Triumphrat

CluelessOne

I have a '68 T120R. It is completely torn down and has been so for about 20 years. I want to put it back together and while it's apart I want to do a thorough job of cleaning, painting, polishing, etc. I'm planning on going through the restoration from front to back, outside to inside, starting with the frame and swing arm. The paint on those items is the original and the rust on them is about what you'd expect. My first question is what to do about the paint. Should I just touch it up or should I plan on stripping and repainting? For a restoration should I consider powder coating those items?

Once that decision is made and the work done, I'll want to focus on the steering. Originally the bike came with loose ball bearings at the top and bottom of the steering tube. Should I try to find replacements for those or is there a more modern solution?

I've got lots more questions but the answers to the ones above should get me started.

Thanks!

GrandPaulZ

You are not clueless, as much as you are obviously undecided.

What you SHOULD do is entirely up to YOU.

If you intend for your bike to be a 100-point concours trailer-rider, you need to get at least one, preferrably two Triumph restoration books, and start right in according to the original specs (which means NO powdercoat, NO modern paints, etc.)

If you intend to build a beautiful, original-appearing, regular rider, I'd suggest electrconic ignition, powdercoating on the cycle parts, and high-watt alternator & lighting, roller bearings in the steering head, etc.

__________________
GrandPaulZ
Author of "Old Bikes"
Born Again Bikes
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henryanthony

Hi GPZ,

Can you give a clue as to which books you recommend?

Thanks,

Henry

CluelessOne

Notsomuch clueless as undecided. Any suggestions re: books? Would yours be a good place to start? I do have a Clymer's but that's not very useful for restoration. Part of the cluelessness is just not being familiar with the options available with respect to bringing the bike back. That's the kind of information I'm looking for.

GrandPaulZ

Well, like i said, "bringing the bike back" has to be defined IN YOUR MIND, first. Do you want it to be totally original, just original looking, or jusr good looking and good running?

Google Roy Bacon, Tim Remus, and J.R. Nelson for restoration books. I believe one of thiers has gone nutso and fetches several hundred dollars (when it can be found), just skip that one and go with one or both of the others.

"Bonnie", The Development History of the Triumph Bonneville is an in valuable book for collectors of multiple Bonnies; it gives year-by-year changes to each model, as well as a healthy dose of Triumph / factory history.

Beyond the above, good reading can be found in "Triumph in America", "Triumph, a Century of Passion and Power", Triumph Buyer's Guide (I forget the actual title), and a few other very nice illustrated boos. Google is your friend, Amazon your close ally.

__________________
GrandPaulZ
Author of "Old Bikes"
Born Again Bikes
My Photo album

mtds

FWIW, these are the books I refer to most often and I have a similar project and goals. Building Budget Brits is new and very down-to-earth.

GrandPaulZ

Roy Bacon's book is one of the best, also the Bonneville & TR6 restoration book.

__________________
GrandPaulZ
Author of "Old Bikes"
Born Again Bikes
My Photo album

GrandPaulZ

Original Triumph Bonneville by Gerard Kane, ISBN 0-7603-0776-8.

Triumph Bonneville and TR6 Restoration Guide by Timothy Remus, ISBN 0-7603-0665-6

Bonnie (The Development History of the Triumph Bonneville) by J.R. Nelson, ISBN 0 085429 957 2

Triumph in America by Lindsay Brooke and David Gaylin, ISBN 0-87938-746-7

Illustrated Triumph Buyer’s Guide by Roy Bacon, ISBN 0-87938-175-2

British Motorcycles of the 1940s and 1950s by Roy Bacon, ISBN 0-85045-856-0

Best of British Bikes by Jim Reynolds, ISBN 1-85260-033-0

A-Z Guide to British Motorcycles from the 1930s to the 1970s by Cyril Ayton, ISBN 1-870979-19-2

Whatever Happened to the British Motorcycle Industry by Bert Hopwood, ISBN 1-859604-27-7
“The Art of The Motorcycle” (ISBN 0-8109-6912-2 (hardcover) 0-89207-207-5 (softcover).

__________________
GrandPaulZ
Author of "Old Bikes"
Born Again Bikes
My Photo album

henryanthony

GrandPaulZ,

Thanks for all the information on the books!

Henry

Webby

Don't forget "'Triumph Motorcycle Restoration" by Timothy Remus & Gary Chitwood. Lots of nice colour pics for info Shows the entire restoration of a 69 in lots of detail.

Webby