Triumphrat

Grayhorse · 10-11-2009, 10:36 PM

Hi all

I'm most of the way through rebuilding my father's 1936 L2/1 Triumph and some of the little things are driving me insane!

First up - I came late to motorbikes, but the first time I went onto the Great Western Highway at Springwood on a Honda 250, I realised why people do it! I'm in the local (Blue Mountains) Ulysses chapter, and they're a great bunch, including a couple of RATs who made me feel right welcome when they found out I had an old Trumpy. I didn't realise there was a RAT forum until now, though.

I've managed to source a good restorer who's rebuilt the engine and girder forks (I've got a handicap - 10 thumbs and a Masters' degree in electrical engineering) and I've been doing the research for the rest of the restoration.

The kneegrips (knee pads, whatever) are doing my head in! I've got the original plates, but it's a hand shift model. Can anyone give me some advice on the right rubber?

Please be gentle with me - not only have I not ridden much, I've not posted on forums much either...

thanks in advance...
Grayhorse

DAVE M · 10-12-2009, 06:40 AM

http://ridevintage.wordpress.com/pag...e-14-250cc-sv/

GrandPaulZ · 10-12-2009, 11:13 AM

Welcome to the forum, and what a nice bike! I love the "true" vintage models (Coventry built).

Looks like a proper bit of work you've done, keep it up.

Grayhorse · 10-14-2009, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAVE M

http://ridevintage.wordpress.com/pag...e-14-250cc-sv/

Thanks for this, Dave M - that's pretty much how my machine will look when I'm finally done. Just one thing...it may be me, but the link would be a lot more useful if I could only work out how to get the "leave a comment" hyperlink to work so I can ask the page owner where he got the kneepads from!

It's as if RideVintage have turned off their "Comments" function. Can you leave comments on that page? I've even signed up for a blog myself, hoping that if I have an account I can comment on another user's page. Nup - no good...

Sorry to be such a total n00b

regards...Ross

shrugger · 10-14-2009, 08:56 AM

Hmmm, there's a "Leave a comment" below the last pic. Doesn't
seem to work though

It's Probly been turned off.

DAVE M · 10-21-2009, 06:13 AM

sotrry this took so long but the first guy makes "new" rubber parts for old bikes and may be of use and the second is the VMCC expert on pre war triumphs so might be a good contact

http://files.homepagemodules.de/b210...p7186825n1.doc

http://users.actrix.co.nz/cornelius/Triumph/index.htm

Grayhorse · 11-02-2009, 07:29 AM

The restorer rang me today, and held the phone up to the exhaust system so that I could share in the rich bud-bud-bud-bud note of a 76yo motorbike! That's the first time that's been heard since about 1950!

We not out of the woods yet! The chain guard needs fastening (sounded like a donkey being chainsawed!), he's not entirely satisfied with the oil lines and there are a handful of painting things to finalise such as the toolbox and the rear guard.

BUT we're getting there.

I ordered knee pads from this place http://www.vintage-motorcycle.com/in...pid=137&id=746

As soon as they turn up and I can fit them to the knee pad plates I'll post pictures. We're pretty sure they'll be the right ones, but I have to just hope. Every time I turn around, it seems the light frame L2/1 is just DIFFERENT from the rest of the pre-war line-up. *sigh*

Grayhorse · 11-22-2009, 06:35 PM

Hi all

Just another update...

I can definitely confirm that the L2/1 bikes used John Bull NO.25 kneepads. If you're running a foot shift, the ones from Austria are fine. If you're running a hand shift like me, you have to order them specially from Jeff Hunter in England. They aren't stock items and he has to make up the moulds for each order so they take 4-6 weeks. They're work out at UK45 plus p+h.

The other one is a very gentle brag and boast...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3x74VQgz98

Ignore my burblings, listen to the bike burbling! That's the restorer's "workshop manager" trying to bite the exhaust system.

cheers for now...Ross

Webby · 11-22-2009, 08:16 PM

Nice one Grayhorse
I look forward to seeing it finished

Webby

Hamr Mark · 11-23-2009, 04:55 PM

Now THAT is a sweet looking bike.

Let's see some more.