1973 Triumph Bonneville Cold Start

[jameshisself]

Really nice job on your retro restore. I'm doing one too that was similar starting condition but a 71 T120R. I'm doing the same 'retrofication' with the earlier 69-70 style parts. The black paint and gaitors transform that front end to a very 60ish appearance.

I gotta ask- did you do anything to change the front ride height? Mine always looks a little front high but yours looks just right on the stand and on the ground.

[NCThruxton]

--nothing special to lower the front end, stock 1971-72 fork tubes, Progressive replacement fork springs. I agree that it looked front high with the old front end on it but it might just be the gaiters adding visual "bulk" to the tubes. I really likes the way the black paint on the sliders and headlight ears brought it all together! Thanks for the positive comments, I hate that I had to sell it as it was a pleasure to ride and loved to be ridden in a very spirited manner!

[parrotbasher]

Best if you kickstart it off the stand. All the stand get bent or snapped off the frame otherwise.

[nialljamesbuckley]

gorgeous bike! how much do you think you would expect to pay for one of these that has been sitting for years?

[NCThruxton]

@nialljamesbuckley

depends on a lot of factors, condition being the big one but a project bike can fetch anywhere between $150-1200, I paid $200 for this bike from a friend in 2001 and it was rough and incomplete

[eddybullet]

good for her

[kristianlademann]

It´s a Triumph Bonneville T120R from 1970. Very nice bike. I got one myself.

[MrStubat]

@kristianlademann ...no it aint...if you check its got a duplex frame (OIF)..Id guess with the con(M)ical front brake its a 71/72 Bonnie made to look like a 1970...sure sounds like the timing is way off to me. A properly tuned triumph is always an easy starter...99 times out of 100 my 69 starts first kick

[dogtiredd]

Oh, and for the love of all things good, stop kicking the poor bloody thing while it is on the centre stand. No wonder most centre stands on old Bonnies are fucked.

[NCThruxton]

Having the back problems that I have it is easier on me to start it this way, it was those same problems that led me to sell this bike after many great years of building it and putting thousands of wonderful miles on it...I had to let my Commando go for the same reason and it still brakes my heart as I was only able to put a few hundred on it. As for the stand, I weld and fabricate and was ready to perform any needed repair, I still have the spare stand that I reinforced and repaired

[eddybullet]

beautiful beautiful mans motorcycle!

[MrStubat]

@eddybullet ...why is there some reason a woman couldnt own one...apart from threatening your masculinity??? my sister owned a 650 in 1968

[swbArchive]

@MrStubat I know you think you nailed it on the head, But its not about masculinity. Its because we dont want such a beautiful bike to get ruined.

[jaratt85]

@dogtiredd look at any of the triple videos on here and see what they kick it sitting on. you are more likely to break off the kick stand than center stand, the centter stand is so big and bulky with alot bigger bolts and bracing just so that you can start it on the center stand. We have a 65 T120C that used to be a flat track racer and theres no way in hell you could start the damned thing without a center stand, unless someone took it and put comp releases on it, which it doesnt have.

[NCThruxton]

@jaratt85

Thank you!!

[jaratt85]

@NCThruxton np, all the old nortons are the same way unless they had the axle stand. hopefully someday I will find someone with a good camera with good sound and once we get it running again, put my fathers up. having issues with the carbs sticking, they might be warped. That thing sounds amazing, large diameter 2 into 1 header with very little ballfing, honestly at decent revs you wont hear a harley over it

[NCThruxton]

@jaratt85 My Commando had the same issue but not too severe, I was able to clean the bores of the slides really well and scotchbrite the slides and was very careful not to over torque the carbs when reinstalling them. I used new carbs on the Bonneville, Amal 930s but brand new....that was nice, bolt them on and tune them!

[jaratt85]

@NCThruxton yeah tuning.. it seemed pretty out of tune in this vid, popping alot and whatnot. I dont know what ones we have on the t120c but it looks like its 2 lefts by the positioning, would make sense if it was built to turn left. weve never really torn into it in the 15 years weve had it, just points, cleaning the tank, plugs and oil, and now a zeener removal kit thats supposed to help it get better spark but its not runninng on both cyls so... need a big magneto kit for it if you ask me

[NCThruxton]

@jaratt85

it was stone cold and had no chokes, plus the exhaust spigot on the right cyl was worn so it leaked a bit...once it was up to temp that would all clear up. As for your T120, if the ticklers are on opposite sides of the carbs then they are a right and a left. Going with electronic ignition helps a lot, Boyer, Sparks etc, all big improvements as is the solid state voltage regulator, a good high output charging system is nice too. Didn't carry a tool kit anymore!

[jaratt85]

@NCThruxton I checked and the ticklers are both on the left side.. float bowls too

[dogtiredd]

A couple of points,

'73 models had front discs and not conical hubs.

