Mid 60's Triumph

[jamming]

Found a mid 60's 500 CC Triumph flat tracker. Its real rough, but complete. It can be had for a couple of hundred, no title, but can get a bonded title. I'm thinking of picking it up and restoring it to ride on the street. It was a street bike at one time. A friend of mine has it and most of the parts, headlight, taillight, wiring harness. I need fenders, to redo the seat, redo the engine. I did forget to mention..it does run, not well but it lights and runs!
I'm thinking its a worthwhile project, what do you all think?
Roger

[arkline]

It is really amazing how easy it is to find parts for old Brit Iron. Most, if not all, parts can be located in the US and if you can't find what you need here, there are tons of places in England and elsewhere that supply NewOldStock and reproduction parts. Of course there are some things that cost dearly, like serviceable gas tanks, side covers and such.

If you haven't seen the latest Cycle World, there is a great article about one man's quest to restore a Triumph. And, it can become an obsession.

Triumphs usually go for the best prices, since the Triumph is seen by most people as iconic of British motorcycles of a certain era. I don't think you can go too far wrong for a couple of hundred. Worst case, you'd probably be able to recover your investment by (Turner forgive me for saying this) parting out what you have and selling it on eBay...Hope lightning doesn't strike me dead as I sit here.

I'd go for it, if I had the time to invest.

[Sir Limpsalot]

Two hundred?? That's about half the price of a decent helmet right? Don't see how you can loose. I envy you.
If it makes you feel better, over here anything that runs and has Triumph on the tank will cost £1000 (about $1700). This is for something that needs total restoration. Even a tea chest full of rusty junk that *may* have been a Triumph at some time in the past will set you back £750 or so.
If you do decide to take it on them I hope you'll report back here on a regular basis, with plenty of photo's please.
Good luck, Si.

[Arby]

Restoring a bike is a huge commitment. Some people have it and some of us don't. I've got an all original T140 750 Special sitting in the shed going down the tubes.
My buddy bought it new from Freestste Cycles in Maryland for his wife, but she left him. (I don't think it was because of the bike).I got it when it was about two years old. It came stock with Lester mag wheels, disc brakes front and rear, 2 into one exhaust, black with gold striping(paint, not decals). As much as I'd love to have it restored, I can't work up the ambition to do it. So far a set of new fork tubes and handlebars is as far as I've made it. I think of a certain 850 Norton I've seen on this site, and it puts me to shame.
Well, I lied. the name plates on the side covers say 750 Bonneville, they should say 750 Special. Somehow the dealer lost the correct ones.

But the price is right on yours. Do you have a place to work on it? Do you have mechanical skills/ Do you have patience?
If so, go for it.

Bob

[jamming]

Thanks all. Bob, I have a place. I'm an Aircraft Mechanic/Mechanical Eng. by trade. Patience? Yes, but its a learned skill for me not a natural one.
I'm leaning towards it, gonna take a hard look at the bike today. John/Mr poopinshoes on this board is a friend that lives up the street and will help.
So, what the heck. I'll take pics...Roger

[DJ Down Under]

It sounds great...I would love to tinker with something like that.

DJ

[BobFV1]

Rog - go for the new Scrambler at AZSBK. I know you want it! :)

[jamming]

Rog - go for the new Scrambler at AZSBK. I know you want it! :)
No Bob..That Paul Smart Ducati, is the one I'm trying to talk the wife into.
Its not going well though...how's Washington?
Will you be at the AZ Ironman? I got hooked up with Jeff Dean, I'll be there.
Roger

[BobFV1]

DC is cold, but I actually plan to ride my R1 this afternoon!
I will be back in AZ March 30 and stay for the month of April. I have a full slate of riding activities planned including the Ironman, and will be teaching about 5 BRC's! Still trying to get our ERC date pinned down as well. See you then!

[arkline]

Arby,

Sounds to me like you're sitting on a small gold mine. If that bike is "all original" and the numbers match, you could get between 3 and 5 thousand for it without so much as touching a wrench to it. If it was prettied up with a wash and wax. If fully restored, you might get 7.5 k out of it, but you might have dropped 2 or so thousand into it to go through the whole thing. Like I said, Triumphs command the best prices.

