Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: bigbikerrick on October 27, 2015, 04:39:19 PM
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Hello Folks , I ran into this add in our local Craigslist, and this bike caught my eye. To me, It seems cheap at $4K for a sweet looking Bonnie, but I dont know jack about these bikes. What do you guys think? Would that be a fun bike to own and ride, like an old Guzzi, or would it be a total PITA. to keep it on the road running good. I have been thinking about adding another old bike to the stable, something interesting, and" different", I was thinking of an old airhead, or old Brit Bike. Would this be a good choice?
Thanks Rick.
http://sierravista.craigslist.org/mcy/5281637556.html
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Here we go again :laugh: Buy an airhead , maybe not as cool , but it won't be nearly as frustrating to own . For years those Brits were my ride of choice , being stubborn and all , but after 20 years of owning both , the old beemers are just a better bike. Of course the next poster will say exactly the opposite :laugh:
Dusty
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got Whitworth?
Best,
Peter
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got Whitworth?
Best,
Peter
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
To be pedantic , by '78 the bikes were all SAE .
Dusty
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FTW, the first year of LH shift Triumphs was 1975, not 1978.
From the pictures, it's very nice, but from my recent experience, nice looking Brit bikes are sometimes not assembled very well. As in, hurriedly and loosely screwed together to look good.
If you're interested, I'd advise you to either ride it thoroughly or ask someone without an interest in the bike to do it for you.
edit: Oh, and around here, $4k for that bike would be quite reasonable.
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:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
To be pedantic , by '78 the bikes were all SAE .
Dusty
Thanks! When did they change?
Best,
Peter
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Thanks! When did they change?
Best,
Peter
Gradually starting in 1968 , at least the '67 model I owned was all Whitworth , and my '68 was a mix of both . YMMV , this is the English we are talking about here :grin:
Dusty
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got Whitworth?
Best,
Peter
Whitworth......Man I had forgotten about those from my MGB days! I think I still have some spanners in the bottom drawer of my toolbox....and they probably still have dried blood on them from my knuckles circa 1973 ! :wink:
Rick
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If you're trying to decide on any classic bike, question #1 is always "parts availability?" The BMW airheads are great bikes, but parts are more expensive and for some models there can be availability problems (owned 5 of them). Any Triumph from about '55 on has excellent multi source parts availability (much better than any Guzzi-even the one you bought yesterday) and very reasonable prices, much better than current models. All of the Triumphs handle better and are slightly faster. All of the Triumphs require much more maintenance. They're easy to work on, and you will be working on them. How handy are you? On average a well set up airhead will go further with less wrenching, albeit a little slower.
About 1/3 of the way thru a total Velocette resto. I don't think I'll do another one. My hands look like Alpo.
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For 4k you could buy a good 80s 800cc or 1000cc airhead that could actually go places on. BMW parts support is avtually pretty good. I've had brit bikes before and they are fun..but I got tired of the money pits. Always heard the BMWs were better and for the last 15 years I know why.
As mentioned above, the triumphs were so simple to work on that a lot of cavemen "rebuilt" them and ruined some.
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Buy it. Tinker with it. Enjoy it.
I've always loved those bikes. If it's as nice as it seems to be, it should be a nice local ride.
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For 4k you could buy a good 80s 800cc or 1000cc airhead that could actually go places on. BMW parts support is avtually pretty good. I've had brit bikes before and they are fun..but I got tired of the money pits. Always heard the BMWs were better and for the last 15 years I know why.
As mentioned above, the triumphs were so simple to work on that a lot of cavemen "rebuilt" them and ruined some.
Yep , I used a '5 R60 as a daily rider and touring bike for ten years , just retired last Apr . Any part , and it never needed many , was readily available . My reference point is this , rode those Triumphs when they were new , and they require almost constant maintenance , and don't ever let someone tell you they are simple devices , the utilize more spacers , shims , and dooflickies to work than any five MGs or beemers . Ask my buddy CJ 750 about his T150 :laugh:
Dusty
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Buy it. Tinker with it. Enjoy it.
I've always loved those bikes. If it's as nice as it seems to be, it should be a nice local ride.
I agree. I know quite a few guys that have pretty high mileage on the '78 and '79 models.
I have 3 BSAs from 1955 to 1969 ... if anything, these take more work to stay on the road than a late-model Triumph, and it's not really that bad. I ride my '61 650 from Virginia to Ohio and back to rallies twice a year, and it runs just fine. I wouldn't hesitate to take off for Florida on a well-maintained '78 Triumph.
