Triumph Bonneville T120 V 1972

The Triumph T120 V Bonneville.
This design is a symbol of total industrial meltdown through out Britain in the 1970. from political unrest. trade unions strikes to the final closure of Triumph. (NVT)
As British motorcycles company's. fell by the way side and slowly the Japanese flag shone brighter. the last true British motorcycle / car companys. BSA (villers). Norton and Triumph put their engineering heads together and re-designed Triumphs very successful. T120R 4 speed Bonneville pre 1970. They kept the legendary Triumph 40 Cubic inch unit motor. but gave it the 4/5 Speed gearbox and a duplex frame with a oil bearing main backbone. But their were problems. for some unknown reason (perhaps just money). BSA managed to persuade the rest to utilize their redundant stock of brake drums. They were great looking drums but did not have the efficiency to stop this now heavier Bonneville. compared to the older one. Their were problems with the 5 speed gearbox and complaints about the oil capacity of the frame. ( NB. I have read that it was the Americans that made this happen. The first design had the oil filler in the center of the petrol tank. makes sense. this would have filled the whole of the backbone with oil. but they complained that owners would get confused and fill it with fuel instead). This was just one of a long list of re designs to keep the Americans happy. Seat height issues ? The Ton up. leather clad. rue triumph boys. were just not impressed with the new Bonneville. and gave it the big thumbs down. the Japanese launched their technological advanced big fours and the final nail in the coffin was struck. A sad story. these machines were some of the last 650 to leave the factory. There were not many made. due to the bigger 750 in 73. Triumph owners club have less then 100 registered. compared to the pre- 1970 OIF ( oil in the frame) models. every one should have one in their barn! I'm not putting the pre 70s one down. But the frame was designed round a smaller capacity engine. that's why people built Triton's. best duplex frame and the best engine. Head to head this Bonneville will carve a sweater line then the earlier. If all the British bikes bikes had been built with a better quality of nuts and bolts e. g. stainless. their would be a lot more on the road to this day.
The Bike I have addressed the issue with the brakes. and have fitted stainless steel (ss) extended brake arms. a hell of lot Better. may be to good ? The 1972 five speed box has been replaced with a new T140 gear box. very nice. ( £700+ ) 19 tooth front sprocket. The forks are held together with stainless steel fixings. progressive springs. billet aluminium bottoms cups. both wheels have polished hub. SS spokes. chrome rims. I have put gaiters on the front and ear less top shrouds to give it a better. hunky older look. stanchions are 2" over and are perfect. The rear shocks. are koni dial a rides. progressive springs ( Norman Hyde). new chain. and rear tyre. SS wheel axles and swinging arm bolts chrome foot brake. SS extended arm. Seat pan was new. the cover was new but looking used now. tank is the USA export and the bars are USA high. It does have a sissy bar but not attached.
Colour is tiger gold. tank is original paint. looks good from far but far from good. very clean inside. upgraded cocks. side casings for filter box with extra decals. Just replaced all foot rubbers and cables. chokes are not connected but are all their. if you have an originality fetish !
Engine Cartridge oil filter (sump type). 4 port T140e oil pump. just changed oil and filter. new tubes fitted 1k ago. engine is Oil tight. when cold ? 3 phase 200w alternator. new type of rotor. Podtronic rectifier. Boyer digital ignition. 6v coils. led bulbs. negative earth wiring. flood light front. oil light working. no indicators fitted or wired for. Head is reworked by the Cylinder head shop. Nucleus guides and valves with new seats for lead free fuel. far tighter tolerances. far better then original. carbs polished. new gaskets. jetted for bell mouths. Rockers and head polished. new top end gaskets 1k ago. top seal at push rod tube. exhaust side. went) SS head bolts and rocker fixings. sure fire plugs. Barrels and pistons are original and on standard bore. new piston rings 4k ago. Frame was blasted. rimed and finished in hammer-rite smooth. black. All engine fixing SS. Exhausts are the push in type. LoL. good chrome. silencers are solid. but scratched and dented in places. Rear tail lite is small Lucas type. black and white reg plate.
Every thing is working. Working better then new ! I have not addressed the issue with the seat height which was another complaint from the punters. My seat height stands at 30" it was never a problem for me!
History, I have known this bike from new. When My uncle bought it in 1973. I have owned it for more then 30 years. with a slow rebuild saw it back on the road for the year 2000 after it had been taken off the road in 1975 with gear box problems. When I received the bike the mileage was just over 8000. the mileage today is just over 13500. I have the Tax discs for 1973. 1974. 2001.. .. 6. 8. 0. 012. all the mot are their apart from the early ones. The bike is just not getting used. Built 72 Registered 73 UK bike. Matching numbers. 2 owners from new. Historic road tax.
The owner I have had a other rebuilds other then the Triumph. but slowly my life has become more important to other people. so. I have sold all my frighteningly quick. Heavy. uncomfortable machines. The last to go was the Kawasaki z900 zib. the one before that was the Laverda 500. now leaving me with this Triumph T120v Bonneville. which has been used for summer vintage motor runs and sunny Sundays which are scarce in Scotland. I have now reached that time in life. where it is time to climb down from the summit and your body is beginning to fail ! due to the harsh way you treated it on the way up. I am starting to feel the cold. I now know what the expression means. "chilled to the bone". I am starting to look at. full touring fairings. electric everything. disc brakes. effortless starting.
The bike needs nothing. I will MOT the bike.