compliments, a tip of the hat, and a standing ovation, to Triumph for making and selling one million motorcycles, and providing so damn much pleasure and satisfaction to motorcycle enthusiasts over the past 120 years
the company marks 120 years since it was originally founded, it has also just assembled the one millionth bike built since Triumph was reborn in 1990.
The first Triumph motorcycle went on sale in April 1902 fitted with a Minerva engine.
My first motorcycle was a 1952, if I remember correctly, Triumph 6T spring hub. Always had trouble with the electrical system. Of course, being Lucas what more could you expect.
Back in the late 60s I was approached by my neighbor, Mike, who offered to sell me his 1965 Triumph T6 (650 cc twin with a large capacity gas tank and single carb). He was tired of the Lucas aggravation and offered to let it go for 500 bucks with the understanding it needed a new wiring harness. I grabbed it, rolled it into my back yard and called my friend Arv. He came over with all his meters and probes, and within about 15 minutes of me kicking it and him probing he gave me a puzzled look. The problem, he offered, was between x and y, the only thing being between those points was a fuse case. For the 5th time or so we checked the fuse. It was good. With the skill of a gifted surgeon Arv cut the fuse case out of the equation, twisted the wires together and told me to kick it. The engine came to life with a sound like Handel's Hallelujah Chorus. I rode her for about two years that way, never replacing the case. Never had any Lucas aggravation either. Sold the bike for 1200 dollars and turned that into a Smith 29 and Colt Diamondback 22 (I think that’s when all the trouble started with my ex).
The one source of trouble with the bike was the wrench requirements. Neither metric or SAE wrenches fit. Triumph had their own standard. And of course the local dealer was more than pleased to sell one a set.
those tools were probably Whitworth, or BSF (British Standard Fine) as 1965 was the year the UK decided that it was time to standardize the fasteners. So, a 1965 machine would be based on earlier blueprints and fasteners from the obsolete Whitworth and BSF system. OR, because why not complicate things as we're aware the English are also British, and UK... where as us Americans are, American. So, the British also had British Standard Cycle system
My first motorcycle was a 1952, if I remember correctly, Triumph 6T spring hub. Always had trouble with the electrical system. Of course, being Lucas what more could you expect.
ReplyDeleteBack in the late 60s I was approached by my neighbor, Mike, who offered to sell me his 1965 Triumph T6 (650 cc twin with a large capacity gas tank and single carb). He was tired of the Lucas aggravation and offered to let it go for 500 bucks with the understanding it needed a new wiring harness. I grabbed it, rolled it into my back yard and called my friend Arv. He came over with all his meters and probes, and within about 15 minutes of me kicking it and him probing he gave me a puzzled look. The problem, he offered, was between x and y, the only thing being between those points was a fuse case. For the 5th time or so we checked the fuse. It was good. With the skill of a gifted surgeon Arv cut the fuse case out of the equation, twisted the wires together and told me to kick it. The engine came to life with a sound like Handel's Hallelujah Chorus. I rode her for about two years that way, never replacing the case. Never had any Lucas aggravation either. Sold the bike for 1200 dollars and turned that into a Smith 29 and Colt Diamondback 22 (I think that’s when all the trouble started with my ex).
ReplyDeleteThe one source of trouble with the bike was the wrench requirements. Neither metric or SAE wrenches fit. Triumph had their own standard. And of course the local dealer was more than pleased to sell one a set.
those tools were probably Whitworth, or BSF (British Standard Fine) as 1965 was the year the UK decided that it was time to standardize the fasteners. So, a 1965 machine would be based on earlier blueprints and fasteners from the obsolete Whitworth and BSF system. OR, because why not complicate things as we're aware the English are also British, and UK... where as us Americans are, American.
DeleteSo, the British also had British Standard Cycle system
I hadn't ever heard of Whitworth until 2009 https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/11/case-of-mystery-socket-set-solved-what.html
Delete