Fired up the '67 Triumph Bonneville Chopper today...

[Zman86]

One of my dads bikes. Built in the 70's, he's had it for a couple years now and done absolutly nothing with it, so I'm thinking of possibly buying it off him. However, I dont know about having a bike such as this saftied here in Ontario, or how safety inspections are performed on custom bikes. Any insight would gladly be welcomed.

Anyways, its a '67 I believe. Engine is stamped T120R. Freshly rebuilt with 250miles on it, and the left cylinder seems to be burning oil. From the sounds of the idle, it may have a cam in it, but I do not know the history of the bike. Anyways, enjoy the sight and sound. Video does not do the sound of the bike justice at all....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPWkK4NL848

[brietlingman]

Very nice ... thanks for sharing. I love them old rides; they have class, ya know? Very cool ....

Cheers!
Bill

[Idle Swede]

I bought one of the first Bonneville 650 R's that came in to the country and if my memory serves me right it was model year 1968.

[Tools]

Interesting build..

I've logged hundreds of miles on an old '68 Bonneville. It was my main ride to work in the early '70's. I ate lots of bugs and have impact scars from roaring past the orange groves outside of Riverside, CA....

They have freeways there now...probably not near as much fun.........

[Widows Son]

I have a 1969 TR6R in boxes somewhere!!!! Went on a Masonic Teddy Bear run today. We raised $3,500 for Akron Childrens Hospital. Beautiful day for a ride.

[FBender]

Nice bike

[sexner]

Hi, zman86. I had a T120R chopper in the 80's. People who think that Harley's shake have obviously never ridden a Triumph! On a custom build you will need to have a VIN assigned (if it doesn't have one). On older bikes the number on the engine is what they normally go by as they didn't have frame numbers. Then all you'll have to do is source a bike shop that will do a safety. Out here I used to work a little motorcycle repair shop and we did safeties and out of Province inspections all the time. Canadian Tire does safeties too.

[jdc]

great bike

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Zman86

One of my dads bikes. Built in the 70's, he's had it for a couple years now and done absolutly nothing with it, so I'm thinking of possibly buying it off him. However, I dont know about having a bike such as this saftied here in Ontario, or how safety inspections are performed on custom bikes. Any insight would gladly be welcomed.

Anyways, its a '67 I believe. Engine is stamped T120R. Freshly rebuilt with 250miles on it, and the left cylinder seems to be burning oil. From the sounds of the idle, it may have a cam in it, but I do not know the history of the bike. Anyways, enjoy the sight and sound. Video does not do the sound of the bike justice at all....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPWkK4NL848

The bike below restored by myself to concourse condition alas sold quite a few years ago now in Japan.

[Zman86]

Originally Posted by sexner

Hi, zman86. I had a T120R chopper in the 80's. People who think that Harley's shake have obviously never ridden a Triumph! On a custom build you will need to have a VIN assigned (if it doesn't have one). On older bikes the number on the engine is what they normally go by as they didn't have frame numbers. Then all you'll have to do is source a bike shop that will do a safety. Out here I used to work a little motorcycle repair shop and we did safeties and out of Province inspections all the time. Canadian Tire does safeties too.

Your right about the shaking, holy smokes! Thanks for the info. I know Canadian tire does bike safeties cause I used to work at one, my main concern is because of the modifications to the bike it will never pass a safety. The front brake has been elimated, along with the turnsignals. It has a rear brake/tail/headlights still.


And Padi, that bike is gorgeous! I'd love to restore one back to original myself, but they are fetching alot of money nowadays for a complete one to even start a project with...

[sexner]

You might be screwed as your bike will need a front brake to pass. My Triumph had a mechanical front brake with a cool looking air scoop. If you check around you may be able to get a front brake set-up to put on for a safety - then take it off afterwards. You don't need signals though. If the vehicle didn't come with them they are not required to pass. I believe they weren't on until 1972.

[Zman86]

We have an old triumph drum front brake assembly with a air scoop on it, looks pretty cool, but my dad is using it on his SX560 bobber project, and I know he had one hell of a time finding the one he wanted...

[sexner]

Mine was a chopper way back when too. I was logging in the Queen Charlotte Islands and was ordering all kinds of stuff mail order from British Cycle in Vancouver. A real slow way to do it. It was a Tiger with a T120R motor. Bolt on hard-tail etc... I ended up giving it away to a friend. If you go through J & P Cycles you could probably get a re-pop assembly for a reasonable price that'll get you through an inspection. Hey as long as you have it it would be an interesting project to put it back to stock like the one padi56 re-did. I was doing a 57 rigid Panhead and after 3 yrs lost interest and sold it. It was 85 % done and I was going for a 100 point restoration. Lotsa work.

[FBender]

Great bike Padi, nothing better than working on old bikes

[ratae1950]

Classic machine!