In the 1970s my father ran a motorbike garage and was a Triumph and Norton agent (in Cornwall), while I was running a lorry on long distance. I used to regularly collect new Triumph T140Vs from the worker's cooperative Triumph factory in Meriden and bring them home for my father. This bike in this film has a Cornish registration number, so there's a high probability that I collected it direct from the Triumph factory, and my father sold the bike when it was new.

@SPANNERRASH

3 жыл бұрын

That's awesome, thanks for sharing Tommy! It would be incredible if it was, in fact, a bonnie that'd passed through your hands all these years later.

@TomRelubbus

3 жыл бұрын

@@SPANNERRASH Was there a name on the number plate, or a blue sticker with 'Brookside Garage', or 'Thomas's Brookside garage'? Funnily enough someone got in touch with me recently, who'd just re-purchased a Bonneville (Executive) that he'd bought new from my father in 1981. Although he reckons he too old to ride it now, so he'll just keep polishing instead! The Meriden factory was fantastic. When they were building the Silver Jubilee models, I regularly used to go and watch the old boys painting all the lines on by hand. My father sold loads of those. Tony Benn helped set up the Triumph worker's cooperative at Meriden - and Maggie Thatcher closed it all down! It was a sad day the last time I went there.

@paulwilson3083

3 жыл бұрын

@@TomRelubbus It was indeed a sad day when it closed the workers coperative was a good idea but lacked investment for new machine tools which were showing wear, I bought a new T140 Bonnie in November 1978, it went back to Meriden for new block and pistons I also had a man from Lucas out as it was cutting out he knew what was wrong before I explained the problem , Triumph had failed to put waterproof joins on the wires on the electronic ignition, such a let down, then the recommended champion N8 (I think) spark plugs failed regularly, when I collected the bike from the factory a man called Jim Winston had put 2 lodge spark plugs in and to this day she hasn't missed a beat, she's Great.

I really enjoyed this video, I just got my 1978 Triumph and have been riding it a few days, and it makes my heart pump to hear another start up and run just as mine does. Hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine! Thanks for showing it.

@SPANNERRASH

2 жыл бұрын

I really love this era of Bonnie. It's really great to get one going again. I enjoyed this bike very much, but I always like getting the next one, so this one went to a new home where I know it is being loved!

I laughed too hard @ 2:28 when you revved and parts started falling off! Haha. Looks like one of my projects! Thanks for posting and enjoy your Triumph! 👍👊

@SPANNERRASH

3 жыл бұрын

I laughed watching it back too. Even worse when its something I'm sure I tightened! :D Cheers

Congrats boys,you've got a nice runner.

Love it..all smiles...loved mine

@SPANNERRASH

2 жыл бұрын

It really is a thrill getting an old bike running again like this, cheers Harvey. :)

Tawny brown and gold bought the same bike from greys at stokes croft bristol in 1979 the last 4 left from the Meriden factory, best motorcycle l ever had .

@bicycle551

2 ай бұрын

In US known as UPS color scheme

Terrific. I have the same bike, same colour, in the original condition at the start of this video. To see your bike later in all its glory made me very envious. I can only dream of such a transformation. Stay safe.

@SPANNERRASH

4 жыл бұрын

Cheers Michael! You should crack out the spanners, you might be surprised at what you can do with your own.

say well done to you keep the old bikes going

@SPANNERRASH

3 жыл бұрын

Cheers mate, I do what I can :D

very good

I think that most of the time, it was a 375cc single.

@SPANNERRASH

3 жыл бұрын

Definitely, but she's a runner! ..kind of anyway

I'm going to take the gas tank off mine tomorrow! Save money and weight!

@SPANNERRASH

3 жыл бұрын

Haha, great minds think alike! ;)

I sold those new.

Is she still running?!

@SPANNERRASH

2 жыл бұрын

She went on to a new home in the end, although after this first start I did quite a bit of work on the bike. Ended up being a really good one from a mechanical perspective. Left the new owner to fettle the cosmetics.

Hi am a good

@SPANNERRASH

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, I am really pleased with how it came out, well worth the effort.

Put some frigging petrol in it

@SPANNERRASH

3 жыл бұрын

It would help! :D

That doesn't sound right. Is it running on one cylinder? Just abusing the hell out of it. What a shame.

@SPANNERRASH

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Steven, it wasn't running right at all, it was it's first start in decades! It turned out to run lovely when I'd finished though, wish I'd have made a video series on this one.

@stevendaniels8652

2 жыл бұрын

@@SPANNERRASH made the comment without realizing the very end. Its just sooo bad to rev an engine like that after all the time and not making sure its all in working order. That's the same bike at the end? Beautiful... and sounds great at that point. The guy.... has that triumph grin. Lol

@SPANNERRASH

2 жыл бұрын

@@stevendaniels8652 It does seem a bit brutal in hindsight, but we did clean out the oil and replace it with new + filter and check the bike could be turned by hand first. I didn't just roll out of a barn and start kicking it. It is the same bike at the end with me riding off into the sunset, ended up being a lovely T140. Thinking about picking another up in the near future. We'll see about that.. :)

@stevendaniels8652

2 жыл бұрын

@@SPANNERRASH try and find a pre-unit. My fad put one in a early 80's chopper he built...good luck with the future buy.

Try a gas tank lol

@SPANNERRASH

3 жыл бұрын

Hahaha, I like to live dangerously