Early 50’s triumph thunderbird

[Blakeatron]

Had my fireblade mot’d today, whilst there got chatting to the mechanic and he said he was selling one of his projects - an early 50’s triumph thunderbird 650.

Its complete and in running order, he uses it! However its a but scabby and rusty in places, however i kind of like it!

Im coming upto 40 and fancy something i can tinker with and use occasionally.

He mentioned £4k - ive got no idea, looking on ebay seems about right.

Could i happily ride around for half a day or would it not be practical?

[hiccy18]

No idea, but.... given the opportunity I would be taking it and accepting all that came my way. And making sure my RAC membership was up to date!

Sounds awesome fun to me.

[Wacky Racer]

Do your research properly before you jump in, old Triumphs are fetching silly money, but it might need £3k spending on it, difficult to say.

Personally, I would go for something late 60's, but that's just me.

[Speedy23]

. ..you'll enjoy the r/h gear shift and l/h rear brake....

[srob]

No reason you can’t use one regularly, you just need to keep on top of maintenance.

I had a 1955 Thunderbird (the one with an SU carb) which I used quite a lot. I did an Irish Rally on it which was about 500 miles on Irish backroads in four days without too many issues!

They’re a really nice easy machine to ride. Plenty of torque and a strong feeling engine and gearbox. Front brake was atrocious though!

[bimsb6]

Sounds a bargain , has it got an age related plate too?

[Blakeatron]

Thanks everyone - its running and riding just looks shabby, and yes has its original 6digit plate.

Might go for another look

[FastAndy]

Buy it it will always be worth that and will only appreciate over time or improvement. I love my modern bikes but enjoy some of the classic events on my classics just missing a Ducati but hope to rectify that this winter on.

[gareth_r]

Wacky Racer said:

Do your research properly before you jump in, old Triumphs are fetching silly money, but it might need £3k spending on it, difficult to say.

Personally, I would go for something late 60's, but that's just me.

There's not really any difference between an early '50s 650 Triumph and a late '60s one.

[srob]

gareth_r said:

There's not really any difference between an early '50s 650 Triumph and a late '60s one.

Eh? An early fifties one would be sprung hub rear suspension and pre-unit. A late sixties one would be swinging arm and unit construction.

So other than the frame and the engine and gearbox I guess they’re about the same

[gareth_r]

srob said:

gareth_r said:

Wacky Racer said:

Do your research properly before you jump in, old Triumphs are fetching silly money, but it might need £3k spending on it, difficult to say.

Personally, I would go for something late 60's, but that's just me.

There's not really any difference between an early '50s 650 Triumph and a late '60s one.

Eh? An early fifties one would be sprung hub rear suspension and pre-unit. A late sixties one would be swinging arm and unit construction.

So other than the frame and the engine and gearbox I guess they’re about the same

The OP was asking if it would be practical to ride it around for half a day, not whether it had razor-sharp handling and the engine and transmission in one casting or three.

The same things will go wrong regardless of when it was made (except for the cylinder head cracks on the early one, I suppose).



EDIT: forget the crack about the early cylinder head, it'll be cast iron, and it's probably the alloy heads that used to have problems.

Edited by gareth_r on Saturday 31st October 22:48

[srob]

gareth_r said:

The OP was asking if it would be practical to ride it around for half a day, not whether it had razor-sharp handling and the engine and transmission in one casting or three.

The same things will go wrong regardless of when it was made (except for the cylinder head cracks on the early one, I suppose).



EDIT: forget the crack about the early cylinder head, it'll be cast iron, and it's probably the alloy heads that used to have problems.

Edited by gareth_r on Saturday 31st October 22:48

I’ve only briefly ridden a sprung hub model compared to the swinging arm one I had, but they felt from different generations to me.

The sprung hub was more like the 40s plunger era; which it was of course, as it was Triumph’s link between the rigid and swinging arm era as they didn’t do a plunger. It felt way heavier than the swinging arm - no idea if they are or not but that’s how it felt!

