Surely someone here owns a "Triton"...

My first real motorcycle was a Beezer, 441 Victor. It took five minutes to get it ready for the first kick. You learned to date girls who had a down sloping driveway.

Rich

quote:

You learned to date girls who had a down sloping driveway.

I though the saying was bow legged?

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Surely someone here owns a "Triton"...

My first real motorcycle was a Beezer, 441 Victor. It took five minutes to get it ready for the first kick. You learned to date girls who had a down sloping driveway.

Rich

A friend of mine had a beautiful Triton but he croaked and his wife sold his collection and moved back to the UK..... unfortunately, I was away hunting when the sale occurred otherwise I'd have been bidding on it.

As for first bikes. My first two were a James 200cc and a BSA Bantam. I was 12 years of age and bought them as boxes of bits. I didn't know it at the time but the early Bantams could run backwards if you started them wrong.

First time I tried to ride my newly re-assembled one I went charging backwards and smashed my way through the garage doors!

So thats why Susan say's you do everything ass backwards my first bike was a 900cc cast iron harley sportester. I got kicked out of mom's house when I brought it home. she said either that motorcycle goes or your both go. so without saying another word I left and have been riding ever since

I'm amazed my dear old mum didn't give my brother and I a load of shit for having motorcycles.

Our real Father died on one when I was just 9 months old. I got my first bikes aged 12 and my brother got his first bike aged 16...... she threw a blue fit when I got my first ones running and then she just said, she'd prefer us to have cars but knew she'd never succeed in changing our minds if we really wanted bikes but please would we be careful on them.

We never were that careful and we both had our fair share of accidents but we both survived. Now I'm older and wiser, I realise what we both must have put her through.

J_Zola,

we refer to them as "Pleasure Bent", bowlegged is such a tacky description.

Besides, you always had to be able to coast down a slight grade if you'd had an eventful night and couldn't tickle the Amals and kick start the beast.

Rich

A friend in college (late 60s) had one of these. It was a MFer to start. Really sounded good though once it did start.

Every now and then I am struck by the urge to buy one of the Indian Royal Enfields. They come in 350 and 500cc versions, and rumor has it with an electric start. Now that's progress. They still look like the BSA in the picture.

Rich

No ! don't buy an Indian Royal Enfield.
same as don't buy one of the "Jeeps" they make

The closest I ever came to owning a British bike was in 1979... I was enamored with Triumph Bonnevilles for a while and came REALLY close to walking the aisle with a Trident.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B...et_3/Triumph_Trident

She was even graced by Pittsburgh Steeler-esque Black-&-Gold with lots of chrome...
ahhh...
-but I committed to a '78 Kawasaki KZ 650 instead.

I have plans to buy a new Bonneville (as soon as I can get rid of my Suzuki GS1100). It looks like a motorcycle should look (IMHO).
Ken

Lucky escape from buying a Trident, that period was a sad time for British bikes, well British anything really.

On the other hand I had a short go on a newish Bonneville and it was brilliant, all BLACK absolutely beautiful bike.
I've heard they are pretty well built now as well, but don't know for sure, when the Triumphs first came back they had plenty of problems but they are suppose to be real good now.
Though how many bike owners will tell the truth about the reliability of their baby?

If I lived in Pommy-land and was looking at a new Bonny I think I would seriously investigate the Hyde-Harrier version. Its the bike that John Bloor should have offered as a factory option model Bonneville but hasnt as yet.

And a Trident or Rocket3 can be made as reliable and user-friendly as any other bike if you are prepared to update to electronic ignition , solid-state voltage control and modern tyres. There isnt much that sounds better than a pushrod triple on song.

Just my humble thoughts anyway .

quote:

you are prepared to update to electronic ignition , solid-state voltage control

Basically you are suggesting to de-Lucas it!

Idaho Sharpshooter- I have a 441 Victor that I bought from my brother in 1978. I'm in the process of a bit of a spruce up on it right now. Fork seals, repack wheel and steering head bearings, and new tires (tyres)

You do have to be careful about tickling the Amal.

Banish the "Prince of Darkness"! Yes, first bit of kit to replace.

One thing about tickling that Amal, took care of stink finger!

Rich

Lucky Punk - spend the money on a good electronic ignition for your beeza - your knee will thank you for it .

I went from Yamahas to eventually the GS1100 Suzuki power trip. Deciding not to eventually do myself in, I turned to touring some, on a pair of Moto Guzzis. My son has my last one now (bad back), and daily I miss that thing. It had "character" and I loved the powerband on such a bike. I still find it odd that I liked it so much better than the GS, which did almost everything better. My nephew rides Triumphs, old and newer. We put a unit motor in a 57 T-bird frame, and he's ridden it clear up to Maine, down to Florida. He first updates the Lucas. Our dealer is a whiz on old European stuff.

My first bike was a 1943 Triumph 350cc (as I recall), single cylinder thumper, British Army bike still in original trim. Paid $350 for it, sold it for $450 to pay for the restoration of a Whizzer of all things. Like a lot of things from my youth I wish I had it back.