Miscellaneous cool English bikes.

koko64 · May 13, 2014, 03:30:38 AM

T160 was the last generation Trident back in the day. It had electric start, slanted forward cylinders, 5 speed box iirc, twin discs and new modern styling. I think it was detuned but more reliable with better lubrication and cooling. I've only seen two or three ever up close.

The Quadrant was in the English museum (4 cylinder prototype based on Trident). I took a photo which is in an album somewhere.

I bet someone will have pics.

koko64 · May 18, 2014, 10:54:06 PM

It's running a maggy pre unit.
Real board tracker.

Curmudgeon · June 01, 2014, 08:41:27 PM

Rode the M796 over to the local Classic & Vintage bike show in Powhatan, VA today. Mostly vintage Japanese but some European. The weather was lovely but the light was crap. This Bonneville lost out to a Velocette Venom.

koko64 · June 01, 2014, 08:55:41 PM

650. '71 or 72 model?
My '73 750 had the Lockheed front disc, but still had the beautiful conical rear hub and was fitted with leftover alloy side covers of the same style, but with 750 decals.

Curmudgeon · June 01, 2014, 09:26:26 PM

Quote from: koko64 on June 01, 2014, 08:55:41 PM
650. '71 or 72 model?
My '73 750 had the Lockheed front disc, but still had the beautiful conical rear hub and was fitted with leftover alloy side covers of the same style, but with 750 decals.

This one didn't have a label on the headlamp for judging purposes and I wasn't paying much attention to Triumphs in 1971 but I'd suspect you are right; T120 650. In that period I had an R69S.

koko64 · June 01, 2014, 09:46:08 PM

That styling only lasted two years.
The flatter headlight shell and wire type brackets were not popular with Triumph enthusiasts. A traditional lot. They went back to the teardrop headlamp shape in '73. '71 brought new forks and the new oil in frame chassis, which should have had a greater oil capacity than it did. Oil in the frame let them put an early airbox where the oil tank used to be, so they got rid of the iconic "pancake" air filters which looked cool, but were on borrowed time with the EPA. First year of more restrictive mufflers too.

ducpainter · June 02, 2014, 03:08:14 AM

Quote from: Curmudgeon on June 01, 2014, 08:41:27 PM
Rode the M796 over to the local Classic & Vintage bike show in Powhatan, VA today. Mostly vintage Japanese but some European. The weather was lovely but the light was crap. This Bonneville lost out to a Velocette Venom.

What...

no pics of the Velo?

koko64 · June 02, 2014, 03:55:30 AM

Show us the Venom.

Curmudgeon · June 02, 2014, 09:39:59 AM

Quote from: ducpainter on June 02, 2014, 03:08:14 AM
What...

no pics of the Velo?

OK..., but dont expect "fine art"!

On the bike I only carry a tiny C-Lux 2 for note-taking. In soft light it does a remarkable job at times, but in laser light it struggles... These are the best edits I could manage. First with a modded 850 Commando and then from the right rear.

Background story: One of my son's collector car broker partners found this and a dark grey K1 in among a collection he bought in the winter. We have two "old bike" retired mechanics who are good at bringing stale bikes back to life to at least a saleable condition, so bikes always get shipped to us. The K1 was done first and son sold it on eBay. Another collector spotted the Velocette while it was in process and made an offer on the spot. Someone had done 85% of the "survivor" restoration years ago and just stopped. A lot of the hard work had been done already. Mainly just cosmetics and missing bits needed to be sourced. This was the result. "It Lives!"