The Triumph reborn!

It has been some time since I added to this Blog. A combination of work, early retirement and bike problems saw me laying her up for far too long. Well last winter 2014 I put the Triumph on the bike lift and got to work on it.

The reason was that I did last year's Saundersfoot run so needed to get the bike in a good state. Unfortunately I must have been running a bit weak because she nipped up on a long hill and since last year has been smoking and using oil. It performed well but I decided to strip it down again.

I have now fitted new Heppolites and had the barrels honed. I spent a lot of time rebuilding the top end with a view to getting it oil tight and right - I am very pleased with outcome because it is running and performing better than it ever has. It is such a pleasure to ride that in the space of two weeks I covered over 1000 trouble free miles.

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The Saundersfoot Run 2007

 

West South Wales VMCC Mountain Run

Sunday 5th August 2007

Well done that man - John Booth, for what has been one of, if not the best, run this year. This was a well attended with about 30 plus bikes out. The route started in Gwynfe on the Black Mountain and took us over towards Myddfai through a myriad of both mountain tops and small wooded lanes. We then descended on to the main A40 for a short main road run to Llywel where we entered the Eppynt Military area - what a fantastic ride with smooth roads terrific scenery and the sun beating down to keep us all warm. I have to say the Triumph was on song and the previous weeks outing in Scarborough only seems to have done it good - I was flying along. It is a strange area with its high views and almost barren landscape, until you spot a German Village in the distance - we could have been abroad. Mind you cannot get to the village, which is a training fascade anyhow.

We went onto Tirabad and then turned for Llangamarch Wells and finally for the morning ended up in Llanwrtyd Wells for lunch at the Belle Vue. A good Sunday lunch was enjoyed and after a natter and a few photographs it was off again towards Abergwesyn and the Devil's Staircase - this tested both bike and nerves with its steep hairpin climbs and steeper descent. I have to say the road to the staircase must rate as one of the prettiest around with its valley sides and views of the Irfon River, still a mountain stream at this stage.

Onward over the pass and onto the twisty and very picturesque road around Llyn Brianne, unfortunately the promised ice cream stop was not to be - the ice cream van was nowhere to be seen so after another quick natter and comments on how well the Triumph was going and sounded we set off through Rhandirmwyn through to Llandovery. This route is also very pretty and especially for me as I am also a canoeist so the views of the River Twyi meandering and thundering through the gorges is a pleasant distraction (not that I needed one following Hywel on his Norton (I never noticed the miss, although he insists there is one there - that is why he was behind me all day!!! - only joking Hywel!))

Llandovery was, as usual full of bikers enjoying the cameraderie one would expect from bikers and so the Triumph was a pleasant change from the R1, GSXRs and Fireblades we have all got used to. I have to amdit this is where my ride stopped as the company was good, the Apple Pie and Ice cream superb and so Hywel and myself decided not to ride the last few miles back to John's Farm (I did ring and tell him albeit some hours later, sorry John).

A good day and one where bike and rider wher well matched - the roads suited the bikes power and it rose to the challenge, I even forgave it the few oil drips it left me by way of letting me know it had worked hard.

Photos to follow although there will be none of the scenery because it was such a good ride we did not stop to take any. 100 miles of classic scratching (not sure if that was a word used in 1972!)

Scarborough VMCC Bike Week

This is the first time that I have attended this event and I can honestly say it was superb even if the weather was a little, well shall we say, humid!!! The organisation was excellent and despite the ravages of the wind and rain all went smoothly.

The week basically consisted of camping in a field on Oliver's Mount (if there is any criticism it must be the campsite facilities - hey guys get some more showers built and smarten up the toilet block). Each day there was an arranged and planned bike ride through the many lanes, hills and coastal routes around the area - each one being about 75 to 100 miles long.

Evening entertainment was provided in the marquee by the VMCC and a good laugh it was as well, and all this for just £9 per day camping and £2 per day for the events. I still cannot work out how thery could provide up with free Fish and Chips on one of the evenings - it is true the best fish and chips probably do come from North Yorkshire!!!

