Triumph Bandit 350SS

Triumph Bandit 350SS
Manufacturer	Triumph
Production	1971
Engine	Four stroke, parallel twin, DOHC, 2 valvews per cylinder, alloy
Compression ratio	9.5:1
Top Speed	160 km/h / 100 mph
Battery	12V
Transmission	5-Speed
Frame	Tubular steel, double cradle
Suspension	Front: Telescopic fork Rear: Twin shocks, coil springs
Brakes	Front: Drum, internal expanding Rear: Drum, internal expanding
Front Tire	3.25 x 18 Dunlop K70
Rear Tire	3.50 x 18 Dunlop K70
Wheelbase	1489 mm / 58.6 in
Weight	157 kg / 345 lbs (dry), 167 kg / 368 lbs (wet)
Fuel Capacity	13.5 L / 3.6 US gal / 3.0 Imp gal
Manuals	Service Manual

It could reach a top speed of 160 km/h / 100 mph.

Engine

The engine was a Air cooled cooled Four stroke, parallel twin, DOHC, 2 valvews per cylinder, alloy. The engine featured a 9.5:1 compression ratio.

Drive

Power was moderated via the Wet, multi-plate.

Chassis

It came with a 3.25 x 18 Dunlop K70 front tire and a 3.50 x 18 Dunlop K70 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Drum, internal expanding in the front and a Drum, internal expanding in the rear. The front suspension was a Telescopic fork while the rear was equipped with a Twin shocks, coil springs. The Bandit 350SS was fitted with a 13.5 L / 3.6 US gal / 3.0 Imp gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 157 kg / 345 lbs. The wheelbase was 1489 mm / 58.6 in long.

Photos

Overview

Triumph Bandit 350SS

Launched in 1971 the 5-speed, 349 cc (21.3 cu in) double overhead cam twin cylinder Triumph Bandit delivered 34 bhp (25 kW) and could reach 110 mph (180 km/h). Essentially the same motorcycle as the BSA Fury, the Bandit represented the factory's last attempt to compete against Japanese imports.

The only contemporary road test was by American magazine Cycle Guide in their March 1971 issue upon a visit to the Triumph and BSA factories at Meriden and Small Heath, respectively. The Bandit's petrol tank color scheme was Cypress Green (although Cycle World identified it as Jealous Green with white-lined black scallops above and below a metal Triumph badge with a chrome styling strip running down the top of the tank. The same paint scheme applied to the mudguards with a white-lined black stripe running down through their centre. The side panels were silver painted with black 'tombstone' style lettering stating the model name and engine size: 'Bandit 350'.

The engine was all-alloy as opposed to Triumph's other twins that relied upon an iron barrel and considered by Cycle Guide to be 'beautifully finished' and 'a real thing of beauty'. Cycle Guide criticised the retention of a traditionally Triumph vertically split crankcase halves rather than adopting the Japanese practice of horizontally splitting them. Despite this, it was noted that the engine was oil tight. The small diameter instruments and foot pegs thought mounted too far forward came in for criticism as did the poor conical hub rear brake performance, unlike the 'great' front brake. Lever travel between gears was felt to be too long although the clutch operation was 'silky smooth'.

The electrical system was twin coil and 12 volt and an electric starter was offered as an option. Carburetion was by two Amal 27mm carburetors. Cycle Guide were disappointed that the engine could not be expanded beyond 350cc but praised the engine's and exhausts' quietness. Two exhaust systems, a low level ('T35R') and high level (the 'T35SS' Street Scrambler version), were offered, the former offering more top speed. The low level exhaust system was finished in bright chrome, the high level system in matt black with a stainless steel heat shield. The T35SS version also came with what the brochure described as 'detachable electrics'. Tyres for both versions were the same, Dunlop K70; 3.25 x 18 inches for the front and 3.50 x 18 inches for the rear. Compression ratio was also the same for both : 9.5:1.

Overall, the review was extremely positive concluding, the Bandit 'will run at 90 mph (140 km/h) all day long' and Triumph would 'sell all they can crank out in the next 12 months' being 'a lot of machine for the money' (US$900). In the United Kingdom, a retail price of £402 was cited, some £83 less than Triumph's 500 cc (31 cu in) Daytona model and £91 more than their 250 cc (15 cu in) Blazer model.

Make Model	Triumph Bandit 350SS (T35SS)
Year	1971
Engine Type	Four stroke, parallel twin, DOHC, 2 valvews per cylinder, alloy
Displacement	349 cc / 21.3 cu in
Bore X Stroke	63 x 56 mm
Cooling System	Air cooled
Compression	9.5:1
Engine Oil	2.7 L / 5.7 US pt / 4.8 Imp pt
Exhaust	Two into two, high level
Induction	2 x 27 mm Amal carburetors
Starting	Kick (electric starter option)
Battery	12V
Max Power	25 kW / 34 hp @ 9000 rpm
Max Torque	28.4 Nm / 2.9 kgf-m / 21 lb-ft @ 7000 rpm
Clutch	Wet, multi-plate
Transmission	5-Speed
Final Drive	Chain
Frame	Tubular steel, double cradle
Front Suspension	Telescopic fork
Rear Suspension	Twin shocks, coil springs
Front Brakes	Drum, internal expanding
Rear Brakes	Drum, internal expanding
Front Tire	3.25 x 18 Dunlop K70
Rear Tire	3.50 x 18 Dunlop K70
Wheelbase	1489 mm / 58.6 in
Dry Weight	157 kg / 345 lbs
Wet Weight	167 kg / 368 lbs
Fuel Capacity	13.5 L / 3.6 US gal / 3.0 Imp gal
Top Speed	160 km/h / 100 mph