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Difference between revisions of "Triumph Bonneville T120"
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==Development== | ==Development== | ||
The Bonneville T120 was [[Edward Turner]]'s last production design at Triumph<ref name="Howstuffworks">{{cite web|url=http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1965-triumph-t120-bonneville.htm|title=1965 Triumph T120 Bonneville|accessdate=2009-02-21}}</ref> (in retirement Turner designed the [[Edward Turner#Triumph Bandit and BSA Fury|Triumph Bandit/BSA Fury]] which did not pass the prototype stage before BSA went under<ref>{{Cite book |title=Edward Turner: The Man Behind the Motorcycles |first=Jeff |last=Clew |publisher=Veloce Publishing |year=2007 |isbn= 978-1-84584-065-5 |page=133 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yi4sPHUiTiUC&pg=PA133 |postscript=<!--None--> }}</ref>). The new motorcycle was conceived and developed so quickly that it was not included in the 1959 Triumph catalogue.<ref name="Brown">{{cite book|last=Brown|first=Roland|title=The History of British Bikes|publisher=Parragon|year=1999|isbn=978-0-7525-3153-3}}</ref> With a | The Bonneville T120 was [[Edward Turner]]'s last production design at Triumph<ref name="Howstuffworks">{{cite web|url=http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1965-triumph-t120-bonneville.htm|title=1965 Triumph T120 Bonneville|accessdate=2009-02-21}}</ref> (in retirement Turner designed the [[Edward Turner#Triumph Bandit and BSA Fury|Triumph Bandit/BSA Fury]] which did not pass the prototype stage before BSA went under<ref>{{Cite book |title=Edward Turner: The Man Behind the Motorcycles |first=Jeff |last=Clew |publisher=Veloce Publishing |year=2007 |isbn= 978-1-84584-065-5 |page=133 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yi4sPHUiTiUC&pg=PA133 |postscript=<!--None--> }}</ref>). The new motorcycle was conceived and developed so quickly that it was not included in the 1959 Triumph catalogue.<ref name="Brown">{{cite book|last=Brown|first=Roland|title=The History of British Bikes|publisher=Parragon|year=1999|isbn=978-0-7525-3153-3}}</ref> With a 649cc parallel-twin (two-cylinder) engine the T120 was based on the [[Triumph Tiger T110]] and was fitted with the Tiger's optional twin 1 3/16 in [[Amal (motorcycle)|Amal]] monobloc carburettors as standard, along with that model's high-performance inlet camshaft.<ref name="KempClassic" /> Launched in 1959 by Triumph as "The Best Motorcycle in the World", the Bonneville T120 was aimed mainly at the lucrative US market where enthusiasts were demanding extra performance.<ref name="PT">{{cite web|url=http://www.patricktaylor.com/triumph-bonneville|title=The Triumph Bonneville|accessdate=2009-02-21}}</ref> | ||
Initially produced with a [[pre-unit construction]] engine which enabled the bike to achieve 115mph without further modification, the power tended to induce [[Bicycle and motorcycle dynamics#Wobble|high speed wobbles]] from the single downtube frame,<ref name="KempClassic" /> so in 1963 a stiffer and more compact [[unit construction]] model was introduced, with additional bracing at the steering head and swinging arm.<ref name="KempClassic" /> The steering angle was altered and improved forks were fitted a couple of years later, which, together with the increased stiffness enabled overall performance to match that of the Bonneville's rivals.<ref>''The History of British Motoring'', 2007. pp.166–167.</ref> | Initially produced with a [[pre-unit construction]] engine which enabled the bike to achieve 115mph without further modification, the power tended to induce [[Bicycle and motorcycle dynamics#Wobble|high speed wobbles]] from the single downtube frame,<ref name="KempClassic" /> so in 1963 a stiffer and more compact [[unit construction]] model was introduced, with additional bracing at the steering head and swinging arm.<ref name="KempClassic" /> The steering angle was altered and improved forks were fitted a couple of years later, which, together with the increased stiffness enabled overall performance to match that of the Bonneville's rivals.<ref>''The History of British Motoring'', 2007. pp.166–167.</ref> | ||