What I did with my classic Triumph today?

927140 Views 10039 Replies 407 Participants Last post by Dave UK, 12 h ago

Rathlindri

Discussion Starter · Jan 19, 2011 (Edited)

As a Hinkley triple owner (don't hate me guys!) I sometimes also read the threads on that section of the Triumph Rat forum and they have a long running thread "what I did to my classic triple today" or something very similar. Posters put up a few lines about what they did with their 'bikes that day..... polished it, rode it, rebuilt it, crashed it, etc etc you get the idea, anything goes really.

Anyway, thought it might be worth starting a similar thread here as I'm selling the "modern" 'bike and concentrating on my classics.
I'll start it off....

Today I got back my speedo which I'd sent to the UK for repair. It was working but had a lot of needle "flutter". Looks like new (still) and can't wait to try it out....

OK who's next?

Richard

Reactions: 1

101 - 120 of 10040 Posts

loctitekid

· #101 · Feb 12, 2011

Finished putting tank sealer in the '59 tank.
Cleaned up the '69 tank ready for painting and resale.
Tried out a drill buffing attachment - just acceptable, not sufficient improvement over hand polishing to justify the cost.

Waiting for parts sucks.

Stratofaster

· #102 · Feb 12, 2011

I took the Thunderbird out for a ride. When I got back I decided to do a little work on the old Bonneville.

I adjusted the slack out of the chain. Then I removed and dismantled the carbs, which is an easy thing to do. I just put them in baggies and will get to them for a full cleanup later.

For now, the T-bird is for riding and the Bonnie is for fiddling with. I intend to have the old girl cleaned, lubed and ready to roll in March.

gatornapper

· #103 · Feb 13, 2011

Finished "Bonneville V" tins & installed them.

Took the T120V up and down the drive (1 mile) just to warm the oil a little, changed oil & filter, checked gearbox oil (good), installed two new front turn signal lenses - all ready for tomorrow's almost 60 degrees and as many miles as I can put on her......

gatornapper

· #104 · Feb 13, 2011

63 great, twisty miles in 60 degree sun, last 40 with a friend and my bro-in-law in his crazy trike following:

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DaveDone

· #105 · Feb 14, 2011

That sounds great GN. I am starting to believe there is another riding season coming.

Wild trike ! tell me, does he wear a seatbelt or helmet? or neither?

gatornapper

· #106 · Feb 14, 2011

DaveDone said:
That sounds great GN. I am starting to believe there is another riding season coming.
Wild trike ! tell me, does he wear a seatbelt or helmet? or neither?

Dave - has to wear helmet, no seatbelt that I know of - but I'll check! Kinda like wearing a seatbelt on a bike - don't want that.

HATE having him ride with us......whenever/wherever we stop, he gets ALL the attention, especially from the women! And it ain't him! He's 3 years younger than I am and looks 10 years older....I don't care what kind of bikes are with us - customs, antiques, restorations - his trike gets all the attention.......

What's really weird is coming up behind him in a lane next to him....for quite some time, it looks like the rear half of a VW running on one rear axle and no front half. You can't see the HD Wide Glide front end, and it looks like 1/2 a VW is balanced on a rear axle.......your brain does as "this does not compute"/double-take. I'll post a couple more pics on my "72 Bonnie...." thread.

He rode bikes for years, but arthritis prevented him from being able to hold a two-wheeler up at a stop.

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MoBe

· #107 · Feb 14, 2011

I guess it`s the "backseat of a car" effect it has on the the women,probably nothing to do with the driver really.

:v_SPIN

jimmy bush

· #108 · Feb 14, 2011

I'll bet that thing can do some monster wheelies.

gatornapper

· #109 · Feb 14, 2011

Jimmy - actually I don't think so......it's an automatic so my B-i-L doesn't have to shift....if it was stick, I'm sure it could pop them easily with that light front end popping the clutch.....

But hey, I'm going to ask my B-i-L if he's ever tried it! And if he hasn't, that he needs to!

jimmy bush

· #110 · Feb 14, 2011

Better put some wheelie bars on it.

jimmy bush

· #111 · Feb 15, 2011

I got tired of waiting on the powder coater. He had my frames for 4 months and still couldn't tell me when I could expect them so I picked them up and took them to another establishment that promised them in two weeks. We'll see.