I'm not saying that an airhead Beemer wouldn't have longer maintenance intervals, but if you want a Brit 650 (or 750), a Teutonic Twin just won't do ....
Lannis
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Wonderful bikes on a country back road. An aside on British bikes 10 years ago a friend of mine rode his 75 Norton Interstate to Mid Ohio Vintage days form CT while he was there people ask him where his trailer was and they didn't believe him when he told them that he rode it from Connecticut . And yes he did make it back.He also loves telling how in the 70's he rode down south on his BSA Rocket 3 with a friend on a BMW and the BMW came home in a truck.
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I've been riding and working on Triumphs for over 40 years.I I race Triumphs but my street bike rider isn't a Triumph any longer.
They are easy to work on and have an aftermarket only second to Harley.....If the bike is in good shape and you ride it within it's design limits ( sporting back road riding and cruising around town )you will reap the rewards of a antique torquey engine , crisp handling that needs to be experienced at the limit ,60 mpg and light weight. Maintenance is simple... Kick starting is good for the soul....You may find the stiff ride and vibration a serious drawback...It will leak some oil and when hot the engine makes all sorts or ticking clacking sounds.The original electrical can be a problem at times until sorted properly.If you're patient and don't take things too seriously you will enjoy it...Like your own time machine....
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I've been riding and working on Triumphs for over 40 years.I I race Triumphs but my street bike rider isn't a Triumph any longer.
They are easy to work on and have an aftermarket only second to Harley.....If the bike is in good shape and you ride it within it's design limits ( sporting back road riding and cruising around town )you will reap the rewards of a antique torquey engine , crisp handling that needs to be experienced at the limit ,60 mpg and light weight. Maintenance is simple... Kick starting is good for the soul....You may find the stiff ride and vibration a serious drawback...It will leak some oil and when hot the engine makes all sorts or ticking clacking sounds.The original electrical can be a problem at times until sorted properly.If you're patient and don't take things too seriously you will enjoy it...Like your own time machine....
Whats not to love about a T140? RER , so eloquently put. The price is right too, IMHO
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No argument there, Dusty. The Meriden Triumphs I owned were by far the most fiddlef**k inducing bikes , but I have a soft spot for them, even , though, like you , I dont own one a this point in life
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No argument there, Dusty. The Meriden Triumphs I owned were by far the most fiddlef**k inducing bikes , but I have a soft spot for them, even , though, like you , I dont own one a this point in life
Oh yeah , I still have that soft spot also , until going to work on my fiend's T140 , that I sold him 25 years ago , or my other friend's T150 , then it only takes about 10 minutes to remember why one no longer lives in the garage :grin: A couple of years back we replaced the entire triple row primary drive , countershaft sprocket , and clutch basket on the '77 T140 , probably a good thing I will be dead before it needs that again :shocked:
Dusty
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I had a brand new '78, though it might have been a '79 since it was really, really left over in 1980.
Generally, I was quite happy with it aside from electrics. Even if the charge flowed, often times its destination parted ways with the bike.
Induction leaks were a huge problem but easily ID'd and dealt with considering all the practice I got.
While the headlight sucked - it didn't matter much as I seldom rode it at night after forgetting my tool kit roadside one evening down Big Sur.
The funky, bulbous hand grips were weird but I got over it since they rotted in about 6 months.
But the real flaw was a goof like me buying it and thinking of it as transportation rather than a hobby. A lesson I had to re-learn (profoundly unsuccessfully) with a Comando, TR6 both ways - two and four wheel - and most recently with a Land Rover.
Damn things get under your skin and you become a human excuse generator fueled by accommodation and forbearance.
Or, you just hate, and I get that too.
These days, as I look through any given copy "Classic Bike" U.K. - and note the many ways to attend to Brit-Bike failings - I fantasize about a re-visit. Scars get thick enough and you stop feeling the burner.
I'd have a "Silver Jubilee" from earlier in the year but a pal just offered too much for it. Sometimes, getting throw from the briar patch is good too.
Todd.
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I owned and rode a '77 Bonneville for a while. It reminded me of when I first started riding street bikes, just pure fun. Not fast fun but quick enough and handled well. I geared it as tall as I could to get the cruising speed up before the vibration hit. Looks good, great fun to ride, simple to keep on the road. Just pure motorcycle riding enjoyment.
