Triumphrat

TridentT160

I've been told that the valve guides go bad on all T160s. But I'm looking at one w/20K miles and the owners says it doesn't leak and doesn't consume oil, and hasn't been rebuilt. Is that possible?

GrandPaulZ

I don't get into the Tridents too much, even though I have a T150 & T160; however, I've NEVER heard of bad valve guides as a general issue...

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GrandPaulZ
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DAVE M

20K isn't much, so I can understand that it hasn't needed to be rebuilt.

Quite a few Trident owners pushed the bikes so maybe it was just enthusiastic use that caused the damage.

people don't ride older triumphs like they did when spares were easier and they were new, or just"older" bikes?

JohnA

Never actually heard that myself (not until now). I built a T160 out of boxes of bits in about 1982. Took me months but it was great fun (most of the time). I wasn't rich, so it was the only possible way of getting such a fantastic bike on very low money. Luckily it was 99% complete and all very good.

I rode it for some time - not 20000 miles I must admit, but unlike their reputation it never drank a drop of oil or smoked or rattled or missed a beat.

I really wouldn't worry about it - if it's been built properly, and maintained properly, it'll be fine. If it hasn't it probably won't be so good, but watch for the signs and if any show, rip it down & do it properly before it does itself any damage. They really are beautiful machines when everything is right, and it really isn't all that hard to get everything right.

TridentT160

Thanks for that. It may have been an issue at the start of production. I'm also wondering since the bike uses a dry clutch, can I run sythetic oil in the crankcase for longer life? I know synthetic is too slippery for bikes with wet clutches.