Seen the never-started '83 Triumph on Trademe?

[robinm]

Can't be many world wide that have never been started http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-263401090.htm

[rwh]

Hmm. 10 miles is a lot of pushing. Or will it have been tested on rollers or something in the factory?

Richard

[dogsnbikes]

Wouldn't say its never been started,10miles on the clock thats along way to push the bastard but they have had 27 years to do so...and the chrome coating is almost gone of the right hand side cover badge so certainly had a few arse's in the saddle

but hey its still a nice bike a end of an error so certainly collectable

[YellowDog]

Just saw it.

Amazing!

If you are buying it for your private museum, then great.

But when you can get a 10 times better brand new machine of the same model (that doesn't leak oil) why would you?

[jellywrestler]

Its little wonder that this brand had such reliability issues if they didn't even bother to start and test ride them at the factory!!!!
hey you wouldn't want to ride a Triumph powered microlight would you?

[Edbear]

Wouldn't say its never been started,10miles on the clock thats along way to push the bastard but they have had 27 years to do so...and the chrome coating is almost gone of the right hand side cover badge so certainly had a few arse's in the saddle

but hey its still a nice bike a end of an error so certainly collectable

You could be so right in a way, even though I'm sure you meant 'era'...

[The Everlasting]

Yeah certainly looks nice,I'm starting to rather like the Triumph Bikes!

[Motu]

Looks like they were trying to copy the Yamaha XS650 special....not a bad attempt,but I'd rather have the Yamaha.

[Insanity_rules]

Thats pretty hot. How many would you see like that?

[neels]

That's one shiny rear tyre!!!

[Paul in NZ]

The TSX is maybe the rarest Meriden Triumph made but - back in the day it was not wildly successful either. Too little too late and it did have quite a few differences from a normal old T140.

Triumphs were run on rollers and checked for hot spots and sometimes road tested so yes, it could have been started but its still almost unique.

The reason I would never buy one though is I dont like the TSX much and what use is it? You can't ever ride it without ruining its value so it is only ever a display piece. Just not my thing but wonderful to see a piece of history...

[RDjase]

Thats one mint Triumph !
Whats the TSX model? Different to a standard Bonnie ? or a last of the line parts bin model? I see it has mags(Lester?, but no triple light weight calipers like the 8 valve) the same as a TSS 8 valve and electric start and painted gaurds (and Yamaha RD/XJ stripes)

[Paul in NZ]

Yes - very different. 16" rear wheel, return to the teardrop tank, different details like headlight / mounts, side covers, shorter fenders etc and of course a unique exhaust. Really, this was the last days of Meriden and there was not enough money to do it properly and honestly, it was 4 or 5 years too late.

The other bike that came with it was the TSS which was an ungraded bonnie with a 8 valve head developed with Westlake and jack Wilson of Big D Cycles... It was really the 5th generation westlake top end kit and to cope the bottom end was redesigned with bigger crank journals ans it was much more rigid. The TSX was going to get that engine too as it was so much better but it was not ready in time, in fact it was never really ever ready and thats a shame because it could have been the best thing Triumph ever made. The surviving TSS bikes are fixable and highly sought after, the TSX is a curiosity....

[cs363]

[QUOTE=Paul in NZ;1129596768]The other bike that came with it was the TSS which was an ungraded bonnie with a 8 valve head developed with Westlake and jack Wilson of Big D Cycles... It was really the 5th generation westlake top end kit and to cope the bottom end was redesigned with bigger crank journals ans it was much more rigid. The TSX was going to get that engine too ......QUOTE]

Here's a pic of the prototype TSX/8 for those that are interested



Apparently they were going to market both bikes as the TSX/4 & TSX/8. Makes you wonder why they'd bother with the 4 valve when they had the 8 valve head available.

[Bender]

Horrible, horrible horrible.

Why would you do that to a Bonnie, one of the nicest looking bikes Triumph ever put out?

You'd have to go out and buy a special velour "leisure suit" to wear when riding the thing.