Mark
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Here's a '66 near Memphis.
http://memphis.craigslist.org/mcy/5284489268.html
Tobit
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My main ride is a 1971 bonneville, it' was a 650 but after snapping a con rod it is now a 750 (used an Aerco big bore kit) and it was already a 5 speed.
I love the bike and ride it everywhere. I do around 15000 miles a year.After a lifetime of owning triumphs they do require talc but once sorted are an absolute fun machine.
They are not a ride and forget motorcycle. I go over mine every Friday evening checking and tightening before a weekend of riding.
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Gradually starting in 1968 , at least the '67 model I owned was all Whitworth , and my '68 was a mix of both . YMMV , this is the English we are talking about here :grin:
Dusty
Now Now - no stereotyping :wink:
However its that sort of stupidity and arrogance that caused the fiery downfall of Triumph (and the rest of the british motorcycle industry) until John Bloor came along in the 90s
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Go for it! Looks really nice and the price seems reasonable (it would cost more than that here). It'll be a great experience and of you don't like it you can sell it.
John
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I was talking to a old chap in the pub a couple of days ago. He was a ex-submariner who when not floating under the Arctic ice cap rode around on Triumph 70's twins. He said he only crashed once, when leaving Portsmouth naval base after a long sea trip. He had in a rush put all the tools he always carried for the constant breakdowns in one pannier by mistake. The bike was so unbalanced he crashed into the guard hut at the exit to the base. Happy days.
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Just bring them 70's 750 Triumphs to me...A change of cam timing wakes those engines right up...
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Now Now - no stereotyping :wink:
However its that sort of stupidity and arrogance that caused the fiery downfall of Triumph (and the rest of the british motorcycle industry) until John Bloor came along in the 90s
The stupidity and arrogance was all on the part of the factories themselves. They like a lot of British firms at that time were badly run and dominated by the unions. It was a relieve when they stopped making outdated poorly built machines that were only being bought by diehards who wouldn't accept the Japanese made a far superior bike.
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The stupidity and arrogance was all on the part of the factories themselves. They like a lot of British firms at that time were badly run and dominated by the unions. It was a relieve when they stopped making outdated poorly built machines that were only being bought by diehards who wouldn't accept the Japanese made a far superior bike.
The early Japanese big bore bikes were more reliable and better engineered in that respect....But they were not better motorcycles for the sport rider...
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make your own experience , buy it and then if/when you get tired , sell it and get a beemer.
easy.
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Buy it. Tell him to not warm up the bike before you get there so you know exactly how hard it is to start.
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Buy it. Tell him to not warm up the bike before you get there so you know exactly how hard it is to start.
First and always first is the easy kick with the clutch lever pulled in to free the plates....If it's above 50F just flood the carbs with the tickler,one easy kick with the ignition off to draw fuel into the intake, turn on ignition and one "smart" kick...If it doesn't start it's broken or you're kicking like girl...
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First and always first is the easy kick with the clutch lever pulled in to free the plates....If it's above 50F just flood the carbs with the tickler,one easy kick with the ignition off to draw fuel into the intake, turn on ignition and one "smart" kick...
Exactly... :thumb:
I have had friends question my love for Triumphs for years, talking trash about how hard they are to start justr as if they knew what they were talking about, having never owned any, the usual experts that have never even kicked one over until they see me start them in just this manner.
In proper tune, they always go right off.
Best,
Rob
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make your own experience , buy it and then if/when you get tired , sell it and get a beemer.
easy.
Well , and that sounds easy , not always so easy to do . One of the myriad of issues with theses bikes is the rear brake that locks completely , often times badly enough to cause a crash . The rear master cylinder and caliper are poorly designed and located , usually after this many years , even attempting to use that rear brake can lead to disaster . 16,000 miles sounds low, but on these things can mean it will need lots of money and effort to get going .
Dusty
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Buy just for the experience if nothing else. There's nothing else like a vintage Brit Bike. I doubt you will loose money on it. People talk about "real Motorcycles". This is one of them. You have other bikes. This will be fine for weekend rides, not cross country trips.
Pete
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Exactly... :thumb:
I have had friends question my love for Triumphs for years, talking trash about how hard they are to start justr as if they knew what they were talking about, having never owned any, the usual experts that have never even kicked one over until they see me start them in just this manner.
