Author Topic: Black Betty  (Read 4258 times)

britman

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Black Betty
« on: December 01, 2018, 03:24:36 PM »
I would like to introduce "Black Betty".  It is a 2004 Triumph Thunderbird Sport.  I have spent the last couple of months bobbing here, adding bling there, and when I tightened down the monza gas cap this evening, I believe it is done.  It will be my short trip bike, back and forth to work, hardware store, and sneaking down to Dairy Queen for an M&M Blizzard so my Wife doesn't find out.  The riding position coupled with my 70 year old arse dictates her to that position in the herd.  I had a TBS a few years back and sold it to buy a vintage Triumph which has long since departed.  When I saw it being loaded on the trailer, I knew I was making a mistake and have been looking for a replacement since then.  Everyone has that machine that trips all the right switches and the Sport is mine.  With the Rocket III, my Goose Touring, and now another TBS in the garage I believe I am finally done.  Dammit I forgot about that Honda CL77 still lurking in the search Craigslist daily section of my brain.............. ..









   

Offline ohiorider

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #1 on: December 01, 2018, 03:29:59 PM »
One sweet looking bike!  I have never ridden that series of Triumph.  I imagine the sound of the triple could keep a person in the saddle for a longer ride than planned at the outset.

Bob
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New:  2016 Triumph T120 (Traded Dec 2021)
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Offline Devildog

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2018, 03:50:03 PM »
So it's now December, what is your winter project going to be?
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Offline Guzzistajohn

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2018, 03:51:49 PM »
Bam Ba Lam..........she's a beaut!
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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2018, 03:51:49 PM »

jwinwi

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2018, 05:26:55 PM »
Bam Ba Lam..........she's a beaut!

Bam Ba Lam indeed :thumb:

Offline jas67

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2018, 07:06:09 AM »
Very nice looking bike, I'll bet it's fun to ride too.
I love the sound of a triple.
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Offline snuffcityrider

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2018, 07:31:14 AM »
Nicely done, makes me want my Speed Four back..
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Offline Sheepdog

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2018, 09:48:15 AM »
Great job! That engine is a treat.
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Offline Shorty

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2018, 10:28:27 AM »
OH YEAH!
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Offline Guzzistajohn

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2018, 10:58:27 AM »



Triumphs are UGE!!
ебать Россию!   Not anti social-pro solitude

Offline Turin

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #10 on: December 04, 2018, 11:56:50 PM »
Here's my Black Betty





 
« Last Edit: December 05, 2018, 12:00:20 AM by Turin »
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Offline Lannis

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #11 on: December 05, 2018, 06:45:05 AM »
Here's my Black Betty





Here's the one from Birmingham, way down in Alabam' .....

https://vimeo.com/19557187

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Offline Kev m

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #12 on: December 05, 2018, 08:07:52 AM »
VERY NICE!  :thumb:
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Offline molly

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #13 on: December 05, 2018, 08:41:08 AM »
I've tried, I've really tried to like the Triumph triple. In the 90s I had a 900 Trophy, in the noughties I had a 955 Sprint ST, in 2013 I bought a 1050 Tiger Sport. In each case I found the motor bland and boring, in fact each bike lasted a couple of years and then was traded for something else. Both the BMW oil head motor and the 1200 2V Guzzi  was much more satisfying to own.
« Last Edit: December 05, 2018, 08:43:48 AM by molly »
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Offline JJ

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #14 on: December 05, 2018, 01:01:45 PM »
"Black Betty" is a definitely a beauty! :cool: :thumb: :smiley: 

Always liked the Bloor Thunderbird Sports, especially the yellow / black one they called "The Bumble-Bee!"

Here is the 1993 Trident 900 I rode for 2 years when I lived in Aachen, Germany, 2004-2005.  It was mostly stock, but I set it up for sport touring.  With three cylinders, 100 HP, liquid-cooled, and 6-speed, it was more than capable, even 2 up!! 

Paid 2500 Euros, sold it for 2500 Euros when I moved back to the states.  Great bike! :thumb: :cool: :smiley:



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Offline Perazzimx14

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #15 on: December 05, 2018, 01:18:49 PM »
Black Betty had a child. The damn thing gone wild:



 
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Offline BrotherJim

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #16 on: December 05, 2018, 02:40:46 PM »
Nice.  Here's me on my '98 TBS somewhere in the Smoky Mountains.  It's got the factory off-road pipes and sounds great.  A lot to like about these machines! 

