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o1marc's 1970 Tiger 650

95K views 1K replies 61 participants last post by  wol 
#1 · (Edited)
Finally got some decent pics of my 1970 Triumph 650 Tiger. I'll post it here to follow the restore of this bike. As some of you may know I inherited this from my brother who passed away this past April. We had a 30 year agreement that whomever went first, the other got the bikes. This one holds much sentimental value to me over the other bikes so I will keep and ride this as my daily driver. The KawaTon and the CB750 will be flipped and parted out.
The more I look at these pics the more I see it not needing much more than some much needed TLC. These Triumphs just seem so simple in design and aesthetics.




Why do Triumph front fenders always fit so poorly to the shape of the tire?





 
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#4 ·
So I've decided to go with a small dirt bike disc setup in the rear like this DR650 240mm unit. I plan on getting another swing arm and welding the lug on the arm to locate the caliper, this will eleviate the need for a brake stay bar and be a little tidier. Looks like there is no way to get around making a custom rotor carrier. I like the 2:00 position of the caliper.



 
#7 ·
Post #4 didn't make sense because I forgot to mention the plans for the build in this thread. As some of you know from another thread, my plan is to do a Kimtab/triple disc set up on this first. I should have all the parts to start the conversion within a week and will post the front end build at that time.
 
#8 ·
Well today started off good when my axle and calipers arrived. Then went down hill pretty rapidly. The calipers are too wide and contact the spokes of the wheels on the Ceriani's. Hope is that the Triumph forks are a tad wider and will give me some clearance. I may have to machine a bevel on the back of the caliper to make them work. I really want to be able to utilize all Triumph parts for this swap.
 
#9 ·
For the life of me I can't understand why you seem fixated on using parts from a modern Hinckley triumph branded motorcycle on a Meriden bike . You'd be far better of using brembo or ap brakes as that is what the original company later used . Although I am still not convinced by the whole enterprise.

Just to repeat what you've already been told, the "triumph" callipers that you have have absolutely nothing in common with the bike that you are modifying. Even a set of 70's Japanese would probably be better. Just find the best set of components that fit when building a custom bike.
 
#10 ·
I'm sorry, I thought I was building me a bike. I'm sorry my plan doesn't meet your approval. I want to keep it as much Triumph as possible and like the Triumph name on the caliper. I don't care that they are not a vintage caliper as much as I care that they say Triumph on them
 
#12 · (Edited)
I agree that it's your bike, but you are fixated on the word Triumph.
i'm in no way trying to tell you not to do something, if you wanted to chop/bob/cafe or restore, it's your bike ( although I reserve the right to not like it)
I am just trying to point out the engineering difficulties of trying to blend bits from two completely different companies

you can buy Triumph Bra's as well, although fitting one would be an interesting experience.

the Triumph logo on the new caliber is different to the one on the bike, so the need for a caliper to carry a logo is easily sorted by using a better calliper and adding the correct logo for the bike in question.
AFAIk the callipers that you are fitting are made by Nissin and are common on loads of Jap bikes
if it happens that they are the correct size, then go for it, but choose the brake suitable for fitting, not because it has a badge stuck on

it's like expecting a part from a Polaris owned Indian MC to fit a 30's Scout

I used to watch a band called Dr Feelgood in hot sweaty little venues. They are still going - but nobody in the band is an original member. The band now is little better than covers band, living off the hits of others.
 
#13 ·
I like the idea of using modern branded Triumph parts on an older Triumph -- its something i was considering on a "hooligan" bike that i will be building after my current rat bike build (both T140s)- The Triumph logo looks really good on the calipers -- changed my mind when i got a pair of lightweight Grimecas cheap on fleabay ----- o1marc ; if you use slightly larger diameter discs that may throw the calipers out far enough to clear the Kimtabs
 
#14 · (Edited)
I'm trying to keep expenses down by using what I have available. The Kimtab has factory 12" rotors on it already. It would be easier for me to space the rotor out than to source appropriate larger rotors. Also the wider rotor hides the beauty of the Kimtab, look at my KawaTon with it's massive brakes.

Today I got the axle fitted to the wheel:


Waiting on the lower legs and rotors to show up now, I hate waiting on shipping.

They got carried away on the diameter of rotor on this one, completely hides the Kimtab behind it.
 
#16 ·
So i got paid for the sandcast frame and decided to not procrastinate at all. I'm heading to Calif. first thing Tues. to pick up my new baby and bring her home to Ga. Not really looking forward to the drive, but the payoff is worth it.
 