I think I’d find a sprung hub T-bird far more tiring than a swinging arm model for half a day’s riding

[Wacky Racer]

gareth_r said:

Wacky Racer said:

Do your research properly before you jump in, old Triumphs are fetching silly money, but it might need £3k spending on it, difficult to say.

Personally, I would go for something late 60's, but that's just me.

There's not really any difference between an early '50s 650 Triumph and a late '60s one.

If you say so.

Unit construction engine for starters, upgraded electrics, lights etc.

[gareth_r]

Wacky Racer said:

gareth_r said:

Wacky Racer said:

Do your research properly before you jump in, old Triumphs are fetching silly money, but it might need £3k spending on it, difficult to say.

Personally, I would go for something late 60's, but that's just me.

There's not really any difference between an early '50s 650 Triumph and a late '60s one.

If you say so.

Unit construction engine for starters, upgraded electrics, lights etc.

I know, BSA/Triumph had just introduced the twin leading shoe front brake when I started riding.

[Pat H]

You could always consider a late 1970s T140.

That way you get a decent handling frame, electronic ignition, left foot change and a disc brake.

But you still get all the rattles, leaks and vibes you could ever wish for.

Edited by Pat H on Tuesday 3rd November 19:25

[bimsb6]

Pat H said:

You could always consider a late 1970s T140.

That way you get a decent handling frame, electronic ignition, right foot change and a disc brake.

But you still get all the rattles, leaks and vibes you could ever wish for.

You wont get a nice one for 4k .

[stang65]

Blakeatron said:

Had my fireblade mot’d today, whilst there got chatting to the mechanic and he said he was selling one of his projects - an early 50’s triumph thunderbird 650.

Its complete and in running order, he uses it! However its a but scabby and rusty in places, however i kind of like it!

Im coming upto 40 and fancy something i can tinker with and use occasionally.

He mentioned £4k - ive got no idea, looking on ebay seems about right.

Could i happily ride around for half a day or would it not be practical?

If you sit on it and it's comfortable you'll be fine, as old bikes tend to be smaller than modern bikes. The suspension is harsh but you'll be going slower so will chalk it down to "charm". The front brakes on most old British bikes are rubbish....but the backs aren't normally too bad and if the tyres are of standard spec you won't want too much brake anyway! I have an AJS 500 single, so slower than this, and it's fine for longer rides - I've done 500 mile weekends.

You won't want one as your only bike, but as an antidote to modern life they're rewarding. I just ride on smaller, quieter roads and potter along at 30-40mph looking at the scenery. It's like automotive Valium......

[Pat H]

bimsb6 said:

Pat H said:

You could always consider a late 1970s T140.

That way you get a decent handling frame, electronic ignition, right foot change and a disc brake.

But you still get all the rattles, leaks and vibes you could ever wish for.

You wont get a nice one for 4k .

Eight weeks ago I bought this T140ES for £4500.

The rims are a bit scabby and the paint is faded, but it is original, very presentable and has only done 10,000 miles.

If I was the OP, I would add an oil in frame A65 to the shopping list. £4000 could easily buy a smart 650 BSA.

[gareth_r]

Pat H said:

Eight weeks ago I bought this T140ES for £4500.

The rims are a bit scabby and the paint is faded, but it is original, very presentable and has only done 10,000 miles.

If I was the OP, I would add an oil in frame A65 to the shopping list. £4000 could easily buy a smart 650 BSA.

I don't know if they are all like it, but an OIF A65 was one of the two most vibratory motorcycles I have ever ridden.

To be fair, that was when it was only 5 or 6 years old, and there's a chance that anything you buy now might have been improved.

[srob]

gareth_r said:

Pat H said:

Eight weeks ago I bought this T140ES for £4500.

The rims are a bit scabby and the paint is faded, but it is original, very presentable and has only done 10,000 miles.

If I was the OP, I would add an oil in frame A65 to the shopping list. £4000 could easily buy a smart 650 BSA.

I don't know if they are all like it, but an OIF A65 was one of the two most vibratory motorcycles I have ever ridden.

To be fair, that was when it was only 5 or 6 years old, and there's a chance that anything you buy now might have been improved.

I've never ridden an oil in frame one, but aren't they meant to be really tall too?