In proper tune, they always go right off.
Best,
Rob
That is very true , overheard a guy bragging about his prowess tuning so his Triumph would always start first kick , sort of indicating this took some special knowledge and skill . Little did he know that my '70 model was right out side the little bar we were in (gasp , but I was young) . Didn't directly challenge the guy , but did invite him to view the R model , and casually started it with one firm kick while the small group he was holding forth with watched .
Dusty
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First and always first is the easy kick with the clutch lever pulled in to free the plates....If it's above 50F just flood the carbs with the tickler,one easy kick with the ignition off to draw fuel into the intake, turn on ignition and one "smart" kick...If it doesn't start it's broken or you're kicking like girl...
I have a Norton, so I'm familiar with the dance but I still don't want a warmed up bike when I come to look at a possible purchase.
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I have a Norton, so I'm familiar with the dance but I still don't want a warmed up bike when I come to look at a possible purchase.
You're correct about observing the cold start....And the worst thing you can do do an old Brit bike is rev the shit out of engine when first started from cold. cast iron barrels and aluminum cases and heads need a little time to come up to temperature and "adjust" to the situation...Running them hard when cold can cause more oil leaks than usual...
I put Triumphs together with only a head gasket and an the special thick primary cover gasket....all other joints get hand dressed and anaerobic sealer They don't leak oil.....Well, they get a little damp hear and there underneath but a wipe with a rag during the monthly inspection takes care of it...Like an aircraft or a fine woman,they need scheduled attention for best performance...
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I'm glad to have my '70 Tiger -- it's beaucoup fun to ride. But the constant maintenance made me want something more dependable as a light around-town bike. I'll probably sell the Trumpet to someone who wants to do a full cosmetic restoration.
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Someone jog my memory here . Weren't the U.S. spec 1978 Triumphs equipped with MK 2 Amals replacing the older MK 1 concentrics , and the Lucas Rita ignition system , which worked great , until it didn't .
Dusty
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Someone jog my memory here . Weren't the U.S. spec 1978 Triumphs equipped with MK 2 Amals replacing the older MK 1 concentrics , and the Lucas Rita ignition system , which worked great , until it didn't .
Dusty
I'm no paper specification expert on later Triumphs.....I believe they might have been a modified Amal Concentric mark I...so called Amal 1.5. There were Bings on some years in some markets. Brand new Amal Concentrics made in the UK with the needed improvements are only $150 each from many US vendors..Other reliable electronic ignitions are available for about 150 bucks...But the 78 may still have points...
All the years I rode Triumphs and only had one breakdown where the bike had to be hauled back home....And that was last year when the kick starter broke and the bike couldn't be bump started with the Pazon electronic ignition...
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I'm no paper specification expert on later Triumphs.....I believe they might have been a modified Amal Concentric mark I...so called Amal 1.5. There were Bings on some years in some markets. Brand new Amal Concentrics made in the UK with the needed improvements are only $150 each from many US vendors..Other reliable electronic ignitions are available for about 150 bucks...But the 78 may still have points...
All the years I rode Triumphs and only had one breakdown where the bike had to be hauled back home....And that was last year when the kick starter broke and the bike couldn't be bump started with the Pazon electronic ignition...
Well , rode the dang things all over the country , and actually only had to be hauled home , hmm , never :laugh: However , the fact is unless one likes to wrench , there are better vintage choices . How in the world did you break a kickstart lever ? Aren't you about my size , 170 LBS or so , remind me to not get in kicking range :grin:
Dusty
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Yeah, 6 foot 165.......My bike was a cafe racer with a fold in lever from a Yamaha XS 650 to clear the rear set foot peg...The home made pinch bolt sheared at a gas station...
I used to ride a Triumph about 3500 miles a year back in the 1970's.I wasn't a long distance rider... Tighten bolts once a month but the points and valve stayed in adjustment all summer. One summer it was my only transportation and it was one of those summers when it rains alot...Ride to work and the bike sat all day out in the rain , at the end of the work day, hop on, one kick and ride home. It was my magic carpet and I rode on all kinds of adventures with crazy women... maybe the memories are better than the bike, but that's ok ...
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You guys have convinced me an old Triumph isnt for me....I guess Ive gotten spoiled by the solidness of my old Guzzis! The old Bonnevilles sure are pretty, though.
Rick.
