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Difference between revisions of "Triumph Bonneville T120"
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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 {{convert|649|cc|in3|abbr=on}} 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> | 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 {{convert|649|cc|in3|abbr=on}} 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 | 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> | ||
In 1967 Triumph posted its most successful year in the United States with an estimated 28,000 T120s sold,.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/motorcycle-reviews/1967-triumph-t120-bonneville.aspx|title=1967 Triumph T120 Bonneville|publisher=Motorcycle Classics|accessdate=2011-03-07|date=March–April 2011|author=Neale Bayly}}</ref> In 1968 the T120 gained a new and more reliable ignition system. From 1971, T120 models used a new frame which contained the engine oil instead of using a separate tank (this became known as the ''oil in frame''/'OIF' version). A five-speed gearbox finally was fully available by 1972, but competition from larger-capacity motorcycles led to the T120 being superseded by the 750 cc [[Triumph Bonneville T140|Bonneville T140]]. Production of the 650 continued until 1973, when the workers at Triumph's [[Meriden, West Midlands|Meriden]] headquarters staged a sit-in until 1975. In 1974 fewer than 1000 of the 650cc assembled machines were released by the workers, with another 38 in 1975. Production of the T120 was not resumed following the sit-in, the [[Triumph Engineering#The Meriden Motorcycle Co-operative|Meriden Motorcycle Co-Operative]] created after the dispute concentrating upon the 750cc twins instead.<ref>''The Rarest Bonneville Of Them All ?'' (Classic Bike 1/12)</ref> | In 1967 Triumph posted its most successful year in the United States with an estimated 28,000 T120s sold,.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/motorcycle-reviews/1967-triumph-t120-bonneville.aspx|title=1967 Triumph T120 Bonneville|publisher=Motorcycle Classics|accessdate=2011-03-07|date=March–April 2011|author=Neale Bayly}}</ref> In 1968 the T120 gained a new and more reliable ignition system. From 1971, T120 models used a new frame which contained the engine oil instead of using a separate tank (this became known as the ''oil in frame''/'OIF' version). A five-speed gearbox finally was fully available by 1972, but competition from larger-capacity motorcycles led to the T120 being superseded by the 750 cc [[Triumph Bonneville T140|Bonneville T140]]. Production of the 650 continued until 1973, when the workers at Triumph's [[Meriden, West Midlands|Meriden]] headquarters staged a sit-in until 1975. In 1974 fewer than 1000 of the 650cc assembled machines were released by the workers, with another 38 in 1975. Production of the T120 was not resumed following the sit-in, the [[Triumph Engineering#The Meriden Motorcycle Co-operative|Meriden Motorcycle Co-Operative]] created after the dispute concentrating upon the 750cc twins instead.<ref>''The Rarest Bonneville Of Them All ?'' (Classic Bike 1/12)</ref> | ||