Anyhow here are a few photos in an album - more to come and a better write up - when I am not so busy. Double click on the image below to open up the album.

VMCC Scarborough Bike Week - Selection

April 2007 Looking Good

I thought I would just add a couple of photos of the bike as it is this month. It is looking good, not concours, but good and very rideable. I am looking forward to the VMCC Scarbrough Week at the end of June - booked up, camper prepped, trailer cleaned and bike ready.

VMCC West South Wales Gower Ride

I have not used the Triumph a great deal over the winter, mainly because I have other bikes to ride and it seems a shame to subject it to the ravages of the salt they put down on the roads these days. I was disappointed that I did not make the St. David's Day Run, but the rain was torrential so I gave it a miss.

How nice to see the sun out for the VMCC West South Wales run around the Gower Coast. With a start in my home town of Carmarthen I was pleased to see an impressive turnout of some 50 bikes (or so it seemed). Morrison's car park positively vibrated when they all started up.



I managed to convince my mate Hywel to come along on his Norton Commando. It is strange but there never seems to be an organised start time on these runs, just a lot of bikers get on their bikes and ride off. So off we went. The route was a very interesting one.

Leaving Carmarthen to take the B road down to Ferryside and then along the coast road to Kidwelly. The sound and sights of old bikes on old roads in the sun with the sea in view is quite nostalgic and makes all the work needed to keep these bikes in fine fettle worth it.

I didn't manage to get any photographs on route because contrary to expectations these bikes don't half go on small twisty roads and it was all I could do to keep up (honest!!!).

The obligatory coffee spot was at the newly developed docks area of Llanelli. A good stoping point and plenty of room to park.







A good ride on some superb roads. It was a shame we did not arrive earlier to chat more but there is always next time!

VMCC West South Wales Region Boxing Day Run 2006

It takes a brave person, a madman or of course a Classic Bike owner to venture out on a cold and overcast Boxing Day for a ride with friends old and new.

Christopher Thomas organised a 25 mile gentlish ride over the valleys around Talley. Starting near Nantgaredig (Pont Ynys Wen) over to Abergorlech, Llansawel. Cwmdu and finally ending up at a local pub - The Farmers Arms in Llanfynydd for a bowl of superb Lamb Cawl.



A good day, a good route and great company. Here is a short film, unfortunately a corrupted file lost some of the footage during the ride so I have added some of me riding my Triumph.

The VMCC Saundersfoot Trial 2006

I joined the VMCC (Vintage Motor Cycle Club) so that I could have a few runs with bike of equal age and older - bikes need to be 25 years old or older to be eligible for membership.
I have never entered one of these events and so there was a degree of trepidation having read the "regs" (regulations) - anyhow I duly completed the form and sent it in. Luck would have it - there was a place left in the already almost full entry - a popular event I discovered later.
I prepped the bike, with its shining new pipes and engine tune up and set off on the Saturday morning for the Trial. 25 miles of A road from Carmarthen to the lovely seaside town of Saundersfoot was idyllic, a bit too fast probably for the bike but it wanted to fly in the wind so hey who am I to stop her!
I arrived "early" as I always do - such a bad habit, I do wish I could just sometimes be on time or even late. Greetings and friendships were made in seconds and then over to the caf' for a full cooked brekkie (I do like biking!)
Stomach full and number 81 firmly attached to the headlight (I was so jealous of those bods with route sheet holders - so professional, and there was I with mine taped to the tank (I went and bought one a week later !!!)
Bikes leave in pairs on the minute to tackle a challenging route through they byeways around West Wales - the average speed was a choice of 21 or 24 miles per hour. Now I know what you are thinking "how slow is that!" Well yes it is slowish but remember this is about maintaining a constant speed, route reading, keeping some very very old bikes going and so it was quite difficult. I was too quick in the first half and too slow in the second so it just goes to show. Also you cannot have any electronic gadgets, Sat Nav. etc so you really have to do it by guesswork and experience.