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You guys have convinced me an old Triumph isnt for me....I guess Ive gotten spoiled by the solidness of my old Guzzis! The old Bonnevilles sure are pretty, though.
Rick.
Rick, it boils down to this ; if you like it and you are good at fixing small problems that may come up, go for it. But for sure go look at one close up and take a ride....
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After owning a number of vintage bikes over the years I have made it a rule to avoid bikes that vibrate heavily. Vibration tears up everything over time: wiring, sheet metal, frames (riders...). Stick to oldsters like Airheads, Guzzis, and Norton Commandos. Good primary balance and rubber engine mounts are your friends.
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Here we go again :laugh: Buy an airhead , maybe not as cool , but it won't be nearly as frustrating to own . For years those Brits were my ride of choice , being stubborn and all , but after 20 years of owning both , the old beemers are just a better bike. Of course the next poster will say exactly the opposite :laugh:
Dusty
I had a '79 Bonnie in beautiful condition, well cared for and ran great around Atlanta.
One day, took a ride to Daytona and back, almost...
Removed spark plug because she went down to one cylinder. Peering into hole I could see the top of connecting rod.
Holed a piston. Game over.
Several years later I would ride my 1970 R75/5 BMW to Mexico and back, also commuted 40k miles in two years on it.
IT NEVER MISSED A BEAT
That said, I loved the way I felt on the Triumph, so pretty as she was, and had no regrets.
Just keep 'em close to home..
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I had a '79 Bonnie in beautiful condition, well cared for and ran great around Atlanta.
One day, took a ride to Daytona and back, almost...
Removed spark plug because she went down to one cylinder. Peering into hole I could see the top of connecting rod.
Holed a piston. Game over.
Several years later I would ride my 1970 R75/5 BMW to Mexico and back, also commuted 40k miles in two years on it.
IT NEVER MISSED A BEAT
That said, I loved the way I felt on the Triumph, so pretty as she was, and had no regrets.
Just keep 'em close to home..
"Never leave home WITH it" in other words :evil:
Dusty
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I had a '79 Bonnie in beautiful condition, well cared for and ran great around Atlanta.
One day, took a ride to Daytona and back, almost...
Removed spark plug because she went down to one cylinder. Peering into hole I could see the top of connecting rod.
Holed a piston. Game over.
Several years later I would ride my 1970 R75/5 BMW to Mexico and back, also commuted 40k miles in two years on it.
IT NEVER MISSED A BEAT
That said, I loved the way I felt on the Triumph, so pretty as she was, and had no regrets.
Just keep 'em close to home..
Any bike will come apart if you don't know how to work on it, don't know how to tune it, and ride it wrong.
I do know how to work on mine, I know how to tune them so they don't hole pistons, and I know how to ride them. That's how my '55 BSA M21, my '61 A10, my '69 Firebird, and my '75 Norton have been seen in every state from Georgia to Tennessee to Ohio to New York to Massachusetts, on their own two wheels, and with no holes in their pistons ...
All you have to do is figure it out instead of moaning about how they won't go far, and you can ride them where you want to .....
Lannis
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Any bike will come apart if you don't know how to work on it, don't know how to tune it, and ride it wrong.
I do know how to work on mine, I know how to tune them so they don't hole pistons, and I know how to ride them. That's how my '55 BSA M21, my '61 A10, my '69 Firebird, and my '75 Norton have been seen in every state from Georgia to Tennessee to Ohio to New York to Massachusetts, on their own two wheels, and with no holes in their pistons ...
All you have to do is figure it out instead of moaning about how they won't go far, and you can ride them where you want to .....
Lannis
..no moaning here, just one persons first hand account. Beautiful running bike, right 'till the end..
"Any bike will come apart if you don't know how to work on it, don't know how to tune it, and ride it wrong."
True enough, though some are destined to come apart unless upgrades are made ( flat tappet Stelvio :coffee:).
Surely you have made upgrades, or modifications to your ol'scoots ? Theseus' paradox as it were?
Just saying some older bikes need a little more "help" than others to cover the big miles. :afro:
..added the "afro" dood for fun, though I'm not sure why...
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..no moaning here, just one persons first hand account. Beautiful running bike, right 'till the end..
"Any bike will come apart if you don't know how to work on it, don't know how to tune it, and ride it wrong."
True enough, though some are destined to come apart unless upgrades are made ( flat tappet Stelvio :coffee:).
