One for Motu

[Ghost Lemur]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...n-83875829.htm

From the listing...

No, not a misprint.... NEVER RIDEN!!!1971 Triumph Trail Blazer. Was in it's original crate untill 1986, and displayed ever since. Been pushed around a total of 5 miles.
Couple of small dents and scratches, but nothing worth adressing.
Starts and runs great, all electrics work fine.
Original hand book in mint condition.

NEVER BEEN TOUCHED UP.
NEVER BEEN RIDEN.


Mmmmm a 35 year old virgin bike. You'd just want to buy it and immediately head for the nearest gravel playground, wouldn't you?

[riffer]

WOW
ten characters

[ArcherWC]

WOW
ten characters

OMG

[Paul in NZ]

They couldn't sell the poxy things when they were new....

That version was semi OK but a flattie had the earlier one and it was a shocking thing. The engine is based on the old BSA B25 (it is a BSA effectively) which was based on the B15 / Tiger cub and it was hotted up to try and keep up with the Jap bikes. Engine wear was the fastest thing on them...

They can be made sweet but it requires time and $$$$$$

There was another one restored by Andrew at M/C restorations in chch on tard me a while back at vast expense. Nuts - costs the same to restore a 650...

[Timber020]

Thats quite a find.

Perhaps a bike so bad they havent found anyone who wants to ride it in the last 36 years.

[Motu]

Yeah I've been looking at that one,but as Paul says they were never popular.I'd rather have the 500cc version,and ultimatly the 500MX....that was the last serious 4 stroke MX bike left,until Husky made the first lightweight 4 stroke that could take on the 2 strokes.

Or for me - the Triumph Adventurer or Trophy Trail,which used the unit 500 Triumph twin in the same frame.In 1973 I withdrew $600 from my bank on friday night,I was going in that monday morning to put down 1/3 deposit on an Adventurer,they were just over $1800 new.I had to make a decision between the Triumph,the Ducati 450 Scrambler or a TS400.But on saturday morning I saw a bike advertised in the paper,had a look,went for a ride and bought it with the cash in my pocket.It's a pity I missed out on having a nice new bike,but a few days later I entered into a phase of my life where a nice new bike would be the last thing I wanted,let alone a debt.

[Paul in NZ]

Agreed..

The Adventurer / Trophy Trail were the last really great innovative british bikes doing what the brits did best, cobbling a solution out of a few good bits. It was flawed but the concept was very very good and it is still a bike I aspire to. The best chassis (BSA MX) with the last Triumph 500cc twin. Possibly the best 500cc engine the brits ever made.

The only other British bike I'd rather have (well maybe a T140D Special) from the later era is the odd T140 Tiger Trail made to the french market. I have seen one in NZ and apart from the seriously ugly exhaust I loved the idea.

The last B50MX bikes - oh baby - the last hairy chested real mans air coolled dirt bike. The very last of them were badged as Triumphs (Triumph TR5MX Avenger) and had these weird as twin mufflers. They come up for sale occasionally but again, while you can make them run very well (early 70's a Mead and Thomkins B50 won the Barcelona 24 Hour race) but it costs. The gearbox is borderline. This motor went on to become the CCM monsters....

I had a spin on a TR5MX and it was a very scary bike....

I owned what I considered the best of the series, a 1970 BSA B44VS but like all these things I sold it to buy something else I no longer have... (idiot)

[Motu]

It may not look it from this end....and despite what the British knockers have to say - but these things were pretty state of the art back then.It was an excelent handling frame,carried the oil as well,the chain was adjusted at the swingarm pivot so no way could the rear wheel be out of aligment from adjustment or movement.Rickman used this method too,but used a selction of eccentic washers,the BSA frame used a pinned cam,really really hard to get it wrong.Conical hubs and alloy tanks,Girling rear shocks which were the best you could get in those days.The forks were a copy of the Ceriani and far better than anything from Japan.Really only let down by the engine - a good 2 stroke would of made the world of difference.The British industry could crank out a new frame,tanks and hubs easily enough,but in the early '70's there was no way they could make anything but an outdated motor.

I mentioned my choices were the Triumph,Ducati and Suzuki TS400.Even back then my thoughts were set on a big road going dirt bike,I wanted to ride fast on gravel,do tracks and beaches.The TS400 was only $900,half the price of the Triumph,but nowhere near as good a bike,but it was the biggest road legal dirt bike the Japs made.

[Paul in NZ]

I mentioned my choices were the Triumph,Ducati and Suzuki TS400.Even back then my thoughts were set on a big road going dirt bike,I wanted to ride fast on gravel,do tracks and beaches.The TS400 was only $900,half the price of the Triumph,but nowhere near as good a bike,but it was the biggest road legal dirt bike the Japs made.

A friend bought a new TS400 'Apache' and the rear wheel shook it'self to bits coming back from the cold kiwi - of course being japanese that never actually happened...

But yes..... The TS400 engine in the triumph chassis? It was a bit low to the ground for some...

[Motu]

Just that stupid underslung exhaust,without that there was enough clearance.I did end up owning a well used TS400,and the exhaust was always a problem,I was contantly hatching a new plan to keep it on.Once it came of on the dirt track,dropping out of the exhaust port,launching the bike into the air,ripping the rear bracket off the frame - and according to wittnesses damn near taking my head off! It was nowhere near the bike the Triumph was,new or totaly worn out.I'd still like either again though.I never had an Adventurer of course.....but the Rickman was the next level up,the real thing not some production make beleive.

[Brian d marge]

You still can buy a British off road bike , new with 12 months warranty

Enfield
and with either the Trails kit or the Saxon MX kit you can have quite a competitive machine

I am currently 1/2 way through building one for Next years VMX .. a friend of mine races one in America and has done well.

As for that tarde me bike ... 5k for a dog of a 250??? ( dog is a bit of a harsh term but he has been advertising that thing for a fair ole while now !!)

Stephen

[Bonez]

You still can buy a British off road bike , new with 12 months warranty

Enfield
and with either the Trails kit or the Saxon MX kit you can have quite a competitive machine

I am currently 1/2 way through building one for Next years VMX .. a friend of mine races one in America and has done well.

Stephen

Wouldn't that front guard clog up a bit?

[Motu]

Trials,not MX.

[Brian d marge]

There are other options , but yes I often wondered that , the Rickman brothers ( bike born of many/ unknown parents) has the guard close to the wheel and yes in the mud it would clog

I havent got there yet .. ( I still have to survive the wife seeing the Visa next month ,,,, but aiming for March the 2nd )

Stephen

[Bonez]

There are other options , but yes I often wondered that , the Rickman brothers ( bike born of many/ unknown parents) has the guard close to the wheel and yes in the mud it would clog

I havent got there yet .. ( I still have to survive the wife seeing the Visa next month ,,,, but aiming for March the 2nd )

Stephen

Will be interesting to see the finished article. Good luck.