy you can source parts easily, where I live it takes 2 ferries to get to Vancouver, at least 6 hours one way, so going to look at parts that come up for sale is not really practical, I do have some friends around the province that will go look at stuff for me but mostly don't really know what they are looking at. I have shelves of parts I have bought unseen, that aren't correct, so I fabricate and modify a lot of pieces. I am not rebuilding anything for resale value so I am happy with what I end up with.
