Anniversary edition Triumph Bonneville

[administrator]

Original Article:
Anniversary edition Triumph Bonneville

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[Kenneth_Moore]

The article said: "fully restored 1959 pre-unit Bonneville T120." I think that mean the engine and transmission were two components with a primary chain in between, is that right?

There's a nice overview of the history of Triumph motorcycles in this month's Motorcycle Classics. I learned all about how the workers united against the capitalist running dogs who tried to shut them out of the factory. They took over the place and kept making motorcycles until they ran out of supplies! Then the Labor government stepped in and backed the workers, but it was to no avail. The dealerships had lost faith and were selling Japanese bikes like hotcakes! A few years later, Bloor came along and capitalized the construction of the new factory.

Here's a trivia question: What were the two model years that a brand new production Bonneville was not available since the model's debut? (Hint: in the '80's).

[sachiwilson]

Originally Posted by Kenneth_Moore

The article said: "fully restored 1959 pre-unit Bonneville T120." I think that mean the engine and transmission were two components with a primary chain in between, is that right?

The term means that the engine and gearbox were two separate pieces. The presence of a primary chain is not relevant; even unit engines had them.

[Kenneth_Moore]

Originally Posted by sachiwilson

The term means that the engine and gearbox were two separate pieces. The presence of a primary chain is not relevant; even unit engines had them.

Is a Harley Twin Cam a unit engine?

[sachiwilson]

I don't think so. It looks as though the engine itself is separate from the gearbox unit. I think (don't know for sure) that the gearbox unit bolts directly to the engine, though.

[TomSmith]

Yep, Triumph had two factories, a modern one making Tridents and a thirties era one making the twins. Manganese Bronze (Norton Villers) had bought Triumph in order to try to save them and wanted to close the obsolete factory. The Socialist British government backed the workers and closed the modern factory instead. That was the doom of the last British motorcycle factory until recently. So much for Marxism.

[seruzawa]

Originally Posted by TomSmith

Yep, Triumph had two factories, a modern one making Tridents and a thirties era one making the twins. Manganese Bronze (Norton Villers) had bought Triumph in order to try to save them and wanted to close the obsolete factory. The Socialist British government backed the workers and closed the modern factory instead. That was the doom of the last British motorcycle factory until recently. So much for Marxism.

It always makes such good sense, when making business decisions, to do what the people who are incapable of running a business think you should do. Worse. They followed the desires of the very people who think that people who run businesses are evil. LOL! Gives new meaning to the term, "hoist by one's own petard". Watch the UAW go next.

"We need to do something. I know! We'll let shop stewards, elected officials and lifelong bureaucrats decide!" (snicker)