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Offline JJ

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #17 on: December 05, 2018, 06:26:58 PM »
The Thunderbird Sport...."Bumble Bee!!"  :cool: :thumb:



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Offline Huzo

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #18 on: December 06, 2018, 01:22:57 AM »


Hard, brutal, beautiful...
You've done well... :bow:
Had a 1050 Sprint ST and a Daytona 955i..
Both pulled like a 15 year old schoolboy, I imagine yours is no different..!
« Last Edit: December 06, 2018, 01:27:21 AM by Huzo »

Offline AaronH

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #19 on: December 06, 2018, 09:02:54 AM »
That generation of Triumph triple is great.  This 97 Adventurer is the motorcycle that introduced me to that engine.  A previous owner put some sort of aftermarket mufflers on.  It makes an amazing sound, and it is smooth without any tingling vibration throughout the rpm range.   

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Offline Huzo

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #20 on: December 06, 2018, 09:46:08 AM »
I've tried, I've really tried to like the Triumph triple. In the 90s I had a 900 Trophy, in the noughties I had a 955 Sprint ST, in 2013 I bought a 1050 Tiger Sport. In each case I found the motor bland and boring, in fact each bike lasted a couple of years and then was traded for something else. Both the BMW oil head motor and the 1200 2V Guzzi  was much more satisfying to own.
Jeez Molly.
They couldn't have been too bad, it took you three bikes to be convinced. What is it about a gruff sounding, strong mid range, flat torque "curve", rock of Gibraltar strength of construction, that you despise so much ?
Strange one this... Every other time you post, I can understand you straight away..

Offline drbone641

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #21 on: December 06, 2018, 08:46:02 PM »
Beautiful! Is that Sophia under the cover?
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britman

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #22 on: December 06, 2018, 10:26:06 PM »
Beautiful! Is that Sophia under the cover?

Yep, covered, resting, waiting for spring.........


Offline Huzo

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #23 on: January 07, 2019, 05:45:48 PM »
You bugger...!
Still love that Triumph, now what am I gunna' do, now I need one.
A really really nice job, should have been built that way. What have you had to buy out of your pocket that was not already there ?
« Last Edit: January 07, 2019, 05:46:49 PM by Huzo »

Offline jbell

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #24 on: January 07, 2019, 10:43:29 PM »
Very nice looking, though it looks like it should have a seat belt and wheelie bar. 
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britman

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #25 on: January 08, 2019, 05:03:27 AM »
You bugger...!
Still love that Triumph, now what am I gunna' do, now I need one.
A really really nice job, should have been built that way. What have you had to buy out of your pocket that was not already there ?

Solo seat and fly screen are hand fabricated by a eye doctor across the pond who plays with fiberglass as a hobby/side business.  You can not find the originals anymore.  I had to bob and paint the rear fender, the stock one just doesn't fit the look of the machine.  Of course all of the maintenance items and dial in for the K&N pods and rejetting for the sweet spot. The bike was fairly low miles when I bought it, around 12K, it just hadn't had any "make it shine" applied.  I thought long and hard about the dual purpose tires, but I really like the look.  It is an absolute blast to ride, quick, loud, and just plain fun.  The TBS is a little rare, but the regular Thunderbird, Adventurer, Sprint and Legend can still be picked up fairly inexpensively, still one of the best and over engineered motors ever produced by the company.  The final touch came in from the DMV recently......









This is what it looked like on its first day home...

Offline kingoffleece

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #26 on: January 08, 2019, 07:24:56 AM »
Those are REALLY nice motorcycles to ride.
Triples bland?  Not over 6.5K.  My 1050 Tiger was a mountain eater!
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Offline BrotherJim

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #27 on: January 08, 2019, 02:58:56 PM »
Steve Turner is an eye doctor?  Did not know...  Quality parts from this guy.  I bought the fly screen, front fender and solo seat as well.  Paint match is perfect if you need to go that route.
Short Time Livin'...

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Offline bigbikerrick

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #28 on: January 08, 2019, 04:06:27 PM »
Damn that's nice...No its not nice, its Badass!  I really like the transformation you did.  :thumb:
Rick.
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Offline Huzo

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Re: Black Betty
« Reply #29 on: January 09, 2019, 02:30:06 AM »
Damn that's nice...No its not nice, its Badass!  I really like the transformation you did.  :thumb:
Rick.
If they re released them like that, they'd sell heaps..

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