Triumph Bonneville T140

[Neckender]

Looks very nice John,when it's polished up it will look really nice
Is it for looking at or are you going to chance riding it?

I intend do do both Jim.

John.

 

[franknjan]

That really is a nice looking bike. Love the colour.
Same model as mine 1975. Mine is UK spec. I've owned it since 1998. I've customised it to my taste. The tank is off a TR6 (I like the shape) norton bars a bit wider/flatter than the standard "western" bars, rearset footrests, T160 kick start, (doesn't dig into my leg) pee shooters,
Side panels are T120 look alike (rare or fair? spares) MK2 Amal carbs, no air filters. The engine has been tuned, high lift cams and various other mods.
It goes really well, with no major oil leaks.
One of the easiest modifications I did was to drill the front disc rotor (similar to modern bikes) it transformed the brake efficiency.
Please ask if you need any info/help.
Frank

 

[BlackIce]

Looks great, especially like the shape of the tank. I bought a 1976 T140 in 1980 and only sold it last year to a mate who had been after it for awhile. Still got a fairly full garage of motorcycles but still miss it and am often tempted to buy another.

 

[Neckender]

franknjan thats a real beauty I like the tank that you’ve fitted and thank you for the offer of info if needed.

John.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

That really is a nice looking bike. Love the colour.
Same model as mine 1975. Mine is UK spec. I've owned it since 1998. I've customised it to my taste. The tank is off a TR6 (I like the shape) norton bars a bit wider/flatter than the standard "western" bars, rearset footrests, T160 kick start, (doesn't dig into my leg) pee shooters,
Side panels are T120 look alike (rare or fair? spares) MK2 Amal carbs, no air filters. The engine has been tuned, high lift cams and various other mods.
It goes really well, with no major oil leaks.
One of the easiest modifications I did was to drill the front disc rotor (similar to modern bikes) it transformed the brake efficiency.
Please ask if you need any info/help.
Frank
View attachment 463055

Like those rear set footrests, the standard ones are really too far forward.
Nice bike, mine gained its tank, seat and number plate today. Should be starting her up in a week or two.

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[Portland]

John, I envy you, can I have a ride?

 

[WillinFrance]

Nice looking T140. Welcome to the Triumph club.
I bought this 1965 T120 on eBay a few years ago.
Did the Moto Piston Rally in Spain, great fun for classic bikes.
Looking forward to summer to ride the bike again around the Pyrenees and Spain.

 

[jongood]

LH gear change

Thats my issue, I'm so used to LH gearchange I would have wrecked the gearbox by the time I got to the end of the road

 

[Nasher]

Thats my issue, I'm so used to LH gearchange I would have wrecked the gearbox by the time I got to the end of the road

I have to say, back in the 60's & 70's if you were borrowing a bike you would ask the owner "what's the gears?"

The answers could be:

1 up 2 down
1 up 3 down
1 up 4 down
1 down 2 up
1 down 3 up
1 down 4 up
3 straight down
4 straight down
5 straight down
3 up
4 up
5 up

The gearshift could be on the Left or the Right

I was young & bright, it never bothered me in the slightest and I just rode/thrashed it

Then the Americans said: The gear shift had to be on the left with a pattern of down into first, neutral, up for 2,3,4,(5),(6) - 1 down 5 up on modern bikes

Whilst the UK and EU has never passed such regulations, the American regulation was accepted as an international standard by most manufacturers

The only real problems it caused was in road racing
In particular, accelerating whilst cranked over, there was insufficient ground clearance to get your foot under the gear shift pedal in order to change up
As a result, most racers would run reverse shift - commonly called 'Race Shift' or 'GPshift' (1 up 5 down for modern bikes)

I have always ran Race Shift on all my bikes since the race days as I prefer it, when I borrow or test ride another bike, I can switch my brain to work standard shift easily

I rarely get to ride right hand shift bikes these day, on the odd occasion I do, I really have to take it very steady and think about every gear change and braking (brake on the left). After about 10 miles it comes naturally.
I think adapting from left to right is probably simpler as in many cases you are riding low revving and comparatively slow accelerating bikes with plenty of time to think about the change....

I have a number of mates who have loads of bikes, they tend to put a sticker with the gearshift pattern and side near the instruments - LD would indicate 1st gear is down and a left shift, RU would be 1st gear up and right shift - you get the idea

That said, if you have a desire for a certain bike with a right shift, it is not that difficult to change it over to left shift - there are quite a few racers, who due to injury, run right shift on modern bikes (Ian Hutchinson being one of them)

Life's too short to let the position of a gear shift stop you from having your dream bike

 

[jongood]

I have to say, back in the 60's & 70's if you were borrowing a bike you would ask the owner "what's the gears?"