#17 · (Edited)
Well I headed out at 9am on Tues headed west. I had been told how unfun Texas was to drive through and should avoid it. I saw no need to avoid it as it was just another state I was passing through and would make no difference if the time spent was one state or 3. As luck would have it I hit Texas as it was getting dark and the road was the same as any other road in any other state in the dark. The one huge advantage Texas had was when I saw the first posted 80mph speed limit sign which meant I could haul ass at around 90 for 8 hours, made up some serious time that way. Rolled into my sisters house from Dawsonville, Ga. (North central Georgia) to Indio Cal. in 28.5 hours (2100 miles). Got to her house and when she got home from work went to look at what all I would be loading. I had already checked price and availability for a 4x8" Uhaul trailer to load all the crates of parts in while the bikes were in the bed of the truck. The trailer would have run me $370 I didn't want to spend. She insisted I would need it.When I got the where she had everything stored in a horse trailer I found most of the milk crates were not full and ended up consolidating them into 4 milk crates. Also had a complete CB750 front end, from the handlebars to the wheel, another spare Borrani wheel and tire (spokes cut out), and a Cb750 rear wheel. 3 different parachutes, a couple of helmets in boxes, etc. I looked at it all and decided I could easily fit it all into my truck bed and started to consolidate the crates and start packing it in the truck. Got it all in and as I drove off first noticed I was at full capacity and with the worn out shocks on the truck had no difficulty bouncing off the frame bump stops. Started think how fun the ride home was going to be because i would not be able maintain the 70mph I averaged on the way back. I had no spare tire, but good tires on the truck and didn't want to get stranded anywhere away from home, that always sucks. So I'm loaded and ready to go when I realize it is Thursday and New Years Eve and there is NFW I'm getting on the road tonight. So I go to a little NYE party with my sister, they celebrate the New York NYE so they can go to bed 3 hours earlier. So I got a good nights rest at my sisters and headed out Fri. morn at 8am. Coming home she recommended I take I-8 along the Mexican border to avoid the 45 mile uphill grade leaving Coachella Valley on the I-10. At the Calif. border I hit a Border Patrol inspection station where the guys immediately started asking about the cool bikes in the back as I was in line at the booth. Cars started stacking up behind me as they were more interested in the bikes than the traffic. That's when one said "would you mind pulling over here and parking" , I figured "Oh ****" here comes the full inspection where they want to unload everything and make a mess searching for drugs and what have you. I was about to be pissed when I asked " What for" and he replied " I want to talk more about your bikes, they are really cool", I said "I'd rather not, I'm on a schedule and just starting and have a long ways to go." He said " That's cool" and we wished each other Happy New Year and I was again off and running. I make it into Texas where I see a Trooper SUV in the left lane and I slow to 70mph in an 80mph zone. They start to slow up to let me pass on the right and then speed back up and throw on the brakes as they near my side. Here I am thinking "Here we go a again", but they notice something west bound and whip a U and go the other way, Whew, saved by someone else doing something. Later in the night I see another Texas Trooper going under the speed limit and pass them at 70 in an 80 and they drop in behind me for a mile or so and then throw on the lights. I pull over and they come to my passenger door and knock on the window. I can't reach the door to open it because I am strapped in. I tell them to open the door. At this point I'm to sure if I'm talking to a male or a female, it was SNL Pat if you know what I mean? She informs me that the broken taillight lens is showing my brake light as white and not red on that side. I tell her I have the lens ordered but it hadn't arrived before I had to leave on this round robin. She then starts quizzing me on all that is in the truck, So I have to explain my brothers passing away and how I'm picking up inherited property and taking it home to Ga.. That's when she asks "What's in tis big green canvas bag in the bed of the truck" I think for a second and answer "Oh that, it's filled with parachutes" She asks "Your brother was a sky diver" I replied Not as much as I am so I have a use for his." She finally says she is giving me a warning for the taillight and sent me on my way. At the last gas stop (every 3.5 hours) I notice the right rear was low on air and after checking realize it only has 20psi in it and I don't want to be doing 80mph with a 1000b load with no spare and only 20psi. So I pull off at the next exit to find air.It pisses me of that they charge $1 tout air in your tire. The first station has a pump with coins jamming the hole and no nozzle on the hose. This goes on for approx 50 miles and about 20 station before finding one station that was closed but had a air machine that was only$.50and had a nozzle, I pop in 2 of the remaining 4 quarters I have and wait for for a response which of course never comes. And now I won't have $1 for the next one and will have to break a $20 to get $.50. I pull into a truck stop and find every truck pump has a 2 air hoses, Eureka, only to find the compressor is not working so none of the hoses have air. This is getting ridiculous. I pull to the next station and find a working pump, but this time it is $1.25, FML, I go in and get the $20 broken and go out to the pump to put in my 5 quarters only to find the pump turn on after only 2 quarters, all right, things are looking up. I put the required amount in the low tire and go to the there side and check it, t's a few lbs. low and start to fill it, get about 2 seconds before the pump shuts off. It's enough, I'm back on the road after wasting a bunch of gas and about an hour or more of time.
I pulled over at about 7am and got 1.5hours of sleep in the front seat and made it home finally at 8:30pm, 34.5 hours 6 hours longer than the trip out. The trip out I did non stop by myself for anything but gas and didn't get any sleep until my 41.5 hours up. Needless to say I am happy to be back home and looking forward to the New Year.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program about building the bike.
BTW. I got home to find they had shut my electricity off on the 28th, the day I left, because I hadn't paid the bill yet. Normally they don't shut off until the 2-3 of the month and I would have had it handled by that time. So here I am home, no lights, no heat, dead cell phone, dead computer and it's sat. night. I call and the automated system wants the past due balance, the $40 cut off fee and the $90 turn on fee. I hang up and think about what my options are and maybe I should wait until Mon when the office opens to discuss the bill. I'm thinking "now I really need to get a bunch of work done on Sun. so I can pay the fees. I realize I can't turn the oven on for work so I then call back and switch to the guy who does the turn ons after hours. He tells me there is a $250 late night turn on fee I would have to pay. I ask when that fee starts, he says "at 9pm" I ask what time is it now? He says 9:03. I say "can't you cut me some slack?" He says no , it's all computer controlled, but if I call back in the morning after 8am it drops back to the $90. I'm using my neighbors phone because mine is dead, he offers to allow me to plug my extension cord in his outside socket so I can at least power up a light and charge my phone and computer. It's at this point I realize the power has been off for 5 days and the chances of salvaging any food in the fridge is probably nil, I was pretty much right, the only saving grave was the fact that as soon as I left for Calif. Ga. dropped from the 70's to freezing and it's been cold in here and no one has opened the door at east keeping the cold air in the fridge. I realize I can't take a shower cause there is no hot water. I can't take care of any of my business on the computer because the electric modem is down with no electricity. So my only option was to throw in one of the movie CD's I brought back from my brothers property and get into bed and warm it with my body and fall asleep to the movie which should be quick after the long trip. Had the power restored first thing this morning and am back on track. All the bad luck has passed and 2016 will be a banner year. I have my bikes and parts and ready for 2016 to be a riding year.
 
