Those on here who say the old Triumphs were rubbish compared to modern bikes, or even their Japanese contemporaries, are missing the point of owning a classic bike. You do it because it makes you feel good, even if it makes you swear sometimes. It's like family, you know it's not perfect, but you love it anyway, and I wouldn't trade mine for anything (the Triumph, that is).
@SeaMonkey137 it makes sense, I was a motor vehicle technician for 25 years at dealerships, I would say 99% of the people I worked with should not have been any where near a car, I can only think of two people I would trust and one of them has since passed through
I have a 1973 Tiger 750 that is very similar. I have owned since May 1977. It has over 62,000 miles & still Runs good. I have never split the crankcase so it has original engine bearings. The inner transmission cover has never been removed, so internals of the transmission are all original. When it had 30,000 miles I had the cylinders bored out .020 I made my own wiring harness in 1985, basically duplicated the original, but tried to make better. I replaced the rectifier & diode with a new electronic unit. I add a little 2 stroke (synthetic oil) to the gas & it keeps the carburetor from sticking. I had the cylinder head redone many years ago You should use a Viton o-ring on the exhaust tappet block, other o-rings will leak/fail due to the heat. I rebuilt the clutch last winter & replaced the clutch hub assembly etc. I have replaced the primary chain three times. My bike has a single Amal carburetor with stock side covers & Tiger name plate. I never had the stock paint job & right now it is reddish orange. I have always had short mufflers. I had to get the frame welded years ago because the oil tank was leaking - where the swingarm pivot penetrates through the tank. This is a common problem with the frames. I replaced the tachometer drive with an older style. The original style had a problem with the Welch plug coming out. I do have nicer looking mirrors: They are triangular in shape & stick out farther on both sides. The mirrors mount like originals on the brake cylinder & clutch handle bracket. Anyway, that's my two cents.
I grew up on these bikes! Started with a 69 Trident in 1975, then a 73 650 Bonnie two years later, followed by a Commando 850, then a 750 Bonnie and later a 750 Tiger. In 2009 I was about to lash out the $15k (AUD) for a brand new Bonneville, when a mate came round to tell me he was trading his 1997 883 HD Sportster for a bigger bike. A soon as he told me the trade-in was $7k, it took about 10 seconds to decide to go with that for my first ever Harley. 15 years later and over 90,000 kilometres of touring all over Eastern OZ, and I still have it. I stripped it right down a few years ago everything including wheels came apart and with a set of Carillo barrels and pistons from Hammer Performance, it’s now a 1275cc. Standard heads give it a 1/4 inch squish band and 10.1/1 compression ratio, which with a 2-1 system and an S&S teardrop air box, puts out around 90 HP and double the troque of the original engine. It’s perfectly balanced and although it isn’t QUITE the same as the sound in this video, it is similar in that it is happiest at around 5k RPM and the sound is not far off either. At 67, I think this’ll be my last bike, but listening to this Bonnie revving its way through the gears is music to my ears! The modern Triumphs do NOT sound as good!
Long-time '76V owner here, love the blue/white look! The '76 has some notable changes, and not all for the better! The left foot shift can cause shifting problems, and the hastily designed rear disc brake come to mind. But with patience it all gets sorted out, and it's a terrific classic bike with plenty of parts availability, good brakes, turn signals, and reliability. A well tuned OIF 750 beats a modern Bonneville Thruxton in acceleration, i know that personally!
I had one back in the 80s. I wish I still had it. It was absolutely thee best handling and shifting back roads bike I have ever owned. Loved that bike...
A buddy and I ordered a pair of new Triumph 750 Tigers in 1973. They were 5spd front disc brake models. Awesome motorcycles, that we immediately rode out to Edmonton from Birch Island BC, for the 73 Trans Am race. Back home via Calgary and the Rogers Pass. Very comfortable and excellent wheelie bikes. Still one of my favourite bikes that I’ve ever owned. That beautiful sound, brings back great memories!
PS, I had straight through down pipes, no balance tube, as this stops a smooth exhaust flow! Boyer ignition, & dinamicly balanced. The next job I would have done, if not stolen, was to fit the carbs you have. Just a lovely bike, thanks for your vid.
Absolutely the best year for the T140V, Sadly my 1973 T140V was stolen. Why I loved that bike was it did everything I wanted, also the right-hand gear change was perfectly balanced with the clutch lever movement, as the brakes were. This was due to the cross movement from side to side. Also this design meant using both sides of your brain for any change of operation. Perfect.
I had a 06 Thruxton Bonneville.. The last of the carburetor versions.. I hated the bloody thing and was glad to see the back of it!!.. The older Bonnies were much better..
Many thanks Mike, Dave and crew. Love the channel. 46 yrs on two wheels I have been lucky enough to have ridden some of these bikes. Workshop is a great idea. Keep safe.
I had a T140 Tiger many years ago, covered a lot of miles on it and it never gave me any problems. Also had a few T140 Bonnevilles, but always prefered the Tiger. My favourite Triumph was a T160 which I always regret selling - PYH488R where are you now?. I have a modern Triumph these days, but they just dont compare to the originals. Also had a T120 R - that was a real rocket ship and unburstable. Happy days......
It reminds me a lot of my 1973 Tiger 750V, close to the same blue/cream color scheme. They really are a beautiful looking bike, the retro while paying tribute cannot ultimately compare. This bike sounds fanatastic.
We had 2 of them growing up I could barely kick it over Every spring we would just flood the carbs and kick it over and it would roar to life every time. Loved it !
I used to own one very similar, over 30 years ago; till some bar-steward stole it. It was dynamically balanced. AT a place called Basset-down near Swindon. Floating rollers both sides, using shims to 6thu end play. It was a 1973 model fitted with Boyer ignition. 8.5 to 1 compression and went really well. Also right hand gear shift which is better, as your hand and foot movements are across the centre of balance, as is the breaking. Nice bike, look after it.
In 1982 I stupidly traded my 1969 BSA Rocket 3 for a covered sidecar for my Honda CB900C! Your channel has brought back memories, mostly positive, thank you!
Thanks for watching - Glad to hear we are bringing back positive memories, we were mates as teenagers and these bikes recreate those times now we are old blokes.
I really enjoy the countryside you are taking us for a ride in, the Triumph sounds great, I love the way they handle, I wish it were me instead of you. Thanks for sharing this.
Very very nice- Thank you for sharing. I have a 78 T140V that I have owned since 1986. Its 100% stock, (barring a boyer ignition that has performed flawlessly for over 30 years), - and I have to confess that all the impressive mods that he has done to this one feel to me a little like thousands spent "gilding the lily" a bit. I ride mine almost every weekend on some of the twistiest mountain roads that CA can provide and it performs just as it should - and just as seen and felt in this video. And like he said, (while I have a number of terrific classics too, all of which are "worth more" than the T140V), its the last of all my bikes that I would part with. It is eminently practical, very user friendly, and very fun to ride with one, or two, passengers. Say what you want about the OIF bikes, they are much more reliable machines than the 60's bikes and every bit as satisfying on the road. Again thanks for sharing-
Yes, it's a great looking and sounding machine. I've got a 78 T140V, UK model, which I've owned since 1993. It looks standard (apart from the Norton peashooter silencers), but has a few unseen, practical mods, such as the upgraded main bearings, Boyer ignition, 3-phase alternator, paper oil filter conversion, screw-in exhaust port stubs, halogen headlight and 13mm front master cylinder. All of these are for reliability and rideability, rather than performance, and have not changed the character of the bike, which I love.