Surely you have made upgrades, or modifications to your ol'scoots ? Theseus' paradox as it were?
Just saying some older bikes need a little more "help" than others to cover the big miles. :afro:
..added the "afro" dood for fun, though I'm not sure why...
I like "afro" dood :laugh: Yeah , the difference between an old Brit and an airhead is this . The old Brit is gonna need some , er , attention . The airhead will suffer abuse and neglect all the while not shaking its rider into submission . Someone earlier made the statement that the Brit will be faster , , well maybe to 50 MPH , after that the beemer of equal displacement will not be left behind , and at 100 MPH the BMW's mirrors will still be clear .
Dusty
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I still wish I had mine. Crap steel common breaks to frame behind the shocks and side stand. Crapelectrics. I put about 20000 miles on mine before it vibrated apart. Most fun I ever had on a bike, but the beast is a close second.
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..no moaning here, just one persons first hand account. Beautiful running bike, right 'till the end..
"Any bike will come apart if you don't know how to work on it, don't know how to tune it, and ride it wrong."
True enough, though some are destined to come apart unless upgrades are made ( flat tappet Stelvio :coffee:).
Surely you have made upgrades, or modifications to your ol'scoots ? Theseus' paradox as it were?
Just saying some older bikes need a little more "help" than others to cover the big miles. :afro:
..added the "afro" dood for fun, though I'm not sure why...
They do better with upgrades. They can be made not to vibrate. They have some moving parts (like primary chains) that need attention.
Just addressing the "Don't take them far from home" and "They'll all blow up" noise and vibes I keep hearing. Info on old Brits is turning into Urban Legend. My actual experience, and that of a lot of people I know, is different. And ... none of the tappets on any of these old Brits have worn out yet!
Just sayin' ......
Lannis
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...at 100 MPH the BMW's mirrors will still be clear .
Dusty
And you can keep it there all day.
You'll have to stop and wait for the chase truck pretty regularly on a vintage Brit bike.
My Norton buddy from over Okmulgee way has some good stories about the runs to Rockers vs Mods in Dallas !!!
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And you can keep it there all day.
You'll have to stop and wait for the chase truck pretty regularly on a vintage Brit bike.
My Norton buddy from over Okmulgee way has some good stories about the runs to Rockers vs Mods in Dallas !!!
Yeah , and I have proof of that , where's Mike D ? :grin:
Dusty
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The stupidity and arrogance was all on the part of the factories themselves. They like a lot of British firms at that time were badly run and dominated by the unions. It was a relieve when they stopped making outdated poorly built machines that were only being bought by diehards who wouldn't accept the Japanese made a far superior bike.
Jeepers! that's a very simplistic view of those times, and kind of inaccurate because of it. I'd better not get into that.
If that 750 is as nice as it looks (and you would need someone to hear and ride it to be sure) I'd go for it. (I do wonder why it had to be rebuilt after such a low millage though)
Sure the old Brit twins needed a bit more care and attention than bikes that either produced no power but due to huge capacity would run a long time, or those that were designed to be maintenance free but then fall apart after 3 years, but that care and attention was easy to give.
Personally I prefer the 650 That Tobit gave a link to, but the price is way high.
I assume, that since you are looking at another bike, your health is doing OK?
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All a Brit parallel twin needs (Assuming it doesn't have compression's of 64 to 1 or is seriously out of tune) to be absolutely smooth is dynamic balancing to the correct factor. For some reason the factories did not do it dynamically. Probably a cost thing. You could do a reasonable job statically though. Just not as good.
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All a Brit parallel twin needs (Assuming it doesn't have compression's of 64 to 1 or is seriously out of tune) to be absolutely smooth is dynamic balancing to the correct factor. For some reason the factories did not do it dynamically. Probably a cost thing. You could do a reasonable job statically though. Just not as good.
Talk about coincidence - saw this post yesterday:
http://www.britbike.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=623497#Post623497
A '78 Triumph and a BMW airhead out for a ride, and the BMW came home in a van .... ! (First picture and caption on post 1).
Lannis
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Lannis, you take long rides on Brit bikes, you own an A10? In all honesty are any vintage 360 degree 650-750 twins considered smooth at hiway speeds compared to lets say a Tonti frame Guzzi? In 45 years I've never ridden a Brit Bike I would call smooth over 50 mph unless riding fast on back roads and fully focused on riding....I will say the 55 A10 I had was the smoothest despite having a hot cam and higher compression...
