Glory Days of British Motorcycles

[Old Grinner]

Echoing over hill and dale they had a special history that will not be forgotten . . ..

[Old Grinner]

Sort of continued . . ..

Send out for a pizza.

[springer1]

My ‘70 Tiger 650 is the best Brit i’ve had. Her name is Roxanne and after 40 years I still have her. My ‘77 Bonnie 750 wasn’t as quick and seemed like a bigger heavy machine - but drop-dead gorgeous. My 650 BSAs had I thought the best transmissions, my 441s were shear character, I loved ‘em. The only Brit I really really disliked was a ‘70 Commando 750, I finally sold that bike cause I was so very very angry with it. I don’t understand their mystique - even though they look cool and have isolastics. Hey, I know lots of people feel otherwise.

[gn2]

Triumph motorcycle company was started by two German immigrants.

[springer1]

GN2, who are you referencing? I (incorrectly maybe - LoL) assumed the Edward Turner was at least one of the principle influences.

[gn2]

Siegfried Bettman and Mauritz Schulte.
Their first motorcycle built in 1902 had a Belgian engine.
Edward Turner was born the year before.

http://triumphconnection.com/triumph-motorcycle-history

[Old Grinner]

Just read the history.

Saw the X75 Hurricane . . . wow man . . . those were the days.

I can still vividly remember seeing one for the first time at the local dealership back in the early '70's.

[gn2]

Guy I knew donkeys years ago had a T160V Trident, never forget his name, Levi Jeans.
Back in the day it was a firebreathing monster.
You just don't get the same suction noises from the intakes on modern bikes.
No tickling carbs, adjusting chokes, kicking it over slowly to find the right spot then give it the welly and hope it didn't kick back at you.
Needed your wits about you to start a bike back then.
Best value "brit" bike these days is built by an Indian company, an amazing bike for the money.

[Old Grinner]

They used to call us "Egg Heads" if we rode British back then . . .. Something to do with the helmet shape.

The only bike that seriously launched me off the kickstarter was a '59 Harley Sportster a friend had. He put some $$ into it for one thing or another and then moved up to a Super Glide. I got a chance to ride both. Different kind of experience . . ..

Life is strange. Never thought I'd find the big luxury bikes "too much". But now I do. Kind of like having a 20 scoop ice cream sundae with your favorite topping and sprinkles . . . it's still an ice cream sundae. You can always have more . . . but you may or may not always have enough. Time will tell . . . wisdom comes with time. So it is said . . . so it is written.

[gn2]

. . . wisdom comes with time. So it is said . . .

I'm still waiting....

[Mel46]

The only bike that seriously launched me off the kickstarter was a '59 Harley Sportster a friend had.

I know about that. In the mid to late '60s I had a Harley Sporster that really kicked back hard if I didn't kick start it correctly. Give it too much gas while kick-starting it and it would throw you off! Starting it in the winter was a real pain.

I bought the bike from a guy who also had a Triumph Bonneville and needed the money to fix it after he hit a brick wall on it. He was laid up in the hospital but was determined to get back on that Triumph.

[dick the den]

Guy I knew donkeys years ago had a T160V Trident, never forget his name, Levi Jeans.
Back in the day it was a firebreathing monster.
You just don't get the same suction noises from the intakes on modern bikes.
No tickling carbs, adjusting chokes, kicking it over slowly to find the right spot then give it the welly and hope it didn't kick back at you.
Needed your wits about you to start a bike back then.
Best value "brit" bike these days is built by an Indian company, an amazing bike for the money.

It is very nice and the sound just as good but the servicing costs are high for what it it

[gn2]

It is very nice and the sound just as good but the servicing costs are high for what it it

Yes, the intervals are very short.
Fine if its out of warranty and you're doing your own servicing though, its really simple to work on.

[you you]

Guy I knew donkeys years ago had a T160V Trident, never forget his name, Levi Jeans.
Back in the day it was a firebreathing monster.
You just don't get the same suction noises from the intakes on modern bikes.
No tickling carbs, adjusting chokes, kicking it over slowly to find the right spot then give it the welly and hope it didn't kick back at you.
Needed your wits about you to start a bike back then.
Best value "brit" bike these days is built by an Indian company, an amazing bike for the money.

It is very nice and the sound just as good but the servicing costs are high for what it it

Not in India I suspect.

[dick the den]

No there are not some where I saw on you-tube it was approx. £30-35
Nice 3 years warranty