Joining the party - my '78 T140V, slightly modified - is a gem to ride over the two-lane blacktop roads in SoCal's high desert. Especially thru the Joshua Tree National Park. Too bad we can't share pics!
Beautiful bike, I still have a T140ES owned almost from new which has been a joy to own and have had earlier Bonnies including a ' 62 pre-unit which also was lovely.Dave has done a beautiful job with obviously very worthwhile mods and it looks so handsome in an understated way with the earlier side panels.Bet its wonderful to ride, shame they weren't like this from new !.
I loved my T140 . I changed to the slimmer tank , due to a split nearest to the headstock , and put larger , non-standard , but Triumph , badges on the new red and black twin gold striped tank . Then I put Usa handlebars , the old rubbers that I replaced acted like pendulums ! And then I put Commando reverse cones on . One very pretty bike , in my opinion anyway ! But despite all the cleaning and beeing about with timing and carb tuning ( I had , still have , a mercury manometer ) I could never get it running to my satisfaction . Merlin motorcycles offered me a deal with an SF2 Laverda that I jumped at . Eventually , after failed fettling , Andy had the engine apart and it was found that the cylinders were not bored parallel . Like I said , I loved the Bonney . It seemed light and agile , the stainless single front brake was a nightmare in the wet mind and it made a lovely sound . A grown up 250 really ! Loved it and now I have seen your video , maybe when the dosh arrives I wont chase a new RE or Guzzi . Thankyou .
Own 2 Triumphs & have never had a bad day on either of them. 07 Daytona, & 09 Scrambler. Will be building an oldie soon, Triumphs here in the states are really coming on & nothing beats what you do yourself when your riding one!!!
I was going to buy one but all the magazine road tests all had little problems so I bought my CX-500. I have 1965 Triumph TR6 for 40 years. Rode it every day. First kick bike with a Fairbanks Morse magneto. Great bike.
I believe the factory 1979 was the best Bonnevilles ever produced. I've seen many that were leak free, electrically straight, the best carbs, the best build quality. These bikes are highly underrated and very reasonable because the many seek to own the 59-69 and the most desirable.
@@derekcollins1972 their association with the king of cool Steve McQueen, the 60s styling, less vibes than the 750 when build correctly, they are also lighter than later bikes with fewer build problems when new than the 70s bikes which suffered from the issues as the BSA/Triumph group collapsed. Just my opinion
@@nigeh5326 Thanks for your opinion. I still have my 68 Bonnie that I bought many years ago for $1200. I remember kicking myself afterwards when I could have bought a pair for $600. One ran and the other didn't. Lol,times have changed from being worthless to many to crazy priced today. Fads happen i guess. It's great to have lots of parts nowadays available.
I had a brand new 79 that was a real lemon. A great bike when running though. Appalling quality control issues on mine. I own a 68Trophy 500 now that is superior in terms of reliability, build quality. Go figure hey?
I have a 76V that I’ve owned since 2013, rebuilt the engine with three piece roller TS bearing, Hyde half race cams, LP Williams 7 plate clutch, new Premier Amals and had the head done with +1mm G&S valves and K-lined guides. Looking forward to video on the mods done to this bike, looks and sounds great. I’m preferring riding it to my modern bike.
I love seeing all these vintage bikes and hearing your thoughts on them. Visually speaking I like the Triumphs of the late 50's up until 1970, after that the lines of the bikes changed a little. This one looks pretty damn nice though. Seems like he tried to match the vibe of a 69 or 70. I don't know what half those mods are, but this guy obviously knows what he's doing. I bet it's a joy to ride. : )
Best sounding bike of the collection so far ,as Mike pointed out probably the best for ragging around welsh roads .Well thought out mods Dave ,I look forward to the workshop videos .love the blue/silver colour scheme more than the original tank.i remember the 250 desmo well ,pushed it around Cardiff quite often it gave us quite a workout.The dedication was most touching "paddy " was an amazing character who told the best stories ,think of him often.
I wore a hole through my boot kick starting a 250 Desmo in 12 miles of travel . It would not tick over whatever I did , but wow the handling and engine pick up were amazing . I gave my mate's girlfriend her bike back wiling though .... she ended up with my Bonnie later on .
I'm still struggling to get my head around all the comments, saying these old Brit Bikes are junk compared to Newer Bikes and what's the point.......Du'hhhhh. no shit, Sherlock! That's not the point though ....these old bike have a Different aura and feel about them, no different to wanting a MK1 or MK2 escort or the like, can't compare to a Modern car ...Manual chokes, skinny Tyres, crap brakes etc ....but for many of us, these older Bikes and cars put a smile on our faces . I own an 78 Bonnie that i rode for years until i took it apart, absolutely love that bike, i also own a couple of modern bikes... Faster, Smoother, more reliable, safer ..blah blah blah ,and more sterile , but owning and riding an older Classic is just so satisfying, adjusting your riding style to cope with an older bike with crappier brakes and power is addictive, and the sound always turns heads. Old doesn't mean pointless .....Concord was old, the Flying Scotsman is old, The Avro Vulcan Bomber...and don't get me started on the Supermarine Spitfire...everyone looks up when one of those flies above you.. that sound and shape, Defo not better than a modern Fighter Jet, but that's not the point.....these old bits of kit stir up feelings, emotions that modern tech just can't do for some of us and they are loved and fondly remembered. This is why some of us still ride older Vehicles. Horses for courses.
Todays cars & bikes will probably all end up as unrepairable junk anyway, just like TV' & washing machines etc, due to a dependence on complex electronics that can't be repaired.
Much better looking with the retro style side-covers. I have these on my resurrected 1982 American export T140. This was missing a lot of parts when I got it. Tri-Spark ignition was a game changer and it is a joy to ride as well as being reliable. I like the T160 kick start. The T140 is a pretty good daily rider if maintained well but they suffer a bit in the summer here in Western Australia. I pick my riding weather and can always fall back on my Sprint GT or Honda 1300 Super-Four.
Thanks so much for posting been riding many years don't even remember but started off 1968 triumph Bonneville stainless steel fenders painted gas tank love the bike
I have loved/hated my Brit-bikes in the past. In NZ the only real Win is cheap reg. If you thrash a 75 Bonnie to Auckland and back (from Manawatu) the consequent engine-work could cost up to 5k. There seems to be a lot of myth out there about owning an old Brit. They are what they are , I would happily thrash my 75 xs650, over my (old) 79 Bonnie , knowing that the engine wont crap itself. If you ride quietly around town, with the odd 'burst' , the Bonnie is a great ride. David NZ
I’ve got an Interceptor too fitted Commando style silencers so it sounds more like a 60s twin. Great bikes for the price. How do you think it compares to the old twins like the Meriden Triumphs?
Sounds beautiful. I've never owned a Bonnie, but did own two Tiger 750 single carb bikes and a heavily modified Trophy Trail 500. One of them was excellent, the other not so much. I would love to own a classic but have decided to go for a newer technology parallel twin with fuel injection, after road testing one. Still I miss my Trophy Trail the most.
I remember that sound from a long time ago, now at 73 my wife has decided i have to stop riding, Such is life and such are the good memories of the bonnie. Sisaket Thailand.
I bought a 1976 Bonny just over a year ago, a near basket case. I wanted to have it up and redgo'd before summer (Australia) I it might be mid to late summer before that happens. I am so happily envious of you.Great sound
Interesting stuff. Had a '75 T140V which was right foot shift. I now have a '71 OIF Lightning and a '93 VFR750. The former is badly engineered out of excellent materials and the latter excellently engineered out of crap. Had an R80/7 which had the best of both worlds but not very quick or sporty. At the end of the day it's how it makes you feel. Enjoy!
Jay Leno said his '64 bonneville handled so well it was like he just had to think of where he wanted the bike to go and it responded. That described perfectly what I liked best about my '68.....Yes, it had all the annoyances that riders complain about but that feeling of it being an extention of myself was amazing. I'm told the frame change in '71 changed that. I would have really liked a lot of what's on this '75....great video
I don't think the OIF bikes take away any of what you described, a lot of which comes from the weight (or lack of it) distribution and the skinny tyres which roll so easily into the corners. This bike definitely handles better than my '68, which is pretty decent anyway!
@@waveydavey750 To be honest I've never driven an oif bike. I just remember the complaining when the '71s came out. I did drive some hondas, a yamaha 650 and a '70 bsa 500, and they all felt like a bit of a wrestling match in the corners. The bsa was brand new and after getting off my bike the first thing he said was " I'll trade you strait across" Thanks for your observations. Leno also gives some facts as to why triumphs bought in the uk often handled better than the ones exported.......interesting
12:39 that is a beautiful sound I have like a beautiful singing voice this bike Haas! I love it. I remember being ready to get out of high school and sitting on one of these with this Tiger tank 12:03 that the blue on this one does something that dazzles me.
I went around France in about 1969 on my second-hand Tr6 650 triumph. My gear lever broke when starting it to come off the ferry, luckily it was Saturday morning and there was a dealer in Boulogne who had the parts. Halfway to Paris, my mate's 350 Triumph started to blow oil from the front of the crankcase, I think it was some sort of release valve. (so long ago) In a small town, we sourced a flexible tube, jammed it in, and back up to the oil tank. It nearly lasted the 2-week trip. We had to leave it and came back two up with all our camping /clothes as we had nearly run out of money. All the way from Moulins back via Paris to Boulogne and then Dover to N London, only stopping when we had to
With smoother camera work that would be a great intro to a movie, and stunning scenery in the land of lemon drizzle. 👍👍 Love the Bonneville! but am pretty happy with my 650 Interceptor. If you have no regrets, you haven't lived long enough. 😆
A guy I worked with bought a 77 jubilee special it was very reliable. Never let him down. Used every day for work and long weekend runs.. Sounded better than a nightengale.
Just came across your very refreshing YT Channel. Loved the videography, drive by's and Welsh scenery. Lovely Bonnie! Sounds gorgeous! Really enjoyed your commentary voice too :) Subscribed first view! Graeme, NZ
A story for you, My friend Mark bought one in Highschool, still has it and I am 64, Bought from Floyd Young the best West coast English bike man, My Ol Dad Always bought from Floyd, had his rebuild work done there too, if you ever get to see sales records to Talent Oregon Floyds name will be there, I remember my Dad carrying me at 3 yrs old into Floyds shop.
The Boat Inn at Erbistock looks great.....must take a trip there.....next to the Dee.....idyllic. P.S. 2 years later.....found The Boat on a ride on my Bonnie....every bit as nice as it look in the video.
Generally I don’t like Triumph 650 or 750 twins after 1970, but this 1975 T140 looks wonderful. The ‘ bitsa’ nature of it obviously makes it all the more desirable. Well done Mike, great video. I’m seventy and have had bikes my whole life, currently a Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic 103 that I’ve had for seven years and a Ducati SD900 Darmah that I’ve owned for forty three years.that going through its fourth nut and bolt rebuild at the moment. With summer approaching I’m looking forward to some riding of about 700 km a day. We have massive distances here in Australia.
Yup, yup, that’s the sound I fell in love with as a young pup. Happily I’m still addicted and I have two beautiful twins to keep the throbbing happening. 😎
Interesting video , Well done Dave, and agree with all the mods & no belt, (carbs ?).These are the best of Practical British Classics imho when sorted. Tnx gentlemen.
I recognise those roads! Must keep my eyes open for that bike, those are my regular rides on my 73 TR7RV and 72 Daytona. Those engine mods have made a huge difference.
The roads looked familiar to me too, but I couldn't quite place them until I saw The Cross Foxes at 16:50! I haven't ridden bikes for years, but I do enjoy seeing what other people have done with theirs, especially proper classics and not the hideous modern designs.
@@ParaBellum2024 they aren’t all hideous I ride a chrome 2020 RE 650 Interceptor and am forever being told how well I’ve restored it 😊 even the teenagers like the styling and sound, although the loud Commando silencers on it are responsible for that lol
@@nigeh5326 I've just re-read my post and can see that it's open to interpretation. The Interceptor, along with some retro bikes by other manufacturers, is a modern classic, and very stylish. I was referring to the bikes that look like insects or Transformers!
Ah lovely, great vid mate! I have a ‘72 Daytona and a ‘04 Bonneville, the difference is night and day with respect to modernity. I’d love an oil in frame Bonneville as well…
Real good vid ! I´ve been riding my youth dream bike for 23yrs a -69 USspec just mildly mod with better ignition a Trispark unit and some more mods like 3ph alternator Morgo oilpump etc. I do think that the old 2LS front ancor very good when heated up slightly , it looks the part as well... Keep up the good work lads!
I hear you on the selling of a bike. Owned a 1973 T120...was a proper shed find, fixed it up. rode it and sold it a couple of years later. Still to this day super sorry about that.
Just found the channel, lovely sound from that Bonnie, had a few of them back in the early 80's, thinking about another one before the prices go silly. Keep up the good work lads
Great sounding bike as all British bikes are, my 1968 T100T Daytona has some modern upgrades, and it makes it more of a pleasure to ride + more reliable. Cheers great video. ⚙️🔩🔧👍
Fantastic bike, fabulous sound in beautiful scenery. It was a Bonneville of a friend that took me to the 70‘s bikes. Now I own one of the first Guzzi T3 from 1975, beautifuly restored. Did you guys ever think of having a „bike‘s weekend“ near you? I would come over from Germany to the UK to drive with you blokes! I love your channel!
+DJ X we did a bike meet last year and had about 1500 bikes turn up We might well do something similat but not this year we are all flat out busy but great idea Mike
Enjoying your videos very much, beautifully filmed and edited. Love seeing and hearing these classic bikes in the English countryside. Would love to see you guys do a video on a classic Kawasaki Z900. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺
I had one of these in 1975 a T140v American version same as in film, I still suffer from white finger, vibration was horrendous, they literally shook themselves to bits. My favourite Triumph which I had for 10 years was a T160, wish I'd kept it, I'm sorry but there were no tears shed for the T140. Judging by the amount of mods it is no longer a true Bonneville is it?, but I approve this is how it should have been. Notice you have a lithium battery, I gave up on these after 2 bad winters which killed them dead, even on a lithium maintenance charger, Yuasa for me every time, never had one last less than 8 years.
A good buddy of mine bought a T140 brand new in '75. Being a big Triumph fan I drooled all over the bike and congratulated him for buying a Bonny when everyone else was buying Japanese. Well the motor more or less fell apart within 6 months. This was in California. I don't blame the design as much as terrible quality control at the factory back then. I recall being with him in the parking lot when the entire shifting mechanism became disconnected; a problem that came about from conversion to left hand shift, Anyhow, it was a mess.The shifting lever sort of dropped down and the cross shaft was clearly no longer hooked up to the gear box. It went back to the shop but more things went wrong and it was endless misery for my friend. Apart from the paint, the finish and workmanship in this particular era were disgraceful. That said, the T-140 is a delicious classic to have now of course, but nearly any you see today have been meticulously restored where particular attention was paid to the engine. Meriden bikes after about 1972 were just not up to any decent standard and almost rubbish in many respects. It was like they had just given up and lost all pride IMHO.
p &m did the head on my t150v great place,richard has retired now dave running it ,im lucky to have clive blake near me if its something i cant do on my trident,
Low compression pistons - hmmm. Could they be lighter and reduce reciprocating mass? That was my theory when I installed some dished pistons in a Commando for an 8 or 8.5 ratio. With the isolastics there was no perceptible difference, but the engine refused to wear out. Mtns of Colorado, plains of Texas, deserts in Arizona and Nevada. Wife on the back for it all and it never stuttered or wheezed and powered through everything. It's still in the garage. Retired in SE AZ. Still riding.
Hey, love the bike, brings back many memories of our days running a bike repair shop in the late 1970's. We had some rip roaring times. Stay well mate!
What a nice bike. I've recently returned to biking after buying a new 2021 Speedmaster. Whilst that is a fabulous bike to ride and polish, I wanted an older Bonnie to tinker with. In December my wife funded the purchase of a 78 T140e. I'm tinkering away with it because it's running quite rich and rough. Anyway, my main reason for posting, apart from liking the bike and the video, is that I'm not too far away from you in Whitchurch. I recognised the Cross foxes as well as the Boat at Erbistock, both great pubs. Hopefully see you guys out and about at some point when it warms up......
Very interesting! I have a '76 Bonneville and I noticed yours was a right hand shift where mine is a leftie. Once I got into the vid a bit you explained the difference between them and it's amazing what can happen in one year in manufacturing. Mine has been sitting since about '99 when I bought a 1200 Trophy and rode that for a number of years. The poor ol' Bonnie sat in our garage and has waited for me to return as it has got to the time in my life where I could not handle the trophy anymore. I am going to start working on the Bonnie again and fix the little things that it needs to get it back on the road again. If you have any tips or tricks I'd sure be happy to hear about them for getting my bike back on the road again. Enjoyed the sounds and the scenery! Many thanks!
The T140V was OK. I had one for about 5 years. It was a 750cc. However, the best Bonneville was the 650cc T120, 1969. I had one of those too. The best bike i ever had, and i had a lot of British bikes, only 1 foreighn bike) was a 860 Ducati GTS, bought it in 1975. Amazing, the Triumphs were not good handlers, the Ducati you could lay it down in corners. My friends had Tritons, Tribsa's Norvins, all kinds of bikes, all British and we used to hang around a pub called The Berkley, opposite Spanish city Whitley Bay, then after a few years we moved to The Briardene pub. I remember it all changed when a Honda CB 750 4 cyl appeared on the scene. It didn't leak oil lol...amazing
Nice video, lovely bike. Subscribed. Cheers. Always liked riding a British or Italian bike. Had a Norton, 2 Triumph's, a Ducati and 2 Guzzi's in the 70s/80's. Also agree about the Evo 1200 Sportster, great bike.
I had a 1976 Triumph Bonneville and rode it for 25 years. The engine leaked oil everywhere (in spite of my best efforts) and it vibrated like a paint-can shaker at highway speeds. Triumph finally got it right with the new Bonnevilles.
With respect, but your 76 must not of been set up well, i have 2 T140's 76 and a 78,,, both since new and they both run smooth, Hagon shocks Akront rims Avon tyres and Boyer ignition keep em tuned and don't over rev them and they respond well to sensible mods 👍
All the OIFS seem to be a little different in all respects. We have several and they all vibrate a little differently at different speeds. I find them all an absolute pleasure though. 🏍😎🌞
I have a T140V very similar to yours, USA fuel tank and fake oil tanks, been in the family 45 years, I have used it as a daily, and spent many hours riding it, I have new AMALS on it and dialed in cams, 40 over bores - flowed head - open pipes, she goes good. They are an A road scratcher supreme, terrible on dual carriageways or motorways, although mine is smooth at 65-70mph. Have elec ignition and an oil cooler added - cooler is a must on them if your gonna ride hard, also holds more oil that way. Also never fit the aftermarket oil filter kits, they allow dirt to enter the engine through the oil pump from the frame oil tank, unlike the original top hat oil tank gauze filters which are better and don't allow that to happen. If you get the frame sand blasted - sand will enter through the incomplete welds at the head stock and into the frame oil tank, and then go into the engine (only if you have the aftermarket oil filter kit on it) and destroy it. I love mine it regularly does 110mph, and can out accelerate a Hinckley 880cc Bonnie, (it isn't standard though so cheating a bit there :) ) Could have sold it many times over the amount of people asking to buy it from me !!!, but its an airloom now so goes to my kids. It'll be ripping up the tarmac long after i'm dead and buried!!!.
Your opening scene is superb, the sound of the Bonnie is music.
All these years later, nothing like the sound of a Bonney!
Those on here who say the old Triumphs were rubbish compared to modern bikes, or even their Japanese contemporaries, are missing the point of owning a classic bike. You do it because it makes you feel good, even if it makes you swear sometimes. It's like family, you know it's not perfect, but you love it anyway, and I wouldn't trade mine for anything (the Triumph, that is).
Listen to panheads forever by David Allen Coe . I've got a sneaking suspicion you'll like it.
Well said!😁👍
You have summed it up superbly, could not have said it better myself
"even if it makes you swear sometimes". LOL.
That sometimes might be a time when it's not too convenient.
@SeaMonkey137 it makes sense, I was a motor vehicle technician for 25 years at dealerships, I would say 99% of the people I worked with should not have been any where near a car, I can only think of two people I would trust and one of them has since passed through
I have a 1973 Tiger 750 that is very similar.
I have owned since May 1977.
It has over 62,000 miles & still Runs good.
I have never split the crankcase so it has original engine bearings.
The inner transmission cover has never been removed, so internals of the transmission are all original.
When it had 30,000 miles I had the cylinders bored out .020
I made my own wiring harness in 1985, basically duplicated the original, but tried to make better.
I replaced the rectifier & diode with a new electronic unit.
I add a little 2 stroke (synthetic oil) to the gas & it keeps the carburetor from sticking.
I had the cylinder head redone many years ago
You should use a Viton o-ring on the exhaust tappet block, other o-rings will leak/fail due to the heat.
I rebuilt the clutch last winter & replaced the clutch hub assembly etc.
I have replaced the primary chain three times.
My bike has a single Amal carburetor with stock side covers & Tiger name plate.
I never had the stock paint job & right now it is reddish orange.
I have always had short mufflers.
I had to get the frame welded years ago because the oil tank was leaking - where the swingarm pivot penetrates through the tank.
This is a common problem with the frames.
I replaced the tachometer drive with an older style. The original style had a problem with the Welch plug coming out.
I do have nicer looking mirrors:
They are triangular in shape & stick out farther on both sides. The mirrors mount like originals on the brake cylinder & clutch handle bracket.
Anyway, that's my two cents.
I've got several Triumphs I've bought over the last few years, trying to reach back to my youth and your statement provides a comfort zone for me.
@@JohnMcClain-p9t
Thanks!
I now have over 64,000 miles on my 1973.
I grew up on these bikes! Started with a 69 Trident in 1975, then a 73 650 Bonnie two years later, followed by a Commando 850, then a 750 Bonnie and later a 750 Tiger. In 2009 I was about to lash out the $15k (AUD) for a brand new Bonneville, when a mate came round to tell me he was trading his 1997 883 HD Sportster for a bigger bike. A soon as he told me the trade-in was $7k, it took about 10 seconds to decide to go with that for my first ever Harley. 15 years later and over 90,000 kilometres of touring all over Eastern OZ, and I still have it. I stripped it right down a few years ago everything including wheels came apart and with a set of Carillo barrels and pistons from Hammer Performance, it’s now a 1275cc. Standard heads give it a 1/4 inch squish band and 10.1/1 compression ratio, which with a 2-1 system and an S&S teardrop air box, puts out around 90 HP and double the troque of the original engine. It’s perfectly balanced and although it isn’t QUITE the same as the sound in this video, it is similar in that it is happiest at around 5k RPM and the sound is not far off either. At 67, I think this’ll be my last bike, but listening to this Bonnie revving its way through the gears is music to my ears! The modern Triumphs do NOT sound as good!
Long-time '76V owner here, love the blue/white look! The '76 has some notable changes, and not all for the better! The left foot shift can cause shifting problems, and the hastily designed rear disc brake come to mind. But with patience it all gets sorted out, and it's a terrific classic bike with plenty of parts availability, good brakes, turn signals, and reliability. A well tuned OIF 750 beats a modern Bonneville Thruxton in acceleration, i know that personally!
Rubbish 😂😂
I had one back in the 80s. I wish I still had it. It was absolutely thee best handling and shifting back roads bike I have ever owned. Loved that bike...
A buddy and I ordered a pair of new Triumph 750 Tigers in 1973. They were 5spd front disc brake models. Awesome motorcycles, that we immediately rode out to Edmonton from Birch Island BC, for the 73 Trans Am race. Back home via Calgary and the Rogers Pass. Very comfortable and excellent wheelie bikes. Still one of my favourite bikes that I’ve ever owned. That beautiful sound, brings back great memories!
PS, I had straight through down pipes, no balance tube, as this stops a smooth exhaust flow! Boyer ignition, & dinamicly balanced. The next job I would have done, if not stolen, was to fit the carbs you have. Just a lovely bike, thanks for your vid.
Absolutely the best year for the T140V, Sadly my 1973 T140V was stolen. Why I loved that bike was it did everything I wanted, also the right-hand gear change was perfectly balanced with the clutch lever movement, as the brakes were. This was due to the cross movement from side to side. Also this design meant using both sides of your brain for any change of operation.
Perfect.
Triumph Bonneville - the beloved soundtrack of my youth!
You can always tell the sound of a Bonnie
Had 650 Triumphs, and 750 Norton. My rephased XS 650, would smoke them both.
@@robertbobin5053 In a straight line obviously. Not on British B-roads and back lanes where the Bonnie was king throughout the 70s.
Hallo ik heb een Bonnie uit 76 pervekte motor grt from Holland
My favorite Triumph was the 650C. Single carb. High pipes. Torque monster. Real fun in the dirt. I never owned one but had a friend who did.
I had a 06 Thruxton Bonneville.. The last of the carburetor versions..
I hated the bloody thing and was glad to see the back of it!!..
The older Bonnies were much better..
Many thanks Mike, Dave and crew. Love the channel. 46 yrs on two wheels I have been lucky enough to have ridden some of these bikes. Workshop is a great idea. Keep safe.
I had a T140 Tiger many years ago, covered a lot of miles on it and it never gave me any problems. Also had a few T140 Bonnevilles, but always prefered the Tiger. My favourite Triumph was a T160 which I always regret selling - PYH488R where are you now?. I have a modern Triumph these days, but they just dont compare to the originals. Also had a T120 R - that was a real rocket ship and unburstable. Happy days......
It reminds me a lot of my 1973 Tiger 750V, close to the same blue/cream color scheme. They really are a beautiful looking bike, the retro while paying tribute cannot ultimately compare. This bike sounds fanatastic.
We had 2 of them growing up
I could barely kick it over
Every spring we would just flood the carbs and kick it over and it would roar to life every time.
Loved it !
I used to own one very similar, over 30 years ago; till some bar-steward stole it. It was dynamically balanced.
AT a place called Basset-down near Swindon. Floating rollers both sides, using shims to 6thu end play.
It was a 1973 model fitted with Boyer ignition. 8.5 to 1 compression and went really well. Also right hand gear shift
which is better, as your hand and foot movements are across the centre of balance, as is the breaking.
Nice bike, look after it.
I've got a 73 T140v,I love it my friend who's built and ridden Bonnie's for 45 odd years reckons the pinnacle year was 78....
I have a 78 triumph t140 was given to me by my step father so glad I've held on to it
I used to have a 76 T140V. 100mph easy. Even 2 up.
In 1982 I stupidly traded my 1969 BSA Rocket 3 for a covered sidecar for my Honda CB900C! Your channel has brought back memories, mostly positive, thank you!
Thanks for watching - Glad to hear we are bringing back positive memories, we were mates as teenagers and these bikes recreate those times now we are old blokes.
Cool bikes and well presented 👍
Get to see these bikes being Ridden and even modified not stored away
I really enjoy the countryside you are taking us for a ride in, the Triumph sounds great, I love the way they handle, I wish it were me instead of you. Thanks for sharing this.
Very very nice- Thank you for sharing. I have a 78 T140V that I have owned since 1986. Its 100% stock, (barring a boyer ignition that has performed flawlessly for over 30 years), - and I have to confess that all the impressive mods that he has done to this one feel to me a little like thousands spent "gilding the lily" a bit. I ride mine almost every weekend on some of the twistiest mountain roads that CA can provide and it performs just as it should - and just as seen and felt in this video.
And like he said, (while I have a number of terrific classics too, all of which are "worth more" than the T140V), its the last of all my bikes that I would part with. It is eminently practical, very user friendly, and very fun to ride with one, or two, passengers. Say what you want about the OIF bikes, they are much more reliable machines than the 60's bikes and every bit as satisfying on the road.
Again thanks for sharing-
Thanks for watching
Yes, it's a great looking and sounding machine. I've got a 78 T140V, UK model, which I've owned since 1993. It looks standard (apart from the Norton peashooter silencers), but has a few unseen, practical mods, such as the upgraded main bearings, Boyer ignition, 3-phase alternator, paper oil filter conversion, screw-in exhaust port stubs, halogen headlight and 13mm front master cylinder. All of these are for reliability and rideability, rather than performance, and have not changed the character of the bike, which I love.
Joining the party - my '78 T140V, slightly modified - is a gem to ride over the two-lane blacktop roads in SoCal's high desert. Especially thru the Joshua Tree National Park. Too bad we can't share pics!
I'm really not sure why I love watching these ride videos so much, but I do. Thanks for letting me tag along again.
You are more than welcome, believe me I love making them and getting the chance to ride these magnificent bikes
The best sounding Bonnie I’ve heard. Wonderful exhaust note and none of the infamous piston slap, such as I had on my ‘78 T140 V.
In the mid-eighties I had a 79 Bonneville special. I put a lot of miles on that bike it was absolutely Bulletproof.
Best of all!
I had a T140D from 2010 to 2015. Only sold due to house move. Awesome bike.
Had a 78 was a great Bike , but I got a T120 2020 what a difference lol no comparison
Trying to find one now!
Beautiful bike, I still have a T140ES owned almost from new which has been a joy to own and have had earlier Bonnies including a ' 62 pre-unit which also was lovely.Dave has done a beautiful job with obviously very worthwhile mods and it looks so handsome in an understated way with the earlier side panels.Bet its wonderful to ride, shame they weren't like this from new !.
I loved my T140 . I changed to the slimmer tank , due to a split nearest to the headstock , and put larger , non-standard , but Triumph , badges on the new red and black twin gold striped tank . Then I put Usa handlebars , the old rubbers that I replaced acted like pendulums ! And then I put Commando reverse cones on . One very pretty bike , in my opinion anyway ! But despite all the cleaning and beeing about with timing and carb tuning ( I had , still have , a mercury manometer ) I could never get it running to my satisfaction . Merlin motorcycles offered me a deal with an SF2 Laverda that I jumped at . Eventually , after failed fettling , Andy had the engine apart and it was found that the cylinders were not bored parallel .
Like I said , I loved the Bonney . It seemed light and agile , the stainless single front brake was a nightmare in the wet mind and it made a lovely sound . A grown up 250 really ! Loved it and now I have seen your video , maybe when the dosh arrives I wont chase a new RE or Guzzi . Thankyou .
Own 2 Triumphs & have never had a bad day on either of them. 07 Daytona, & 09 Scrambler. Will be building an oldie soon, Triumphs here in the states are really coming on & nothing beats what you do yourself when your riding one!!!
I was going to buy one but all the magazine road tests all had little problems so I bought my CX-500. I have 1965 Triumph TR6 for 40 years. Rode it every day. First kick bike with a Fairbanks Morse magneto. Great bike.
I believe the factory 1979 was the best Bonnevilles ever produced. I've seen many that were leak free, electrically straight, the best carbs, the best build quality. These bikes are highly underrated and very reasonable because the many seek to own the 59-69 and the most desirable.
Why do you suppose that people think that these years are the most desirable?
@@derekcollins1972 their association with the king of cool Steve McQueen, the 60s styling, less vibes than the 750 when build correctly, they are also lighter than later bikes with fewer build problems when new than the 70s bikes which suffered from the issues as the BSA/Triumph group collapsed.
Just my opinion
@@nigeh5326 Thanks for your opinion. I still have my 68 Bonnie that I bought many years ago for $1200. I remember kicking myself afterwards when I could have bought a pair for $600. One ran and the other didn't. Lol,times have changed from being worthless to many to crazy priced today. Fads happen i guess. It's great to have lots of parts nowadays available.
I had a brand new 79 that was a real lemon. A great bike when running though. Appalling quality control issues on mine. I own a 68Trophy 500 now that is superior in terms of reliability, build quality. Go figure hey?
I have a 76V that I’ve owned since 2013, rebuilt the engine with three piece roller TS bearing, Hyde half race cams, LP Williams 7 plate clutch, new Premier Amals and had the head done with +1mm G&S valves and K-lined guides. Looking forward to video on the mods done to this bike, looks and sounds great. I’m preferring riding it to my modern bike.
You sir, are to be envied and admired.
I love seeing all these vintage bikes and hearing your thoughts on them. Visually speaking I like the Triumphs of the late 50's up until 1970, after that the lines of the bikes changed a little. This one looks pretty damn nice though. Seems like he tried to match the vibe of a 69 or 70. I don't know what half those mods are, but this guy obviously knows what he's doing. I bet it's a joy to ride. : )
Hi Dave thanks for watching, Dave really does know what he is doing he is our resident "Artist with Spanners"
Cheers Mike
The 60s side panels are a great mod as seen here
Best sounding bike of the collection so far ,as Mike pointed out probably the best for ragging around welsh roads .Well thought out mods Dave ,I look forward to the workshop videos .love the blue/silver colour scheme more than the original tank.i remember the 250 desmo well ,pushed it around Cardiff quite often it gave us quite a workout.The dedication was most touching "paddy " was an amazing character who told the best stories ,think of him often.
I wore a hole through my boot kick starting a 250 Desmo in 12 miles of travel . It would not tick over whatever I did , but wow the handling and engine pick up were amazing . I gave my mate's girlfriend her bike back wiling though .... she ended up with my Bonnie later on .
I'm still struggling to get my head around all the comments, saying these old Brit Bikes are junk compared to Newer Bikes and what's the point.......Du'hhhhh. no shit, Sherlock!
That's not the point though ....these old bike have a Different aura and feel about them, no different to wanting a MK1 or MK2 escort or the like, can't compare to a Modern car ...Manual chokes, skinny Tyres, crap brakes etc ....but for many of us, these older Bikes and cars put a smile on our faces .
I own an 78 Bonnie that i rode for years until i took it apart, absolutely love that bike, i also own a couple of modern bikes... Faster, Smoother, more reliable, safer ..blah blah blah ,and more sterile ,
but owning and riding an older Classic is just so satisfying, adjusting your riding style to cope with an older bike with crappier brakes and power is addictive, and the sound always turns heads.
Old doesn't mean pointless .....Concord was old, the Flying Scotsman is old, The Avro Vulcan Bomber...and don't get me started on the Supermarine Spitfire...everyone looks up when one of those flies above you.. that sound and shape,
Defo not better than a modern Fighter Jet, but that's not the point.....these old bits of kit stir up feelings, emotions that modern tech just can't do for some of us and they are loved and fondly remembered.
This is why some of us still ride older Vehicles.
Horses for courses.
Todays cars & bikes will probably all end up as unrepairable junk anyway, just like TV' & washing machines etc, due to a dependence on complex electronics that can't be repaired.
Much better looking with the retro style side-covers. I have these on my resurrected 1982 American export T140. This was missing a lot of parts when I got it. Tri-Spark ignition was a game changer and it is a joy to ride as well as being reliable. I like the T160 kick start.
The T140 is a pretty good daily rider if maintained well but they suffer a bit in the summer here in Western Australia. I pick my riding weather and can always fall back on my Sprint GT or Honda 1300 Super-Four.
Thanks so much for posting been riding many years don't even remember but started off 1968 triumph Bonneville stainless steel fenders painted gas tank love the bike
Very welcome!
Less than a minute in and what a great sound👍🏻
Less than 2 minutes in & I sub'd!
love the sound would like to ride one
I have loved/hated my Brit-bikes in the past. In NZ the only real Win is cheap reg. If you thrash a 75 Bonnie to Auckland and back (from Manawatu) the consequent engine-work could cost up to 5k. There seems to be a lot of myth out there about owning an old Brit. They are what they are , I would happily thrash my 75 xs650, over my (old) 79 Bonnie , knowing that the engine wont crap itself. If you ride quietly around town, with the odd 'burst' , the Bonnie is a great ride. David NZ
I had the 1978 T140E UK spec, export bars and Norton pea-shooters. That was in the early 1990's, now have a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650.
I’ve got an Interceptor too fitted Commando style silencers so it sounds more like a 60s twin. Great bikes for the price. How do you think it compares to the old twins like the Meriden Triumphs?
Sounds beautiful. I've never owned a Bonnie, but did own two Tiger 750 single carb bikes and a heavily modified Trophy Trail 500. One of them was excellent, the other not so much. I would love to own a classic but have decided to go for a newer technology parallel twin with fuel injection, after road testing one. Still I miss my Trophy Trail the most.
I had a Trophy Trail 500 i bought new in March of '74.
Listening to the sound of that 650....I was 18 again for just a few minutes.....Good Video, Thanks
I remember that sound from a long time ago, now at 73 my wife has decided i have to stop riding, Such is life and such are the good memories of the bonnie. Sisaket Thailand.
At least you have great weather, thanks for watching
fantastic mods....lots ive 'thought' of, but never get round to doing....you have made the effort....i 'know' you'l benifit from....happy riding....
I bought a 1976 Bonny just over a year ago, a near basket case. I wanted to have it up and redgo'd
before summer (Australia) I it might be mid to late summer before that happens. I am so happily envious of you.Great sound
Not as envious as we are of you as we slide into winter (I was 25 years in Aus) - cheers Mike
Interesting stuff. Had a '75 T140V which was right foot shift. I now have a '71 OIF Lightning and a '93 VFR750. The former is badly engineered out of excellent materials and the latter excellently engineered out of crap. Had an R80/7 which had the best of both worlds but not very quick or sporty. At the end of the day it's how it makes you feel. Enjoy!
Most beautiful bike ever made, without a doubt!
Have you seen our latest videos we take out three triumph twins
Jay Leno said his '64 bonneville handled so well it was like he just had to think of where he wanted the bike to go and it responded. That described perfectly what I liked best about my '68.....Yes, it had all the annoyances that riders complain about but that feeling of it being an extention of myself was amazing. I'm told the frame change in '71 changed that.
I would have really liked a lot of what's on this '75....great video
I had my 68 Bonnie for years. Still love it.
I don't think the OIF bikes take away any of what you described, a lot of which comes from the weight (or lack of it) distribution and the skinny tyres which roll so easily into the corners. This bike definitely handles better than my '68, which is pretty decent anyway!
@@waveydavey750 To be honest I've never driven an oif bike. I just remember the complaining when the '71s came out. I did drive some hondas, a yamaha 650 and a '70 bsa 500, and they all felt like a bit of a wrestling match in the corners. The bsa was brand new and after getting off my bike the first thing he said was " I'll trade you strait across"
Thanks for your observations. Leno also gives some facts as to why triumphs bought in the uk often handled better than the ones exported.......interesting
12:39 that is a beautiful sound I have like a beautiful singing voice this bike Haas! I love it. I remember being ready to get out of high school and sitting on one of these with this Tiger tank 12:03 that the blue on this one does something that dazzles me.
I had a t140 v back in the 70s that I built as a chop, ultra reliable daily rider and took me everywhere without any leaks or breakdowns ,
Beautiful machine, with great modifications, I'd love to own it. Well done Dave!
I went around France in about 1969 on my second-hand Tr6 650 triumph. My gear lever broke when starting it to come off the ferry, luckily it was Saturday morning and there was a dealer in Boulogne who had the parts. Halfway to Paris, my mate's 350 Triumph started to blow oil from the front of the crankcase, I think it was some sort of release valve. (so long ago) In a small town, we sourced a flexible tube, jammed it in, and back up to the oil tank. It nearly lasted the 2-week trip. We had to leave it and came back two up with all our camping /clothes as we had nearly run out of money. All the way from Moulins back via Paris to Boulogne and then Dover to N London, only stopping when we had to
With smoother camera work that would be a great intro to a movie, and stunning scenery in the land of lemon drizzle. 👍👍 Love the Bonneville! but am pretty happy with my 650 Interceptor. If you have no regrets, you haven't lived long enough. 😆
Thanks for watching - we are testing an Interceptor in the next couple of weeks
The RE650 is a great bike. Designed by British technicians. You couldn't do it better.
A guy I worked with bought a 77 jubilee special it was very reliable. Never let him down. Used every day for work and long weekend runs.. Sounded better than a nightengale.
Just came across your very refreshing YT Channel. Loved the videography, drive by's and Welsh scenery. Lovely Bonnie! Sounds gorgeous! Really enjoyed your commentary voice too :) Subscribed first view! Graeme, NZ
Great video guys,I had a 1975 t140v in cherokee red,right hand gear change,all the best
Thanks for watching 👍
A story for you, My friend Mark bought one in Highschool, still has it and I am 64, Bought from Floyd Young the best West coast English bike man, My Ol Dad Always bought from Floyd, had his rebuild work done there too, if you ever get to see sales records to Talent Oregon Floyds name will be there, I remember my Dad carrying me at 3 yrs old into Floyds shop.
Wow! A proper Bonnie unlike the overweight Hinckley version I used to own. This Meridan bike looks and sounds great. Perfect machine.
The Boat Inn at Erbistock looks great.....must take a trip there.....next to the Dee.....idyllic.
P.S. 2 years later.....found The Boat on a ride on my Bonnie....every bit as nice as it look in the video.
Generally I don’t like Triumph 650 or 750 twins after 1970, but this 1975 T140 looks wonderful. The ‘ bitsa’ nature of it obviously makes it all the more desirable. Well done Mike, great video. I’m seventy and have had bikes my whole life, currently a Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic 103 that I’ve had for seven years and a Ducati SD900 Darmah that I’ve owned for forty three years.that going through its fourth nut and bolt rebuild at the moment. With summer approaching I’m looking forward to some riding of about 700 km a day. We have massive distances here in Australia.
we have even massiver distances here in Canada mate!
Lovely sound and great work with the mods. Thanks for the presentation.
Glad you enjoyed it - thanks for watching
Yup, yup, that’s the sound I fell in love with as a young pup. Happily I’m still addicted and I have two beautiful twins to keep the throbbing happening. 😎
Brilliant bike, excellent commentary! BRAVO ZULU! Great ideas for a couple of mods to my '78 T140V.
Interesting video , Well done Dave, and agree with all the mods & no belt, (carbs ?).These are the best of Practical British Classics imho when sorted. Tnx gentlemen.
unreal Bike sir , Used too Have one 72 T140 , always Wanted another one as a keeper , hopefull one Day
I recognise those roads! Must keep my eyes open for that bike, those are my regular rides on my 73 TR7RV and 72 Daytona. Those engine mods have made a huge difference.
Will give you a wave if we see you, thanks for watching
The roads looked familiar to me too, but I couldn't quite place them until I saw The Cross Foxes at 16:50! I haven't ridden bikes for years, but I do enjoy seeing what other people have done with theirs, especially proper classics and not the hideous modern designs.
@@ParaBellum2024 they aren’t all hideous I ride a chrome 2020 RE 650 Interceptor and am forever being told how well I’ve restored it 😊 even the teenagers like the styling and sound, although the loud Commando silencers on it are responsible for that lol
@@nigeh5326 I've just re-read my post and can see that it's open to interpretation. The Interceptor, along with some retro bikes by other manufacturers, is a modern classic, and very stylish. I was referring to the bikes that look like insects or Transformers!
Ah lovely, great vid mate! I have a ‘72 Daytona and a ‘04 Bonneville, the difference is night and day with respect to modernity. I’d love an oil in frame Bonneville as well…
That's a truly beautiful bike. I think if the older bike didn't have Lucas electrics I think it's probably better than the new Hinckley Triumphs.
Real good vid ! I´ve been riding my youth dream bike for 23yrs a -69 USspec just mildly mod with better ignition a Trispark unit and some more mods like 3ph alternator Morgo oilpump etc. I do think that the old 2LS front ancor very good when heated up slightly , it looks the part as well... Keep up the good work lads!
That's the one for me, even over the 68 Bonny. Lovely bike.
I hear you on the selling of a bike. Owned a 1973 T120...was a proper shed find, fixed it up. rode it and sold it a couple of years later. Still to this day super sorry about that.
Just found the channel, lovely sound from that Bonnie, had a few of them back in the early 80's, thinking about another one before the prices go silly. Keep up the good work lads
Welcome aboard!
Great sounding bike as all British bikes are, my 1968 T100T Daytona has some modern upgrades, and it makes it more of a pleasure to ride + more reliable. Cheers great video. ⚙️🔩🔧👍
Fantastic bike, fabulous sound in beautiful scenery. It was a Bonneville of a friend that took me to the 70‘s bikes. Now I own one of the first Guzzi T3 from 1975, beautifuly restored. Did you guys ever think of having a „bike‘s weekend“ near you? I would come over from Germany to the UK to drive with you blokes! I love your channel!
+DJ X we did a bike meet last year and had about 1500 bikes turn up
We might well do something similat but not this year we are all flat out busy but great idea
Mike
Enjoying your videos very much, beautifully filmed and edited. Love seeing and hearing these classic bikes in the English countryside. Would love to see you guys do a video on a classic Kawasaki Z900. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺
Just negotiated a Z1000 from 76 to film
I love it ❤ a serious amount of money spent on it over the years but what a fantastic result. I want one now.
best bike I ever owned ,,Conan EAST SUSSEX
A real Triumph in both senses of the word. Ride safe
Peace
Thanks for watching and to you
I had one of these in 1975 a T140v American version same as in film, I still suffer from white finger, vibration was horrendous, they literally shook themselves to bits. My favourite Triumph which I had for 10 years was a T160, wish I'd kept it, I'm sorry but there were no tears shed for the T140. Judging by the amount of mods it is no longer a true Bonneville is it?, but I approve this is how it should have been. Notice you have a lithium battery, I gave up on these after 2 bad winters which killed them dead, even on a lithium maintenance charger, Yuasa for me every time, never had one last less than 8 years.
Liked, subscribed, and shared.
Great T140 restomod, kudos to the owner's taste.
A good buddy of mine bought a T140 brand new in '75. Being a big Triumph fan I drooled all over the bike and congratulated him for buying a Bonny when everyone else was buying Japanese. Well the motor more or less fell apart within 6 months. This was in California. I don't blame the design as much as terrible quality control at the factory back then. I recall being with him in the parking lot when the entire shifting mechanism became disconnected; a problem that came about from conversion to left hand shift, Anyhow, it was a mess.The shifting lever sort of dropped down and the cross shaft was clearly no longer hooked up to the gear box. It went back to the shop but more things went wrong and it was endless misery for my friend. Apart from the paint, the finish and workmanship in this particular era were disgraceful. That said, the T-140 is a delicious classic to have now of course, but nearly any you see today have been meticulously restored where particular attention was paid to the engine. Meriden bikes after about 1972 were just not up to any decent standard and almost rubbish in many respects. It was like they had just given up and lost all pride IMHO.
YES!!!! No silly computer, simplicity. I may own a mach 3 from 71, its way faster but will never corner like a bonneville.
The Mach lll is a very collectible piece now too isn't it?
p &m did the head on my t150v great place,richard has retired now dave running it ,im lucky to have clive blake near me if its something i cant do on my trident,
Bloody magic mate, exaust note reminds me of my younger years on a Triton. That's mate. 🇬🇧😎👍
Low compression pistons - hmmm. Could they be lighter and reduce reciprocating mass? That was my theory when I installed some dished pistons in a Commando for an 8 or 8.5 ratio. With the isolastics there was no perceptible difference, but the engine refused to wear out. Mtns of Colorado, plains of Texas, deserts in Arizona and Nevada. Wife on the back for it all and it never stuttered or wheezed and powered through everything. It's still in the garage.
Retired in SE AZ. Still riding.
Hey, love the bike, brings back many memories of our days running a bike repair shop in the late 1970's. We had some rip roaring times. Stay well mate!
What a nice bike. I've recently returned to biking after buying a new 2021 Speedmaster. Whilst that is a fabulous bike to ride and polish, I wanted an older Bonnie to tinker with. In December my wife funded the purchase of a 78 T140e. I'm tinkering away with it because it's running quite rich and rough. Anyway, my main reason for posting, apart from liking the bike and the video, is that I'm not too far away from you in Whitchurch. I recognised the Cross foxes as well as the Boat at Erbistock, both great pubs.
Hopefully see you guys out and about at some point when it warms up......
+Craig Hewison watch for the announcement in the next couple of days 👍
Very interesting! I have a '76 Bonneville and I noticed yours was a right hand shift where mine is a leftie. Once I got into the vid a bit you explained the difference between them and it's amazing what can happen in one year in manufacturing. Mine has been sitting since about '99 when I bought a 1200 Trophy and rode that for a number of years. The poor ol' Bonnie sat in our garage and has waited for me to return as it has got to the time in my life where I could not handle the trophy anymore. I am going to start working on the Bonnie again and fix the little things that it needs to get it back on the road again. If you have any tips or tricks I'd sure be happy to hear about them for getting my bike back on the road again. Enjoyed the sounds and the scenery! Many thanks!
Loads of info on forums like britbike, do it, you won't regret it!
Look into 'Lowbrow Customs' Triumph Bonneville rebuild tutorials. There are 12 videos. Usefully informative.
The T140V was OK. I had one for about 5 years. It was a 750cc. However, the best Bonneville was the 650cc T120, 1969. I had one of those too. The best bike i ever had, and i had a lot of British bikes, only 1 foreighn bike) was a 860 Ducati GTS, bought it in 1975. Amazing, the Triumphs were not good handlers, the Ducati you could lay it down in corners. My friends had Tritons, Tribsa's Norvins, all kinds of bikes, all British and we used to hang around a pub called The Berkley, opposite Spanish city Whitley Bay, then after a few years we moved to The Briardene pub. I remember it all changed when a Honda CB 750 4 cyl appeared on the scene. It didn't leak oil lol...amazing
I had a 69 Sportster and these older Bonnevilles blew me Away.....Like around 68 a Bonne...
Nice video, lovely bike. Subscribed. Cheers.
Always liked riding a British or Italian bike. Had a Norton, 2 Triumph's, a Ducati and 2 Guzzi's in the 70s/80's. Also agree about the Evo 1200 Sportster, great bike.
Thanks for watching
I have a 71.
Love that old bike.
That’s a fantastic looking and sounding bike
That would be the bike I would choose as well Mike.
lovely bike, love that sound from the exhaust.
Oh, British Bikes had the Run of the Motorbikes back then. Beautifut handling and Responsiveness! Cheers, and went over there in '95 an '97. Lovely
So Beautiful! That engine sound can’t be beat! Thanks for Sharing. Just Subscribed!
I had a 1976 Triumph Bonneville and rode it for 25 years. The engine leaked oil everywhere (in spite of my best efforts) and it vibrated like a paint-can shaker at highway speeds. Triumph finally got it right with the new Bonnevilles.
With respect, but your 76 must not of been set up well, i have 2 T140's 76 and a 78,,, both since new and they both run smooth, Hagon shocks Akront rims Avon tyres and Boyer ignition keep em tuned and don't over rev them and they respond well to sensible mods 👍
All the OIFS seem to be a little different in all respects. We have several and they all vibrate a little differently at different speeds.
I find them all an absolute pleasure though. 🏍😎🌞
I have a T140V very similar to yours, USA fuel tank and fake oil tanks, been in the family 45 years, I have used it as a daily, and spent many hours riding it, I have new AMALS on it and dialed in cams, 40 over bores - flowed head - open pipes, she goes good. They are an A road scratcher supreme, terrible on dual carriageways or motorways, although mine is smooth at 65-70mph.
Have elec ignition and an oil cooler added - cooler is a must on them if your gonna ride hard, also holds more oil that way. Also never fit the aftermarket oil filter kits, they allow dirt to enter the engine through the oil pump from the frame oil tank, unlike the original top hat oil tank gauze filters which are better and don't allow that to happen.
If you get the frame sand blasted - sand will enter through the incomplete welds at the head stock and into the frame oil tank, and then go into the engine (only if you have the aftermarket oil filter kit on it) and destroy it.
I love mine it regularly does 110mph, and can out accelerate a Hinckley 880cc Bonnie, (it isn't standard though so cheating a bit there :) )
Could have sold it many times over the amount of people asking to buy it from me !!!, but its an airloom now so goes to my kids. It'll be ripping up the tarmac long after i'm dead and buried!!!.
The oil filter conversion I fitted (20 years ago) uses paper elements in place of the strainer, so no debris gets through that to the oil pump.