'73 models had chrome mudguards, not painted.

The front mudguard looks like it is a 72 model by the brackets.

The grab rail looks '72 as well.

In fact a lot of that bike looks like a '72 model, it is definitely not a '73.

Might of been first registered in '73, but that don't make it a '73 model.

If it is in fact a 140 motor, I am guessing someone has stuck a 750 into a possibly '72 frame.

[NCThruxton]

you are correct and not correct, the bike is most assuredly a 1973 T140V Bonneville by both frame and engine numbers

I built this bike from the ground up the way I wanted it, it was a basket when I got it anyway and non numbers matching

the disk front end was knackered and I like the look of the drum and I had access to a 72 front end so I used it

the rear fender is the chrome one, sanded and painted

grab rail is a reproduction item. This bike now lives in your country.

[mantishandz]

Killer bike! How much should I look to spend for a 70s Bonneville in decent shape?

[NCThruxton]

$4000-6000 should get you a very nice bike

[lovetashkent]

@mantishandz

I got mine '69, 650cc, decent shape for 2.2K

[printedpaper]

bellissima!!

[victoria1968]

I just got a 73 Tiger (it used to be my dad's) and I'm over my head - I can't get the darn things started!) Any chance you'll do the video again showing what you did?

[NCThruxton]

I would but the bike has just been sold. Pretty simple though, with ignition off pull the clutch lever in and kick it over 2-3 times to break the clutches loose, open petcock and push the ticklers on the carb(s) till gas flows out, turn the ignition on, with the kicker roll the engine till you start to feel resistance then kick firmly but smoothly, repeat as needed. If the engine does not start after 5 or so tries something is amiss.

[NCThruxton]

If his bike has been sitting for a long period of time it will require mechanical work before starting, carbs cleaned and rebuilt, valves adjusted, oil changed, points checked, new battery, etc

[laughinggravy]

Love this. - Real men use Kickstarters! -

[NCThruxton]

As God intended!!

[Jonteeboy]

How tall is the guy on the bike?

[NCThruxton]

I'm 5 foot 7 inches

[Jonteeboy]

@NCThruxton OK, I've never sat on a triumph so I wondered how it would fit my size. I'm 5 foot 11 so I guess it would fit nice.

[NCThruxton]

at 5' 11" you'll be in good shape!

[Jonteeboy]

@NCThruxton A shame though that I can't get my motorcycle drivers licence until I'm like 20 or 21 here in Sweden.

[NCThruxton]

your time will come, look at the Modern Triumphs too, I have a 2005 Thruxton and love it, all the fun without the constant wrenching

[UgenetheFlagman]

Nice bike.. the twin leading front brake i had the same system on a 69 T120 they worked well . i have a 78T140 v got disc back and front not much difference in the stopping department

you have done a great job ,color looks good too . cheers from Australia

[NCThruxton]

Thank you mu friend, I do love this bike and it has given me many miles of enjoyment in return. The classic Brit bikes are what they are and you having oned one know exactly what I am talking about!

[A1BSA]

The bonneville one of the best classic brit bikes !

[entwistle14]

my dad had a 1979 Bonneville, awesome bike.

[NCThruxton]

I do love riding mine!

[ozzyvanhalenrox]

why was it popping? did you have the choke on?

[NCThruxton]

sticky float in one of the carbs, it's fine now, I just needed to put some miles on it

[bledagainman]

Is that really a T140? It looks like a T120.

[NCThruxton]

it is, 1973 T140V, I like the looks of the earlier bikes and this was a basket case when I got it I just decided to build it the way I wanted to......it's the stockest looking custom out there!

[Rafabenitez01]

Good job !

[bledagainman]

Nice!

[djfung]

awesome video, i love my bonnie so much. it has a mind of its own it seems. i love to ride it , i love to work on it.

[NCThruxton]

it is an addiction isn't it!

[nickl882]

hey buddy can you give me an idea of how big a job replacing a crankshaft bearing would be? thanks!

[NCThruxton]

engine has to come out, cases have to be split...it's a big job. Rebuild the whole thing while you are there

[gun131313]

after 20years riding harleys,i bought a 87 harris love it so i bought a 71 commando and 73 t140,how good are thease to ride must admit it showed me how unfit i was 6 kicks on the bonny i was stuffed

[NCThruxton]

I love mine like there is nothing else! Both the Norton and the Bonnie are such a pleasure to ride...words can not describe!

[Timpala44]

Nice bike. Are these hard and expensive to upkeep? I am thinking about getting a '79 Bonneville.

[NCThruxton]

not if you know how to turn a wrench, I love working on stuff so I'm right in my element

[venanzo7]

Bella moto!

[thunzie]

Right on brudda!