#18 ·
I had hopes of maybe wet sanding and clear coating the original paint if it was still in decent shape. It's not even close. It's total fubar and will need to be stripped and repainted. Inside is as bad as any I've seen in awhile.


If you look closely you can see the gold pinstripe that separates the black and green (Spring Gold), the clear has shrunk so much it has pulled the gold pinstripe over almost a full 1/4" into the black, you can see the faded old location of the pinstripe.
 
#19 ·
Looks like I might be building a Bonny instead. Got my babies home and find only a Bonny head in the parts and not a Tiger head. So I either have to source another head or another carb/cable. The tank inside has bigger rust than I've ever seen in a tank, the seat is in near perfect condition with the exception of a nick dead center rear in the piping and the plastic trim that was black is fading back to the chrome underneath. It would be expensive rechroming or rebuilding the wheels so I'm moving forward with the Kimtab swap. I'll get better pics later.

 
#21 ·
For years I thought my 67 500 Daytona was actually a Trophy because they didn't win Daytona with it till that year and the 68 was then called the Daytona. As it turned out they did win Daytona in 66and the twin carb unit was called Daytona for 67. As soon as I'm done with this one I'm going to look to replace my 500. I paid $400 for mine in 1972, that won't likely happen again.

Here's the truck as I left my sisters:
 
#23 ·
Today the set of 70 legs I bought showed up. I'm already seeing the nickel and die you to death scenario. The lower legs came complete with everything but the axle cap nuts, which I assume are Whitworth. I figured no big deal, I'd rather use the allen bolts from the set of chrome early legs that I have, I'll just pull the studs and spin them in. No such luck, different thread pitch so back to looking for $1 worth of nuts that'll probably cost me $15. The shape of the leg is different than the Certain so it will require I take the rotor bolts to the mill and shave the heads of the bolts and nuts to clear the leg during rotation. I shaved off the old drum brake lug. Now to find an appropriate pair of calipers.

 
#27 ·
No, as mentioned am not modifying any original parts. Used parts were purchased for the wheel swap. I probably will replace the tubes themselves due to rust so I will just pull the whole fork assembly from the triple trees and pop in the new fork/wheel/brake package
 
#28 · (Edited)
Due to the round lower leg and the fact there is no wheel spacer because the axle is captured on the stock wheel I will need to machine a "flat" on the face of the fork and fab some spacers to locate the Kimtab. Looking at a set of 95 Ninja calipers. I'll grind the Tokico name off and add a Triumph decal when I powder coat them.
 
#29 · (Edited)
Today I had to coat some parts with a chrome powder so I went ahead and prepped the fork springs I got with the lower legs and coated them also. I know they aren't seen, but it keeps em from rusting.like they were. Wasn't till I took the pic that I noticed they are not a matched set. one is 14 coils and the other 17 coils.

These springs:


To this:
 
#31 ·
Just plain Columbia Coatings Chrome powder coat. I'm not going to clear coat it as a test. For that matter, I probably won't even be using these as they are not a pair and I'm sure I'll have to buy a pair to get a match for which ever spring I decide is correct.
 
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