Triumphrat

inane · 05-25-2007

I am having a little trouble finding the ep90 gear oil spec'd in the manual. My bike is a '74 T120 ( I know, there isn't a '74 T120 but I assure you my numbers match and everything. It's also a 5-speed. Weird, I know). Is there a good source for this or is there an appropriate substitute? Thanks in advance.

Blindboypig · 05-25-2007

Use any 80w90 gear oil - you should be able to find it at any autoparts store or an H-D dealership. Congrats on the '74 650 - those are rare birds, indeed (workers sit-in leftovers)!

inane · 05-26-2007

Thanks for the help. Can you tell me anything else about the '74 650s? Is it worth any more or less because of that? Were they just slapped together from old parts laying around? I just got the bike in November of last year and absolutely love it. Thanks again. Any info is greatly appreciated.

Blindboypig · 05-26-2007

If I remember correctly, the Meriden workers went on strike in mid to late 73 leaving the factory with orders left to be filled. I think the 750s (T140s) were promised buy they werent able to deliver them, so, yeah, sorta built from left overs. I think (I may be wrong) that the 74s were the only 650s with front AND rear disc brakes. But there was such an attempt to even get bikes to the States that they may have used anything! Congrats - dont know if its worth a lot more than a 73 or 72 (most OIF Triumphs dont hold their value like the pre-70 bikes) but they are fairly rare - not to mention EXCELLENT bikes. I have a 72 and for the money theyre an absolute bargain as far as classics go. :chug:

inane · 05-26-2007

My bike doesn't have the rear disc but it does have one in the front. I recently bought a '74 Triumph catalog on eBay and of course the T120 was nowhere to be found. All the bikes listed have the front disc and rear drum. The previous owner knew it wasn't exactly a common bike but he didn't know why. All he knew is that when he called anywhere for parts they would argue that a T120 didn't have a 5 speed. He also thought the bike was a '73 but in digging through the paperwork that came with it I found the original odometer statement from the dealer and it is clearly a '74 that was sold on June 5, 1975 from Domyan Bros Motorcycle Co. in East St. Louis, Illinois. It had 6.9 miles on it. I am pleased to have come across such a rare and wonderful bike. I'll probably never sell it unless someone offers me an obscene amount of money and even then it will have to be pretty obscene. The bike was rebuilt less then 2 years ago, has a beautiful new paint job in the proper '74 Triumph scheme and has most of the parts necessary to make it completely original again. I had intended to Cafe this bike but decided against it when I learned of its rarity. I guess I'll just have to find another project. Thanks again for the help.

ThruxACT · 05-27-2007

G'day inane,

To further research your motorcycle, there are 2 excellent publications available.

"Triumph Bonneville Year by Year" by Paul Hazeldine ISBN 1 86126 513 1 and "Triumph T120/T140 Bonneville" by Steve Wilson ISBN 1 85960 679 2.

I am sure that you will enjoy both books.

inane · 05-27-2007

Thanks. I'll look into those.