My new old Bonnie

[akmnstr]

my brother just got one of the newer bonnie's. he told me you should try www.triumphrat.net

nice bike, best of luck  [moto]

Thanks Hydra, I'll check them out. 

[akmnstr]

Those old Bonnies were great in their day. As far as looks go they have a timeless style to them. However cool they are they still have their limitations. Get it up to 60 mph and the footpegs feel like they're 6" in diameter they buzz so much. I remember the vibration coming through the  grips too. Brakes? Tires? Meh. You simply ride within your/it's limits and you'll be good. They are not meant to be ridden like a modern bike.

Good advice and an accurate description of how the bikes feel.  It took just one 4 mile long ride to come to the conclusion that they aren't to be
ridden like a modern bike. 

I have new respect for the 60s cafe racer dudes.  I can't imagine pulling a ton on my Bonnie.  Back in those days riders
were made of harder stuff and had bigger balls. 

[josh12730]

mine...

I'll take it!!!!

You might want to check out the Ton Up Club forums. They have a lot of info for you

[Howie]

WOW!  Congrats!

[c_rex]

I will also add to this discussion the following because:
a) I've mixed Jack Daniels and Jim Beam- anything is possible now
b) I'm moved to do so
c) I've forgotten... oh
d) it gets me another posting count (?)
e) I've mixed Jack Daniels and Jim Beam- anything is possible now (dang I haven't even missed a key yet so no backspace-correct, must administer more of the above)
anyhow...

I've spent more on my BST wheels than I did on my T120R, which is how I prefer to refer (nice rhyme eh, dammit- just had to back up and correct) to my Triumph and it brings me much more pleasure than said wheels.  Don't get me wrong- BST's on your Ducati will make you smile for miles but owning one of these old bikes is:
a) extremely affordable
b) a piece of history
c) a helluva a lot of fun/cool

If you've got any interest in them at all just watch www.cycletrader.com for your area and you're bound to find one at a very affordable price.  You'd be surprised to find out how readily available parts are and they're super simple mechanical endeavors as such endeavors go.

You can find Jack Daniels and Jim Beam at your local liquor store, and yes by now I've had to make several corrections to my typing.  I now return you to your regularly scheduled program.  Go USA!

[Xiphias]

Goddamn..makes you realize why 'bikes are  important...

[toaster]

me and my dad are in the process of fixing his 78 t120 bonneville (i think).  by fixing it, i mean we took it to our classic bike expert buddy to have him do it for us.  he got it back in 1990 as a trade for a paint job on a buddys car.  it is all original and has 1600 and some change miles.  back in 89ish someone hooked up the battery wrong and it melted the wire all throughout the harness.  the 78 is nowhere as cool and important as yours, but its still an old triumph.

ps.  make sure youre careful if/when you have to mess with the battery, the old triumphs had a positive ground setup.

[lazarus7]

ive got a 69 and a 71 t120r and tr6c and a 2006 speed triple...
checkout http://www.thespeedtriple.com/Forums/
worth the trip for the entertainment value alone...
the most profane, schizophrenic, hilarious bunch of enthusiasts youlll met online....

[supertjeduc]

I like that bike ,if it was mine i would try to get it like this one (i know i like to change things a bit)

[c_rex]

no doubt the Triton was the "perfect" blend of the T120R (Bonne) motor and the Norton frame, but are magnitudes of difficulty harder to find in good shape and more expensive at that.  The Triumph frame was spongy compared to the Norton featherbed but if I were to try and build one now I'd go with an even more modern material replica of the Norton frame.  You can buy them separately or as a whole bike but they're not cheap. 

Off the shelf Bonne's are remarkably easy to find.  If I remember the story correctly the original Triumph manufacturer got their hands on a huge supply of surplus aircraft aluminum after WWII in the form of aircraft motors which resulted in cheaper than the competition, which drove prices down-demand up, and supply overruns once the Japanese took over the commercial market (starting with the Cub and CB I believe). 

Anywho- you can also find some killer tanks crafted by a guy in Sweden if I recall.  These bikes were the Monsters of their day in customizeability and could be considered as the predecessor to the genre of 'naked' bikes as we know it.

[akmnstr]

The Tritons coolness factor is off the charts. 

Its seems odd to me, but I feel obligated to keep this bike rather original.  If it weren't in such good shape I'd feel like I could make it into
anything that I want.  Before finding my Triumph I had it in mind to find an old Suzuki 750GS and turn it into a cafe racer.  But what I am finding out
is, that just to get this bike into top shape will take a good bit of work.  The carbs have some issues and are much different than anything I have worked on.  There is something wrong with the front brakes.  I know they are not suppose to be as good as modern discs, but the minimal rear has much more stopping power.  I took the brake apart this weekend to scuff it up a bit.  Everything inside looked nearly new but there is still near zero braking power.   

This weekend we did a ride to the ice cream parlor, about 3 miles away.  I never knew such a short trip could be such an adventure.  The engine died 4 times and of course has to be kicked several times to re-start.  I have to remind myself constantly to brake with the left foot but I still use the right and end up jamming on the transmission.  The front brakes alone are not enough to stop the bike and I have to hope and pray to stop it in time for red lights.  After ice cream I took the long way home.  First, I forgot part of the starting drill, didn't turn on the gas so
it ran out of gas in the middle of a busy street.  There are some good curves on this route and I made sure I was at a moderate speed for the corners well in advance.  It handled the corners okay except when I hit a few bumps while slightly leaned.  Not bad, just mildly uncomfortable. I was going to ride through our local park but decided that would be too stressful and headed for home.  It was maybe an 8 mi ride and I was stress out. 

[NuTTs]

Beautiful Bonnie!

c-rex, that Triton looks mighty hot also.

[somegirl]

She's a beaut, akmnstr!

[Capo]

I built this one circa 1970.

[Kilgore Trout]

If you havent found it yet,  BritBike.com is a huge site for all things Brit.
Regarding riding the bike,You will learn how in no time. Look over the brakes one more time and be sure your cable ends are good. Also lots of oil in cables.    And squeeze hard on front brake.

 Can I post a view of my Norton?


 I ride both and it only takes a few shifts to rember what bike im on. And Im good for the ride.
I have had this Norton since 83 so when I got the Monster I taped two fingers togeather so not to over brake on the Ducati and slide out.
 Also I almost rear ended a car forgetting I was on the Norton..

Kilgore