I think there was a resto outfit in Tucson that had a good reputation. Can't remember the name at the moment.

[DarthRider]

Lots of options & considerations Roger, depends on "how much bike you start with", what you're willing to do & spend to get what you want, what you want to do with it, what you want to get out of it, etc.

For 2 bills you can't go wrong and could get way more than "well" on eBay in a big hurry.

500's aren't as desirable as 650's and won't usually bring as much.

*Almost* all old Brits will be worth more restored to original than modified.

If you don't have all/most of the original equipment it will be much easier/cheaper to build it as a modified bike. Original restos are usually more difficult than modifieds...but not as much fun, in my opinion.

You have to be very careful of not ending up with "$8,000 in a $4,000 bike". Unless that doesn't bother you. Triple those numbers and you'll be pretty close to where I am in my '73 Norton. But I built that over a 30+ year period and never cared about the money. I made a lot of $$ during most of that time and could afford the extravagance and never considered it a financial investment anyway. I didn't care what I had in it and what it was actually worth in dollars, it was an investment in fun, satisfaction, lifestyle, hobby, and getting lots of cool strokes (and trophies) wherever I took it...and outrunning the hell out of a lot of other old bikes (and a few new ones) along the way!

Street trackers are really cool, fun and have a very strong but small market. Here are a few for inspiration...all 650/750 Triumphs, form our vintage club's annual rally in East Texas.

Don't know much about this one but he started with a *very* expensive racing frame and went up from there. Obviously a "cost is no object" bike but in *this* rare case he could likely get his money back. The bike is a little "over-pimped" for my taste but is a very special bike, appealing to a special buyer/investor.
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/58542095-L.jpg

OK, not a street tracker but more of a cafe...but very well, and professionally done. Modified frame, lots of trick stuff. I think he has $10K or more in it...*might* squeak that much or close out of it.
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/58542096-L.jpg

This one is also pro built with a highly modified vintage racing frame. The closest of any of these to a real track bike. Trick stuff. My guess is it would bring $8-9K.
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/58542099-L.jpg

This one was pro built with a lightly modified frame and mostly stock components. It cost about $9K to have built, recently sold for $6K. Neat little bike...but that color!
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/58542100-L.jpg

Any one of these street trackers will be more than a handful on the street and big-time fun!

Dave

[Sir Limpsalot]

In the first pic there's a Triumph with a green and cream tank, alloy rims etc. Mostly hidden behind the "Tracker". Don't suppose you have a clear pic of that little beauty do you?..............
Si

[Arby]

Dave
Great pictures.

Ron
Yeah, it's all original. I've known the bike since it was new.
I'll get ambitious and clean it up and get it running one of these days.

Roger
Sorry to talk about my bike on your thread.

My daughter gave me a new ditgital camera for my birthday, I may have to get it outa the box and learn to use it. As they say, one picture is worth a thousand words.

Bob

[jamming]

Geez, Dave..beautiful bikes, now I have something to inspire me. Bob, its all good. I'm glad there are other people out there that love the old scoots.
I'm really thinking, I'm gonna go for it. What the hell, I'm going to get it running and legal, then one thing at a time. I have a chopper project for someone else to finish first, however, he'll owe me big time so there's the paint for free. The guy I'm getting the bike from as a lot of parts.
Oh Dave, I agree with you, not stock is way more fun. I'm looking for a fun scoot to putt around on and be different, AND something to tinker with, I'm not happy unless I'm turning a wrench.
When it hits the garage I'll take pictures......Roger

[DarthRider]

You go Rog! I just had to get my comments in "just in case" you didn't know this stuff. I'm delighted to see you do!

Si -
You friend, have the eye from hell!

That particular Trident was built by one of Jack Wilson's better mechanic/machinists as his personal bike, using all the racing & hot street tricks Jack had developed in spanking everybody, including the Triumph & BSA factory teams a few times in road racing & flat track. And that doesn't even consider Bonneville!

The motor is either bored or stroked (can't remember which) to 870 CC. There was a 900 plus (either bored or stroked) and a 1050 bored and stroked motor Jack built for different uses. He made or had made the cranks, pistons & cylinders, all balanced by Wayne Calvert Engines in Denton, Texas. Special head work by Jack. Jacks spec cam. Racing carbs, hot ignition. 5-spd. box.
The bike has a 3 into 1 that works, rear sets and appears stock other than that. But the frame is reinforced, the brakes are tweaked, etc.

