Triumphrat

soldier113 · 11-21-2012, 10:32 PM

Hey guys, I'm new here and new to triumphs all together. I have been thinking of doing some sort of bobber project for a while. I found a bike online that is almost exactly what im going for. Its a '68 bonneville 650. (PICTURED BELOW)

I want a rigid frame, but i also want a motor that is a little more powerful(besides 750) maybe even EFI.
What other year frames are similar to this '68?
Are there any newer, or any other type motors that would fit in a '68 or similar style frame??
Better yet, are there any newer FRAMES that look like this frame?? If so its gotta have that support tube under the tank

ALSO, anybody know what kinda tank is in that pic? Just a regular peanut tank?

Link to bike if you wanna see more pics
http://choppahead.com/bikes/32/

Garioch43 · 11-22-2012, 04:08 AM

If you're thinking of making so many changes, why not buy a project bike and start from scratch?

Looks like this one is sold. Did you buy it?

DAVE M · 11-22-2012, 04:45 AM

It all depends on the laws concerning registration where you are but,

as GPZ says, cutting up a good bike is a bit of a waste, but at least you'll have a set of matching bits. A complete 68 is regarded as a good bike. If going that route, don't cut anything, bolt on and replace and keep the original bits. Bobbing only devalues a complete bike, so keeping the bits is a means of retaining the value.

Most Triumph engines are a common fixing inbetween certain series ( which are pretty big)

You can buy a factory metalworks frame - either a bolt on hardtail for pre-OIF frames or a complete frame.

soldier113 · 11-22-2012, 03:25 PM

No, I didn't buy that bike. It's just something I found online.

But I will not be destroying a good bike, the bike I'm looking at isn't a complete triumph bike. Heres the info of craigslist on the bike I'm looking at getting.
68 TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 750 BOBBER HARDTAIL, MOTOR HAS LESS THAN 600 MILES, BRAND NEW TIRES, 49 HARLEY PANHEAD REAR FENDER, LOWRIDER TANK, STARTS 1st KICK RUNS AND LOOKS GREAT.

So I wont be destroying an perfectly good bike.
I was just wondering what other motors could possibly fit in a '68 frame.

And I'm not concerned with the registration of the bike "IT'S ONLY ILLEGAL WHEN YOU GET CAUGHT"

soldier113 · 11-22-2012, 04:43 PM

heres the link to the bike that I'm talking about and that I would start my project on

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mcy/3344520896.html

JohnA · 11-22-2012, 05:38 PM

It depends how much more power you want. The standard T120/T140 is powerful enough to zip up to 100 pretty quick and with some fairly simple tuning 120 is achievable (though not wise to hold one at that kind of speed for long). Fitting another engine seems very impractical: the T120 unit is very compact, far smaller than a Hinkley Triumph engine (and much nicer looking imho).

How much more power do you want? A decent T120 produces similar power to a lot of Harleys and the modern Hinkley twins. If you're looking for 100BHP you'll need a total rethink...

soldier113 · 11-22-2012, 05:59 PM

I'm looking for something that has decently quick and that I can cruise the highway with (85-90mph) but still have an extra power/gear on top of that incase I wanna go a little more
I come from riding streetbikes and understand that thats not what I'm going to get.

I just like the old frame style, motor, and the old looks of the triumphs, BUT I also like modern technology and not just cruising around town.
Something like a rigid '68 bonneville bobber meets a triumph daytona 675 would be amazing

DAVE M · 11-23-2012, 04:53 AM

I wouln't think that a 68 T120 is suitable for long periods of 90mph cruising unless rebuilt well.
The modern Triumphs are nothing to do (in reality) with the Meriden bikes and although anything can fit anything given enough time, a Yamaha twin is a closer match to a T120 than a modern Triumph.

If you want a Modern bike, Hinkley's are cheap from breakers and any decent frame maker can make a modern engined bike with a similar frame to a T120.

Me. I'd go T120 but I am biased.

The bike that is on craigslist is RHS gearchange. If you're ok with that then any Triumph motor will fit up to around 75 when the gearchange swapped sides.

wolfwolf · 11-23-2012, 07:25 AM

that would be an awsome bike, but I dont think its an all day at 80/90mph highway bike, more of a local cruiser/bike night kind of ride.
If your used to flying down the road at high speeds you will not be happy with that bike untill your ready to slow down and just enjoy the ride. JMHO.

DAVE M · 11-23-2012, 07:31 AM

Plus I don't fancy 90mph on a hardtail.
Bobber's aren't really intended for high speed work. That's not to say that you can't do it, people have ridden around the world on tiny mopeds, but you're talking about a 40 year old engine in a 1930's inspired frame.

me. I'd still go for the classic twin but go slower. That's part of the charm of older bikes