Triumphrat

turbo224 · 06-14-2008

Hey guys,

Let me start off by saying I am completly new to this hobby and I have a lot to learn, so bear with me here. I have been working on cars for a long time and sort of built most everything I have wanted for now and I have been looking for a new project. For some reason I have never really gotten myself into the bike scene. I was browsing some bikes on ebay and it suddenly hit me, I really need to buy a bike to play with! Being that I love all things vintage and I love restoring things, I was looking at some older bikes. I found that all the bikes I really liked were made by triumph, so here I am. Instead of wasting everyones time with my newbie questions, are there any websites, or faq sections that I can browse the history benhind these bikes such as models, engines, common problem, etc...

I would like to read up and learn a bit before I actually make my first purchase. I really like the bobber look on bikes, so I have a very cool triumph bobber already built in my head, I guess I just need t start learing. If you guys could point me in the right direction I would appreciate it.

jimmy bush · 06-14-2008

The thing about bobbers is they are such personal interpretations of what a motorcycle should be. What looks totaly cool to a chopper rider usually is a sacrilige to purist classic lover. There are a lot of guys involved with this forum that are bobber riders and many have posted pictures of their rides. You might do a search for bobbers on this forum and see what you come up with then pm the individuals that have more or less what tickles your fancy to get a general idea of how they went about building theirs. I've seen a lot of frames, engines and partially completed projects on ebay that would make a good starting point. If you buy any Triumph, get shop (I prefer the Triumph manuals but Hanes makes some useable ones too) and parts manuals for the sprecific year engine/frame because they made a lot of changes that don't necessairly apply from one year to another. Once (if) you get started there are a lot of savy peple on the forum that can help with technical advice, parts locating, etc. There must be a Classic Bike meet or race going on somewhere because there are usually more and quicker responses to any new comer to the forum.

Red1959 · 06-14-2008

Welcome new guy! I found the best way to learn about these machines was to find a local club. A lot of knowledge, experience can be found at the meetings or ride destinations. The one I found was 50 miles from my home. I made the monthly meetings, joined up and the members passed on a lot of information. Finding a shop manual for your machine is a good step. You can get manual repro's at Btitish Only and other British bike dealers. The serial # on your motor will ID the year. The frame numbers may not match so you may need two manuals. Since you want a one of a kind, the motor # will be the most usefull.

turbo224 · 06-15-2008

Thanks for the help guys. Browsing through pictures of bikes, I can certainly tell that each owner has their own specific tastes. For me, as cool as a lot of typical choppers look, I dont really care for huge amounts of chrome or giant rear tires. Yeah it looks good, but I have always liked doing things a little different. I am picturing something more along the lines of long and low, painted satin black, with very little chrome. Something that looks more like a daily driven road bike, not a show bike. I guess I will have to start working on something untill my ideas are all worked out.

vwbuge · 06-15-2008

I had the same ideas and mindset when I started looking for a Triumph. I wanted a bare bones deal with a hard tail and maybe a hand shift all in flat black. THEN I came across a nice stock '72 Daytona. I had to have it and forgot all about the bobber.

Todd Bugs · 06-15-2008

wlecome as well, I'm new to the fourm too, but I've had my "bobber" quite a few years now. My best advice, or at least the path I went down was jump all in, get a decent roller and make it a project. You don't have to start from scratch with five milk crates full of parts and then again you dont have to finish someone elses bike, make it your own but take advantage of what someone has lost interest in. Keep eyes and ears open and learn as you go. Like yourself I have a background in cars and restoration of them, bikes are a bit different beast but they can be easy to understand once you get your feet wet. good luck and post pictures of progress, I'm always interested in what other folks come up with.

bugs

pochie · 06-15-2008

Welcome. Go to E-Bay. You can select Triumph and the years you want to explore. I bought my two cycles within the last 7 months. There are lots to choose from....stock and bobbers. New ones appear often. I visit many times a week. Good luck! Pochie

turbo224 · 06-16-2008

I have been trolling ebay for a couple weeks now checking out bikes and there are a lot to chooce from! I think what I may end up doing is watch the local adds and buy an all stock bike (I am not too pick on years, just pre 80's) so I can start cruising around town on it. Then once I get the feel for it, I will either dig in and start building the bike myself, or just keep my eyes open for a bike that already has some of the stuff done to it. I think it would be wise for my first attempt to be done slowly. Here is my first qustion, are most of the customs bikes lengthened? I would assume the rear of the frame gets stretched on a lot of bikes. I would assume that bikes built in the 60's and 70's weren't really designed to fit the trends that are popular today.