DaveDone

· #112 · Feb 16, 2011 (Edited)

ride today !

Short one, only about 4 miles. Just enough to heat up the oil before a change. I am glad to say the mud flap helped some. Finally a break in the cold!

Pics just for pics sake

Oh, btw no rattle in the front brakes.

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canuck3134

· #113 · Feb 17, 2011

WOW, great looking bike DaveDone!!!! Nice custom but still looks like it should.

Do you mind sharing the mods you did to the back of the bike?

Glad at least someone can ride, we;'re expecting another 4" of snow tomorrow.

jimmy bush

· #114 · Feb 17, 2011

I took the studs and tappet blocks out of a 750 cylinder and dropped it and a crankshaft at the machinist to be checked in preparation for the next project. Took a broken speedo glass out and left it with a local glass business to have some made. I have two instruments with broken glass so I ordered 3 to have a spare.

roadduster2

· #115 · Feb 17, 2011

The weather has finally made a turn for the better this week here in the South. Took the Tiger & the Bonneville out for some long rides. It has allowed me to get myself charged up to ride even more. Lots of gravel & salt residue on the mountain roads, from the heavy snows this winter. Not used to that but expected it as we don't usually get as much snow as we have lately. Both bikes are running better than ever, 'Get yer motor runnin', head out on the highway, lookin' for adventure and whatever comes my way' nothin like cool air blowing over an air cooled engine, and enjoying the sounds, smell the fresh air, and enjoy the views.
Hope you all can ride soon too.
Life is short, live it to the fullest.
roadduster

DaveDone

· #116 · Feb 17, 2011

canuck3134 said:
WOW, great looking bike DaveDone!!!! Nice custom but still looks like it should.

Do you mind sharing the mods you did to the back of the bike?

Glad at least someone can ride, we;'re expecting another 4" of snow tomorrow.

Hi canuck3134. I tried to PM you on this but I guess my settings are off

Anyway, it's just a Harley rim on a triumph hub with some lowering blocks, old T Rat forum thread here: shocks.
The seat, aftermarket break light and 60s chain guard add to the lower look. I am sorely tempted to chop that rear frame loop, but I keep putting it off.

MoBe

· #117 · Feb 17, 2011

Dave please don`t chop the rear frame loop,any future owner will be gratefull I assure you!Besides your bike looks just fine with it,honest.

canuck3134

· #118 · Feb 18, 2011

Thanks Dave. I like it the way it is but to each his own.

What I did today... Opened up a box of goodies from Ace Classics. Gonna sort out my primary drive first and then carry on with the cosmetics.

gatornapper

· #119 · Feb 18, 2011

'72 T120V - rode about 100 miles today, about 25 with 72BonnnieCafe as we rode to my Trumpy mechanic friend Ray so I could introduce him and 72BC - 72BC spent hours just saying "WOW!" as he drooled at all the old Triumph frames, forks, tanks, bikes, parts, cylinders, heads, handlebars.....If i continue this it will last three pages so I'll stop.

Needless to say, they hit it off great and are now best buds. I expect 72BC will be hanging out at Ray's even though it's about 75 minutes away from him.

Between us in our 30 mile ride, we had 3 stops for repairs! Take too long to explain, but two were on his sweet '72 Tiger bobber involving a) magneto kill wire; b) spacer at rear of axle adjuster on hardtail frame. One was on my balancing tube between two sides of intake manifold - came off while riding!

Otherwise a great day riding with a fellow Rat on a gorgeous warm 68 degree day in February.

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Red1959

· #120 · Feb 18, 2011

jimmy bush said:
I got tired of waiting on the powder coater. He had my frames for 4 months and still couldn't tell me when I could expect them so I picked them up and took them to another establishment that promised them in two weeks. We'll see.

Powder Coat lines only take an hour to run a part through. Chances are they were shooting a different color than you wanted and had to wait for the color change. Personally I'd stay away from powdercoating on frames,gas tanks and fenders,....... Especially frames , where grease collects in the tubing over the years. It can really mess up a powder line!

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