The answers could be:

1 up 2 down
1 up 3 down
1 up 4 down
1 down 2 up
1 down 3 up
1 down 4 up
3 straight down
4 straight down
5 straight down
3 up
4 up
5 up

The gearshift could be on the Left or the Right

I was young & bright, it never bothered me in the slightest and I just rode/thrashed it

Then the Americans said: The gear shift had to be on the left with a pattern of down into first, neutral, up for 2,3,4,(5),(6) - 1 down 5 up on modern bikes

Whilst the UK and EU has never passed such regulations, the American regulation was accepted as an international standard by most manufacturers

The only real problems it caused was in road racing
In particular, accelerating whilst cranked over, there was insufficient ground clearance to get your foot under the gear shift pedal in order to change up
As a result, most racers would run reverse shift - commonly called 'Race Shift' or 'GPshift' (1 up 5 down for modern bikes)

I have always ran Race Shift on all my bikes since the race days as I prefer it, when I borrow or test ride another bike, I can switch my brain to work standard shift easily

I rarely get to ride right hand shift bikes these day, on the odd occasion I do, I really have to take it very steady and think about every gear change and braking (brake on the left). After about 10 miles it comes naturally.
I think adapting from left to right is probably simpler as in many cases you are riding low revving and comparatively slow accelerating bikes with plenty of time to think about the change....

I have a number of mates who have loads of bikes, they tend to put a sticker with the gearshift pattern and side near the instruments - LD would indicate 1st gear is down and a left shift, RU would be 1st gear up and right shift - you get the idea

That said, if you have a desire for a certain bike with a right shift, it is not that difficult to change it over to left shift - there are quite a few racers, who due to injury, run right shift on modern bikes (Ian Hutchinson being one of them)

Life's too short to let the position of a gear shift stop you from having your dream bike

You re right of course, I switch easily enough from RHD to LHD I could probably do the same with Gearchanges, as you say it was standard question even in the later seventies when my motorcycling started. so I must have done it then. I even remember testing a T140v back then.

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[RowleyBirkinQC]

I’d had quite a few bikes, mostly KTM or BMW, but never having owned a Triumph I thought it’s an itch that needs scratching, so recently bought a Scrambler 1200 XE...



Obviously a modern incarnation in comparison to the vintage models featured here, but looking forward to getting out proper in the spring when (hopefully) no longer under house arrest.

 

[Neckender]

Here are some pictures of the Bonnie now I’ve got it home, couple of jobs to be done as one of the fork seals has popped off it’s groove in the fork leg, going to fit a new battery and change the oils.
I eventualy got it kicked up yesterday afternoon but today right thigh muscles ache off and I haven’t the weight ( 11st 10lbs ) to swing the kickstart plus the oil is thick with the extreme cold.
John.

 

[John Barrett]

Here are some pictures of the Bonnie now I’ve got it home, couple of jobs to be done as one of the fork seals has popped off it’s groove in the fork leg, going to fit a new battery and change the oils.
I eventualy got it kicked up yesterday afternoon but today right thigh muscles ache off and I haven’t the weight ( 11st 10lbs ) to swing the kickstart plus the oil is thick with the extreme cold.
John.
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Very nice. I just love the optimistic speedo. My old Trophy with its 43 HP struggled to get over 110!

 

[Hettie's Crew]

Here are some pictures of the Bonnie now I’ve got it home, couple of jobs to be done as one of the fork seals has popped off it’s groove in the fork leg, going to fit a new battery and change the oils.
I eventualy got it kicked up yesterday afternoon but today right thigh muscles ache off and I haven’t the weight ( 11st 10lbs ) to swing the kickstart plus the oil is thick with the extreme cold.
John.
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Looks a very nice example, though I’d say a 76 model rather than 75, is the second letter of the engine number a P? The chrome looks very good. I’ve been doing mine the last couple of days, fitted fuel lines, balanced the carbs (manually), put cone filters on, black/silver number plate, leather tool bag, tightened a few nuts, kicked it over with the plugs out to ensure it’s pumping oil around and fitted the battery. It’s really ready to start but I think I’ve peaked too early with this weather as I really want to get out on it.

 

[jongood]

Here are some pictures of the Bonnie now I’ve got it home, couple of jobs to be done as one of the fork seals has popped off it’s groove in the fork leg, going to fit a new battery and change the oils.
I eventualy got it kicked up yesterday afternoon but today right thigh muscles ache off and I haven’t the weight ( 11st 10lbs ) to swing the kickstart plus the oil is thick with the extreme cold.
John.
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is the mileage genuine?

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[Neckender]

Hettie's Crew yes it’s a 1976 the seller advertised it as a1975 but the paperwork says 1976.
jongood I don’t know whether the mileage is correct.

JOHN.