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Lannis, you take long rides on Brit bikes, you own an A10? In all honesty are any vintage 360 degree 650-750 twins considered smooth at hiway speeds compared to lets say a Tonti frame Guzzi? In 45 years I've never ridden a Brit Bike I would call smooth over 50 mph unless riding fast on back roads and fully focused on riding....I will say the 55 A10 I had was the smoothest despite having a hot cam and higher compression...
My '61 A10 took Fay and I 2500 miles around the UK, and has taken me on several 1000 - 1500 mile weekends here every year since, with no trouble except spinning the rear wheel bearing with a 500 pound payload ... It's smooth enough at 65 MPH so that my hands don't go numb and nothing cracks or unscrews, mainly due to the soft compression and the overall mass of the bike compared to the power of the engine. It's all stock including the magneto, dynamo, original 6v regulator, etc.
My '69 Firebird Scrambler has carried me a lot further, and has never let me down on the road. Back about 10 years ago, I had the engine rebuilt including $100 for getting the crank dynamically balanced. I also have a Boyer ignition so that the relative timing between the cylinders is determined by the geometry of the stator plate, NOT some combination of point gap and dwell compromises between the two sets of points. These two things knock out almost all the vibration.
It's as smooth up to about 70 MPH as my SP. I don't ride it harder than that (hundreds of miles from home) any more than anyone today rides a /2 BMW at 80 MPH down the interstate all day long ....
Lannis
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Interesting... dispute riding Brit bikes with balancing by well know experts and electronic ignitions, none of them were as smooth as the 85 Guzzi Cali bobber at 70 mph...
It's not the bars or foot pegs but vibration that seems coming from the seat that blurrs my vision. I tried all sorts of cushioning and devices but nothing really helped. 10 years back I though maybe I had some sort of vision issue and stop riding for 6 years....Now I ride a Guzzi , Buell ( at low speeds the Buell does blurr vision a bit) or modern Japanese sport bike and no vision problem. ....Maybe years of thrashing hot rod Triumphs has reduced my tolerance of vibration .
Maybe I need to ride one of your Brit bikes......Or stand on the pegs all the time...
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Interesting... dispute riding Brit bikes with balancing by well know experts and electronic ignitions, none of them were as smooth as the 85 Guzzi Cali bobber at 70 mph...
It's not the bars or foot pegs but vibration that seems coming from the seat that blurrs my vision. I tried all sorts of cushioning and devices but nothing really helped. 10 years back I though maybe I had some sort of vision issue and stop riding for 6 years....Now I ride a Guzzi , Buell ( at low speeds the Buell does blurr vision a bit) or modern Japanese sport bike and no vision problem. ....Maybe years of thrashing hot rod Triumphs has reduced my tolerance of vibration .
Maybe I need to ride one of your Brit bikes......Or stand on the pegs all the time...
I don't let vibration come through the seat ... I have a gel pad that I upholstered into the Firebird seat foam, and I use an Airhawk on top of the horsehair-stuffed plank that passed for a seat on a 1961 BSA, which knocks out any vibration there ....
I'm not comparing the utility or reliability of an old Brit to anyone's Japanese bike, but I know people with six-figure mileage on British twins. Just takes some mechanical sympathy.
Lannis
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I hear you but I tried the expensive gel pad into the foam, more foam,sheep skin and it all helped, but I didn't like the look of a plumped up seat and the vibes still got to me.... I really like old Triumphs, working on them is a pleasure...My rider claims I have a mental connection with the race bike....My shop is not complete without a Brit bike....But I ride an old rowdy Buell now and like it alot better....
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That is a good looking 78 T140. That was my first bike, I had one with the copper colored horns on the tank instead of the red. I really enjoyed that bike and rode it for years. I would not buy one as a primary ride, but as a classic bike it would be fun. It did teach me a lot about bike maintenance but it was a joy when on the road.
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Rode my 1977 Bonnie to work today and I love that bike. My bike is very reliable and fun to ride below 70 mph. I agree with most of what others have commented on and the electrical system has caused what few problems that have occurred. I also have a 1982 BMW R100RS and it is a great bike but it is more of a touring bike so maybe not the best comparison. The BMW also has had some electrical/electronic problems but I upgraded to modern components and it in now back to normal. In my case, these bikes fill different niches and i enjoy both of them.