Fork diameter on a '73 Bonnie?

[mnkyboy]

Just took a punt and brought a 73 bonne t140 in the states sight unseen. ( not here for the WTF are you doing lecture. Already had that)
Anywho. Anyone happen to know the size so I can source some clip ons before I go get it and ride it. Or should I just get some clubmans?

[Paul in NZ]

Look - its totally up to you, so lets just call this fair warning?

First - clip ons. Pretty sure a T140 is 35mm (earlier than 71 is 33mm)

http://www.britcycle.com/products/ha...handlebars.htm

Triumphs of the era had the foot controls a little further forwards than was ideal to suit american tastes. It will be difficult to ride with stock pegs etc and clip ons, invest in some rear sets too....

If the bike has sat a few years then it will be a VERY good idea to clean out the sludge trap in the crank and fit an oil filter. Cleaning the sludge trap will mean an engine strip down so allow some dosh for that.

Check the engine #'s. If its a very early T140 it might be one of the 724cc ones and the parts supplier will need to know that. There was a mod to the 5 speed box to these early ones as well, best sus that out too.

Aside from that - enjoy, great bike.

[Hinny]

Look - its totally up to you, so lets just call this fair warning?

First - clip ons. Pretty sure a T140 is 35mm (earlier than 71 is 33mm)

http://www.britcycle.com/products/ha...handlebars.htm

Triumphs of the era had the foot controls a little further forwards than was ideal to suit american tastes. It will be difficult to ride with stock pegs etc and clip ons, invest in some rear sets too....

If the bike has sat a few years then it will be a VERY good idea to clean out the sludge trap in the crank and fit an oil filter. Cleaning the sludge trap will mean an engine strip down so allow some dosh for that.

Check the engine #'s. If its a very early T140 it might be one of the 724cc ones and the parts supplier will need to know that. There was a mod to the 5 speed box to these early ones as well, best sus that out too.

Aside from that - enjoy, great bike.

Ooo arrgghh! David, you're in trouble.

This might help ... one or the other.

http://www.greengrasspub.com.au/?pag...FYImpAodH0LTRg

[invisiblehand1]

yup

about 35mm

my recommendation is the best bet is get some short flat bars for it, or maybe some Ace bars (sometimes called Z bars) or adjustable Laverda bars if you can find them. As someone noted, the pegs are far to far forward to be comfortable with clipons, you need rearsets to avoid the dreaded morini back syndrome.

Otherwise, cool bike, I love mine.

[Paul in NZ]

Ooo arrgghh! David, you're in trouble.

This might help ... one or the other.

http://www.greengrasspub.com.au/?pag...FYImpAodH0LTRg

No hes not - T140's, once set up are a bloody good bike if treated reasonably and a good 73 is almost as good as they got. BUT they do have a few quirks....

The DVD is a good idea but rather than shelling out $40 for a grass (cough) roots engine rebuild video, get the Hugie Hancox one. Admittedly its for a 650 but he did work at the factory and has a very solid reputation.

http://www.hughiehancoxrestorations.co.uk/page13.html

I've heard good things about these guys

http://www.amazon.com/Triumph-650-Re...0415988&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/Building-Budge...xgy_misc_img_b

http://www.amazon.com/English-101-DV...0415988&sr=8-4

Its all good fun - sing out if you need a hand.....

[Voltaire]

Its all good fun - sing out if you need a hand.....

I enjoy wrenching on old bikes, I can't imagine not knowing how my bike works and letting someone else do it. Cut my teeth on air cooled VW's ....have a modern VW but I take that into the shop....I don't care how (modern)cars work their disposable and I can't say modern bikes do much for me either....now wheres my slippers cup of tea and the wireless tuned to Leighton...

[Indiana_Jones]

Could you fit Ace bars onto it?

Might be cheaper then clip ons with less hassle and have the same effect

-Indy

[Spearfish]

Ooo arrgghh! David, you're in trouble.

This might help ... one or the other.

http://www.greengrasspub.com.au/?pag...FYImpAodH0LTRg

Old Kog gets a little emotional at the start, I guess ya would with the shared experience of five hundred thousand kms.

[Paul in NZ]

Could you fit Ace bars onto it?

Might be cheaper then clip ons with less hassle and have the same effect

-Indy

Same site has ace bars but even then the foot rests are a long way forward. A standard T140 benefits from rear sets with normalish bars.

The authentic 'cool thing' is M bars on an old triumph anyway. These 'thruxton' bend bars are out of period by 73 but... still waaay cool.. I put ace bars on my 70 TR6C and I was a lot slower due to discomfort. Also when I cafe'd the Atlas (and others) it was hideous without the rear sets.

One other issue is that you will need new headlight mounts and the stocker mounts on a shroud between the yokes. A 71 or 72 is easier there cos they use the old wire spring mounts.

[Paul in NZ]

Old Kog gets a little emotional at the start, I guess ya would with the shared experience of five hundred thousand kms.

Yeah - I can understand that - we only have a measly 130K on ours and I still get a bit teary about it...

[Spearfish]

Yeah - I can understand that - we only have a measly 130K on ours and I still get a bit teary about it...

130k is nothing to sneeze at
Still working on the scan its to blurry


mnkyboy- I hope you can chuck a pic or two up when the bike gets home.

[mnkyboy]

Thanks for the replies

I've decided to go for some flat bars for now, do my trip and sort it out when she's home

Heres a screendump of the ebay site

[Spearfish]

Thanks for the replies

I've decided to go for some flat bars for now, do my trip and sort it out when she's home

Heres a screendump of the ebay site

I can see why you hit the pay now button.

At 1973, will you get some papers with it or will that mean going through the vintage or low volume thing to Rego it?

[Paul in NZ]

Looks like its had a few mods already (for the better) and been in recent use (again - for the better) so yeah - why not.....

[Voltaire]

Looks nice, I bought a 71 BSA here that a guy had imported and vinning it was easy at the time mainly because I had a copy of the US rego papers with serial numbers on. The rules may have changed now, The Vintage Car Club motorcycle section can make this process easier. Only 18 months an its cheap rego too