Triumph Rat Motorcycle Forums banner

1970 standard TR6 vs TR6R "Roadster"

7K views 26 replies 10 participants last post by  abmar 
#1 ·
was trying to figure differences - can anybody shed light on this?
I know TR6C had lo pipes. thanks
 
#3 ·
Hi Dave,

According to this post, not a huge difference between the two. For me, the most notable difference is the 18 tooth gearbox sprocket on the C model compared to 19 tooth for the R model. There may have been some electrical differences that allowed batteryless operation. These differences and others are listed in the 1970 workshop manual.

http://www.britbike.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=126445

Regards,
Henry
 
#5 ·
Just to clarify my question, I was asking about difference(s) between the TR6 and the TR6R. I have see articles noting that the TR6'R' designation stood for roadster, but I am unclear what specific differences that would mean there are from the standard TR6. If I understand you Mr. Pete, the R was just a marketing designation of the USA market TR6. Thanks for all your responses. I was looking at a local 1970 TR6 for sale and wondered if would be any different from '70 TR6R bikes I've seen elsewhere..
 
#8 ·
Dave a Swede would not let this get him down. Not sure about a Norwegian but I doubt it would bother him either.

AS stated before the TR6 is a Home/General Export model while the TR6R is the US model.

You are in Ohio the odds of the 70 you are looking at being a TR6 are not there. I'm not saying it cant be just MUCH more likely to be a TR6R US model.

Differences tween the two?
The US TR6R had a different oil tank which deleted the chain oiler. Handel bars and cables were different. Front fender stays were chrome on the "R" vs. black on the Home model. The rear fender was a different part number as it was drilled to accept the large rear number plate and earlier style tail lite assembly. I also believe the carb internals would be different and suspect the wiring loom carried a different part number. UK options were a QD rear wheel and Tachometer.
The info I have indicate the front fender is the same. This would be the case if the front number plate was not used. If the plate was used I would think a different part number would apply to the fender as it would have mounting holes drilled. There is a front plate part number for the '70 model part #83-0216.

Hope this helps. Now relax and go Party Hearty :party

K
 
#9 ·
Just as an add on: I've seen one "home market" (at least that's what I was told that it was) 1970, and the gas tank had a slightly different design than the US one. The top was slightly flatter with a small ridge, if you will, running down each side, probably to hold a bit more fuel; seems odd, I know, but that's how it was. It was definitely not like the '71 tanks as it had the "teardrop" profile of the classic style. Also, the bike had the "quickly detachable" rear wheel, which was like the one that came on the BSA models as standard. I've only seen 2 Triumphs with the QD rear wheel and I tried to do a swap, plus cash, but no luck.

Just a little bit more from the "village idiot's" fast fading cranial capacity: Jim
 
#10 ·
They are in effect the same bike, at least as far as the important stuff is concerned. The home and general export bikes were modified to suit the US market. This meant a different style rear lamp, lower front guard stay, a smaller sportier tank and semi western type bars. I dont think the QD wheel was offered for export.

I can post pics of the two types of tank if required.

Rod
 
#11 ·
Jim

I will not dispute they easily could have used the same tank as used on the Home model T120 painted differently. I don't have a UK parts book so just guessing on the tank..

Red

I would like to see your pictures.

K
 
#12 ·
Export tank for 6T and TR6R. Ignore the Bonneville sticker, i painted it for my mates Bonny. Still had remains of 70 spring gold paint on underside.





Home market and general export tank. Fitted 63 through 70 to 650 models.





And a comparison pic



From left to right. Home market, export 6T and TR6, export T120R and emgo repop T120R.

Rod
 
#13 ·
wow. impressive input here - thanks guys. Might be challenging go putting all things back to original if I were to pick this bike up. Will post some pics whenever (if) that happens. Happy New Year all.

Kadutz you're killin' me! lol
 
#14 ·
Redmoggy is correct in saying that they are effectively the same bike. It was just that as there was no "C" version outside the US, there was no need to add the "R" for non US markets.
The differences between the US "R" and the non US bikes were due to market preferences and legislation. US market bikes had higher bars and smaller tanks although this was not always true and there were even small differences between East and West coast bikes as the inporters were different.
For this period, perhaps the easiest way to differenciate between a US bike and a Non US bike is the rear lamp assembly. US bikes had an alloy casting that included side reflectors to meet US legislation whilst UK/Gen Export used a sheet metal (steel) stamping. Differences in rear fender part nos was accomodate the mounting holes needed.
 
#15 ·
Red

You do NICE work!!

As an update this morning I realized I do have a UK 70 parts book.

Carbs are common to UK/US bikes and the wiring harness's also are the same. As our wise friend Mr. Ballard pointed the fuel tank is different. US tank lists 3 1/2 US GAL.(16Liters) while the UK tank is listed as 4 GAL.(18Liters).


K
 
#23 ·
To my knowledge the TR6R was never called a roadster. I remember it as being referred to as a Tiger 650 to differentiate it from the T120R Bonneville. I seem to recall that the term Trophy may also have been used at some times.
The name Trophy was originally applied to the "off road" version of the Speed Twin/Tiger 100, the TR5, to celibrate the UK victory in the 1948 International Six Day Trial (ISDT) wher the main team from each country was refered to as competing for the "Trophy". The team being Triumph mounted on modified Speed Twins. The name meant little in the US so the name was change to Tiger around 1967. The name Trophy continued in other markets for a few more years.

The R did refer to Roadster and was used by Triumph in the UK. (see Hughie Hancox books). The implication was that the R version was a "Sports Road bike" hence its use on the Bonneville and Daytona 500. I believe that the reference to "TR6R" was used in the UK on occasions but I may be being mislead by reimports from the US.
 
#19 ·
I cannot answer your question other than US parts book stated US Gallons while the UK book didn't specify either US or Imp Gallon. That is why I also showed the size in Liters as both books did show those.

K
 
#20 ·
abmar

In 1970 Tiger 650 was a single carb low exhaust pipe model. The Trophy 650 was the high pipe "off road" model.

Dave NEO

Don't always believe what you read. I have read the "R" stands for Road or Roadster but have never seen any thing official. It's kind of like the "T" in T120RT no one knows what it stands for. Could be Track, could be a copy of the old Chrysler RT supercar's, could be they already had a "T" stamp in the tool box. I do know the R was for US model street bikes first used in 1960. One exception was the 1960 TR7A Bonneville.


K
 
#22 ·
Thank you, Gents. Unfortunately neither tanks were mine, did them for Mates. For me i think the big 4 gallon tank is much nicer than the smaller ones. Much more practical as well, i can get 200 miles to a tank on my TR6.

The R designation seems to always cause disscusion. The reality is it was a stamp used simply to mark the bike as export spec. US dealers then translated it to Roadster or Road in there own advertising.

Seems a good amount of home market bikes made there way to Canada.

Rod
 
#27 · (Edited)
For the period I am most familiar with - late '60s to early '70s, Canadian Triumphs were mostly the same the US bikes and had the same model designations eg T120R, TR6R for the 650s.

I do seem to remember, though, that some of the 500s at that time had the general export tail lamp assembly and some of the later 650s had the bigger general export tanks so perhaps there was some overlap.

Bruce
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top