 

[bigwood]

Between owning various MG,s my father bought an ex Manchester police Bonnie. In his younger days he had a few BSA,s and at one point an Aireal Square four. His first BSA had a tank side gear change. That took Mum and Dad on a tour of the Lake District on there honeymoon.
His generation were bikers because it was the only form of transport they could afford. His mate took there family of five to France on holiday in a sidecar outfit. Some of the biking tales he used to tell me showed what real bikers they were.

 

[Scotch mist]

Norton Feather bad, the best frame ever made. Do you or have you raced it ?

No , it was a friend who raced it years ago , I’ve owned it for 18years

 

[Steve and Denise]

OR

There are old pilots and there are bold pilots but there are no old, bold pilots.............I’m an old, bald pilot

I started my flying career on a Suzuki 250 with the aid of a Reliant Robin but it was short lived I only managed about fifty feet and the landing was very amateur, never tried it since

 

[glenn2926]

I started my flying career on a Suzuki 250 with the aid of a Reliant Robin but it was short lived I only managed about fifty feet and the landing was very amateur, never tried it since

Similar tale. I started my flying career on/off a FS1E. Cleared a Mk 4 Cortina estate. I don’t think that was bad for a first attempt.

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[jongood]

I started my flying career on a Suzuki 250 with the aid of a Reliant Robin but it was short lived I only managed about fifty feet and the landing was very amateur, never tried it since

CB200 for me, the insurance limits then were 225 and 350 until the 350LC came out that was............

 

[Neckender]

I started mine in October 1967 250 Royal Enfield Crusader Sports and an old bloke in a Austin something or other, he pulled out of a side street on to the main road whilst he was on the wrong side I came around the bend and hit him head on, 3 months on traction and left leg now shorter than the other.
I failed my flying lesson.

John.

 

[Nasher]

I started my flying career on a Suzuki 250 with the aid of a Reliant Robin but it was short lived I only managed about fifty feet and the landing was very amateur, never tried it since

Similar tale. I started my flying career on/off a FS1E. Cleared a Mk 4 Cortina estate. I don’t think that was bad for a first attempt.

CB200 for me, the insurance limits then were 225 and 350 until the 350LC came out that was............

I started mine in October 1967 250 Royal Enfield Crusader Sports and an old bloke in a Austin something or other, he pulled out of a side street on to the main road whilst he was on the wrong side I came around the bend and hit him head on, 3 months on traction and left leg now shorter than the other.
I failed my flying lesson.

John.

You were doing it wrong, you need to separate motorbiking from real flying - although at the moment, I can't do either.....

 

[68c]

Out riding with a mate, I overtook a long line of slow moving and static cars. As I passed the last one I noticed his right indicator flashing as he turned right into his drive. I sailed over his bonnet looking down at his astonished wife, then landed upside down in a hedge. My mate caught up and yelled, "You idiot, didn't you see him turning?" My bike was wedged behind his front wheel. Rode it home with bent forks.

 

[Neckender]

To day a new V5 with registration number arrived from DVLA, I’ve insured the Bonnie with Hegarty Classic insurance with RAC breakdown for a total of £138.I’ve just got to give it an oil change plus a couple of small jobs then I will have my first ride on the bike.
John.

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[Hettie's Crew]

To day a new V5 with registration number arrived from DVLA, I’ve insured the Bonnie with Hegarty Classic insurance with RAC breakdown for a total of £138.I’ve just got to give it an oil change plus a couple of small jobs then I will have my first ride on the bike.
John.

What a coincidence, I’ve just got back from my first ride around the block on my newly rebuilt T140, a few little noises to investigate, clutch to adjust but other than that it all went very well, only did about two or three miles to see what it went like. Not really supposed to be out.
Different ride to before as I’ve fitted half race cams, a 43 tooth rear sprocket and the head has been fitted with slightly larger valves and the guides K-lined. It feels to have more low down power.
Sure you’ll enjoy yours, they are somewhat different to a modern bike.

 

[Scotch mist]

Sad day , I sold my Triton today , after 18 years of ownership , with other commitments I just can’t see me having time to Finnish & use it , oh well

 

[2GB Racing]

O dear I’m getting big time envious again seeing these examples, I let a T140V USA import go a while back big regrets but no time to give it the justice it deserved, Still have a Cheney BSA B44 scramble bike to finish and a couple of trials bikes.

 

[icantremember]

Just to make you all really jealous here's my T110.

.......... as I bought it as a barn find in the early '80's

I didn't have the time to renovate it so sold it on to a mate. He made a great job of the renovation and I did get to ride again afterwards but unfortunately had a fuel leak and it incinerated itself on a garage forecourt.

 

[Mountain man]

Sad day , I sold my Triton today , after 18 years of ownership , with other commitments I just can’t see me having time to Finnish & use it , oh well
View attachment 471771

Possibly just a bit before your time 48 years ago ,I was a member of the Hamilton road hogs ,my friend had a triton and all our group loved it then .My self I only had a Norton commando 750 high rider ,used to park it up your way we’re I worked at John McGowans.

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