Triumphrat

09-09-2005

IMHO {having ridden t120, tr6,t100, T140, A50, A65 (BSA ask a friend) Commando & dominator and then new bonnevile & t100} . Of all the classic (pre 1990) Triumphs, the new triumphs most closely resemble TR3A ie they are stodgy & boring.

Then again all the triumphs in the early list above were unreliable & vibrated like a bad air-hammer some were fast (sometimes) but those were ALL shorter lived than a 1970's honda (but longer lived than BSA Spitfires!!!!!!!).

Original Triumphs were hard edged, short lived sports bikes. If you want modern triumph buy a Suzuki GSXR

Sorry buddies

Jon G

09-09-2005

oh yes and I forgot I also rode Triumph T25, TR5A & Tiger 90 (350 twin carb coil-iginition twin -very fragile & almost fast) and of course T150 trident & BSA Rocket 3 !! amazing smooth (BSA one almost handled - neither had brakes) & I wouldn't guarantee to keep one running - even then!!

In my view forget the history or buy a real classic like any single Velocette, any twin Vincent, Harley Peashooter, Indian (not UK import late models), Norton Dominator or Commando BSA DB models, Bridgestone 350, LC Yamaha's {This is not an exclusive list}

Or get a new bike
Jon

bosoxrider · 09-09-2005

Were you just fickle, had a short attention span, or just plain lucky?? :-D

Hal9000 · 09-10-2005

I bought a brand new Triumph TR-6 in 1964. Mechanically it was identical to the Bonneville except it had only one Carb. I chose the TR-6 over the twin Carb. Bonnie because the twin Carb. Bonnie had mechanical linkage to the twin carbs and that was always a real pain to keep in adjustment. I rode that 64 TR-6 for 4 years before trading it for a 1962 Triumph desert scrambler. The 64 was "uni construction" while the 62 had a separate transmission housing etc. which at the time was considered better for racing.

BTW my 64 TR-6 had a Red and Silver tank with the gray seat top. I believe the 64 Bonnie (which a buddy bought) had a gold and white tank. The 64 TT special was all white.

GrandPaulZ · 09-10-2005

Gray-topped seats were specified through 1966 model, and some still left the factory through the first part of '67 until stock ran out. Late '67 and all later Triumphs had all-Black seats.