The really unique thing is the little gold script decal on the right front down tube. I don't know if the English market bikes had them but the American market ones had a little decal that said "Made in England". The Big 'D' Cycle boys had a special run of 6 decals made for some "special" bikes that said "Made in Oak Cliff". Oak Cliff is a large, rough part of Dallas with some beautiful areas and some places you *will* get killed. It was the birthplace & home of Stevie Ray Vaughn and was the home of Big 'D' Cycle for 40 years or so. The decal is special.

The bike now lives in Lubbock, Texas and the owner is a carpenter, woodbutcher, cabinet maker and sculptor who rides it regularly and loves it like a son.

I'll see if I have some digital pics. If not I'll have to wait until I dig out some old paper pics and scan them.

Dave

[jamming]

I'm picking up the old scoot tomorrow. I'll post some pics...
Dave, if I have the serial #'s can you send me somewhere that I can research it.
BTW... traded for the scoot for a SW .357 revolver I haven't fired in 10 years, He was saying he was gonna buy one, I said, have I got a deal for you! So no out of pocket, I can spend some cash on the bike..woo hoo..a money pit, but oh what fun!!!!!
Roger

[mnnden]

Dave, Just GREAT pictures, There is another "Cafe" across the pond that is fun to look around in http://www.ace-cafe-london.com/f2.htm Go to the "Picture Library" some great stuff. Also a picture of one of mine from the early "70's" Den
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/991455/smaller1.jpg

[DarthRider]

Roger -
I'm not sure I can help but send me your SN's and I'll try to find something. I have some Triumph books that may have some info.

Den -
That's great...I love the extended forks a la "Easy Rider". Is that your wife & son or...?
The Ace Cafe site is way cool...I spent some time there when I was researching old helmets & goggles for our logo.

Dave

[jerryc19]

It is really amazing how easy it is to find parts for old Brit Iron. Most, if not all, parts can be located in the US and if you can't find what you need here, there are tons of places in England and elsewhere that supply NewOldStock and reproduction parts. Of course there are some things that cost dearly, like serviceable gas tanks, side covers and such.

If you haven't seen the latest Cycle World, there is a great article about one man's quest to restore a Triumph. And, it can become an obsession.

Triumphs usually go for the best prices, since the Triumph is seen by most people as iconic of British motorcycles of a certain era. I don't think you can go too far wrong for a couple of hundred. Worst case, you'd probably be able to recover your investment by (Turner forgive me for saying this) parting out what you have and selling it on eBay...Hope lightning doesn't strike me dead as I sit here.

I'd go for it, if I had the time to invest.
if your interested in selling my name is Jerry i live in MD and i am very interested in buying your triumph i restore a lot of them and have plenty of patients.call me 410-325-0897

[jamming]

if your interested in selling my name is Jerry i live in MD and i am very interested in buying your triumph i restore a lot of them and have plenty of patients.call me 410-325-0897

Thanks Jerry, however, Got the motor done, front end on, running, and somebody in Las Vegas offered me way too much to turn down. It's been gone a year.

[Rchop]

I'd say, go for it Roger! I don't see how you can lose with this bike. Call me anytime for restoration tips and if you lose interest in it...I'll gladly take it off your hands :eusa_drool:

[jamming]

Randy, it's gone..long gone. Assembled it, Got it running, Triumph front end on, had a rolling chassis. Was looking at what else I needed to do(which was a lot) before disassembly.

Found a dude in Las Vegas with a ton of 60's Triumph parts. In talking to him about parts, He offered me way too much money to turn down. So I met him halfway to Vegas.

I'm currently working on a 1972 Honda XL 250. Found it in boxes, with a title. Its on the table now, assembled not running. Have the parts. No time right now.

It's therapy for me. Had some things to work out, this helps more than some head shrink. I get lost, take my boys out in the garage and teach em mechanics.

Maybe I should open a thread. ? Never thought to before. How exciting is a Honda 250?

[Rchop]

Damn, I've got to start looking at the dates on these posts:eusa_doh: