71,744
edits
Difference between revisions of "Triumph Bonneville T120"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
no summary specified
(expanding) |
m (no summary specified) |
||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
==Racing success== | ==Racing success== | ||
The first race the Triumph Bonneville partook in was the 1959 Thruxton 500. Entered by Triumph Dealers with bikes supplied from the factory. In this first race they finished 2nd (behind a BMW) and 4th heralding the beginning of a successful era of Triumph motorcycle racing. | The first race the Triumph Bonneville partook in was the 1959 Thruxton 500. Entered by Triumph Dealers with bikes supplied from the factory. In this first race they finished 2nd (behind a BMW) and 4th heralding the beginning of a successful era of Triumph motorcycle racing. | ||
The T120 won the Production [[Isle of Man TT]] in [[1967 Isle of Man TT|1967]] and [[1969 Isle of Man TT|1969]]. The re-introduction of the Production TT had just taken place in 1967 when [[John Hartle]] took first place on his Bonneville. Two years later in [[1969 Isle of Man TT|1969]], Triumph set a new landmark in TT history when [[Malcolm Uphill]] averaged {{convert|100|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} around the Mountain Course on a Bonneville.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/Events.aspx?meet_code=TT69%20%20&era=3 | title=TT FactZone Meetings 1951-1970: TT 1969 | publisher=iomtt.com | accessdate=2016-06-23}}</ref> Uphill’s achievement was the first time that a production motorcycle had ever passed the three-figure mark from a standing start.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.webbikeworld.com/valmoto/060303.htm | title=Triumph's Return to Isle of Man | publisher=webbikeworld.com | accessdate=2015-12-20 }}</ref> Following Uphill's record the [[Dunlop Rubber|Dunlop]] K81 | The T120 won the Production [[Isle of Man TT]] in [[1967 Isle of Man TT|1967]] and [[1969 Isle of Man TT|1969]]. The re-introduction of the Production TT had just taken place in 1967 when [[John Hartle]] took first place on his Bonneville. Two years later in [[1969 Isle of Man TT|1969]], Triumph set a new landmark in TT history when [[Malcolm Uphill]] averaged {{convert|100|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} around the Mountain Course on a Bonneville.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/Events.aspx?meet_code=TT69%20%20&era=3 | title=TT FactZone Meetings 1951-1970: TT 1969 | publisher=iomtt.com | accessdate=2016-06-23}}</ref> Uphill’s achievement was the first time that a production motorcycle had ever passed the three-figure mark from a standing start.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.webbikeworld.com/valmoto/060303.htm | title=Triumph's Return to Isle of Man | publisher=webbikeworld.com | accessdate=2015-12-20 }}</ref> Following Uphill's record the [[Dunlop Rubber|Dunlop]] K81 tires he was using were renamed 'TT100's.<ref name="TT Magic">{{cite book|last=McDiarmid|first=Mac|title=The Magic of the TT|publisher=Haynes Publishing|isbn=978-1-84425-431-6|year=2007}}</ref> | ||
In 1962 Tony Godfrey and John Holder rode T120 Bonnevilles to victory in the [[Thruxton 500|Thruxton 500 mile endurance race]], and an article in ''[[The Motor Cycle]]'' entitled "Thruxton Triumph by Bonneville" led to the development of the Triumph T120R 'Thruxton', which was hand-built by a team of Triumph technicians using specially picked components and precision-machined cylinder heads and crankcases. Peak power was increased and each 'Thruxton' engine was bench tested to deliver around {{convert|53|bhp|kW|abbr=on}} at 6,800 rpm with a safe rev ceiling of 7,200 rpm. Only around 55 of the Thruxton T120Rs were built in 1964/5 to meet homologation requirements for production racing,<ref name="vintagemann">{{cite web |title=Vintage Mann Magazine |url=https://www.jurbyfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/201509.pdf |accessdate=22 June 2018 |page=22 |date=September 2015}}</ref><ref name="motorcycleclassics">{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Robert |title=Origins of the Triumph Thruxton 900 - Classic British Motorcycles - Motorcycle Classics |url=https://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-british-motorcycles/origins-triumph-thruxton-900 |website=Motorcycle Classics |accessdate=22 June 2018 |language=en |date=December 2005}}</ref> and surviving examples are rare.<ref name="Thruxton">{{cite web|url=http://www.bikepoint.com.au/portal/tabID__5760/ArticleID__119386/DesktopDefault.aspx|title=Triumph Thruxton|accessdate=2009-02-22}}</ref> About 100 more machines were subsequently manufactured and supplied to selected dealers and riders.<ref name="vintagemann" /> Further examples were also built by dealers, with the factory's approval, from factory supplied parts.<ref name="motorcycleclassics" /> | In 1962 Tony Godfrey and John Holder rode T120 Bonnevilles to victory in the [[Thruxton 500|Thruxton 500 mile endurance race]], and an article in ''[[The Motor Cycle]]'' entitled "Thruxton Triumph by Bonneville" led to the development of the Triumph T120R 'Thruxton', which was hand-built by a team of Triumph technicians using specially picked components and precision-machined cylinder heads and crankcases. Peak power was increased and each 'Thruxton' engine was bench tested to deliver around {{convert|53|bhp|kW|abbr=on}} at 6,800 rpm with a safe rev ceiling of 7,200 rpm. Only around 55 of the Thruxton T120Rs were built in 1964/5 to meet homologation requirements for production racing,<ref name="vintagemann">{{cite web |title=Vintage Mann Magazine |url=https://www.jurbyfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/201509.pdf |accessdate=22 June 2018 |page=22 |date=September 2015}}</ref><ref name="motorcycleclassics">{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Robert |title=Origins of the Triumph Thruxton 900 - Classic British Motorcycles - Motorcycle Classics |url=https://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-british-motorcycles/origins-triumph-thruxton-900 |website=Motorcycle Classics |accessdate=22 June 2018 |language=en |date=December 2005}}</ref> and surviving examples are rare.<ref name="Thruxton">{{cite web|url=http://www.bikepoint.com.au/portal/tabID__5760/ArticleID__119386/DesktopDefault.aspx|title=Triumph Thruxton|accessdate=2009-02-22}}</ref> About 100 more machines were subsequently manufactured and supplied to selected dealers and riders.<ref name="vintagemann" /> Further examples were also built by dealers, with the factory's approval, from factory supplied parts.<ref name="motorcycleclassics" /> | ||