To say I enjoyed the day is an understatement - if you like classic and vintage bikes then this is the way to experience it - such a range of bikes and charactures and all with the same interests. It is surprising how enthralled you can become listening to some of the more mature members discussing whether or not a particular manufacturer polished a bolt and if they did was it all through manufacture or perhaps just for a 3 month trial period to test some hair brained idea about streamlining - good fun indeed, these guys (and ladies) really know their stuff.
The half way was at a very good pub and we all tucked in to some inexpensive lunch before setting off again through the lanes. When we got to a ford I thought the route planner was having a laugh but I as told later that previous years had 3 or more fords and some where quite deep - the moral here is - these bikes were made for these roads and made to be ridden not polished and shown.

The end of the rally in Saunderfoot was a sight to see - the harbour was busy and it was full of old, hot and oily bikes. Visitors to the town could not believe their eyes. I had at least 3 conversations with some retired older gents who went to great lengths to tell me how they used to have a Triumph in their youth and how they used it for work all week and raced it weekends. I wonder what we will be saying in 50 years time - I somehow think the tales will be something like "Well sonny I used to have a Motorcycle - you won't remember those of course since they banned them, mine was a Japanese Suzuki Hayabusa that did 200mph, I rode it 3 times before I lost my licence - I kept the bike though but left it in the sun and it melted!!!!" Tee Hee (Don't get me wrong, I have Japanese bikes as well and they are very good but very different - I think I can sum it up like this - If my Japanese bike breaks down (they hardly ever do mind) then I suppose I would sell or scrap it, my 1972 Triumph often malfunctions but I fix it every time and just when I think that is it no more money to be spent on it I take it for a ride and go all soft and buy the parts needed! What is that about eh! Classic Bike Ownership - thats what it is about and if you don't understand it is because you haven't got one .... yet!

Click on the photo below to see the full web album of my ride - if anyone has a good photo of number 81 let me have a copy for the album - I never have pics of me because I am always the one behind the camera!

Saundersfoot run 2006

Riding the T100C

This was one of the first rides out after completeing the engine rebuild - I still ahd a lot of work to do to get it right but never the less it rode well and I had a good day around Llyn Brianne in Mid Wales. The terrain is ideal for running on this kind of bike - hills and flats with splendid scenery to match. For anyone wishing to do this run it is best to start at the West End Cafe, in Llandovery (a first class bikers cafe) and then ride up the Towy Valley to Rhandirmwyn - a run around the reservoirs will take you to a twisty c class road that passes through Devil's Staircase (a testing climb whichever way you tackle it) and end in Llanwrtyd Wells for a main road return to Llandovery - must be about 50 miles round trip.

My Triumph T100C Experiences

The purpose of this BLOG is to document and tell you about my experiences with a Triumph T100C that I have restored and ride. The bike is not a concours all matching pristine example but a good bitsa that gives me riding pleasure (!?) and plenty of opportunity to learn my mechanical skills!!!

So this is a story of trials and tribulations that I will be posting to as and when I have time. The first picture is the bike in its current almost finished form, with new pipes and a good waxing.

The Starting Point

Now this will be of interest to those that like the spot the differences games. This is the bike as I had it but after giving it a good clean. It is really surprising just how much it costs and also the amount of effort needed when you start trying to get the bikes up to a really good condition. I have to admit that after spending far too much money it still does not look as good as I wanted but have had to concede because at the end of the day I wanted to ride it not look at it.

The main problems were that this bike was somewhat of a bitsa - the engine and frame numbers do not match and while it is essentially a T100C the engine is in fact a T100R with a single carb. conversion - so I kind of think I have the best of both models really - neat looking exhausts, a single carb. for ease of maintenance and tuning and a hotter engine for a bit of performance (OK I know the single carb. will kill some of that but it is jetted accordingly so it runs very sweetly now)

It came with Boyer Branson Electronic Ignition - I would say to the purists, I did not have the points and even if I did they would be in the same place now 2 years on - in my shed and not on the bike! The ease of starting and low maintenance is legendary - well worth having as there is nothing quite as satisfying as parking amongst the R1s and Fireblades, tickling the carb., going through the clutch release routine and then with a single kick firing it up to blast out a noise they could only dream of and I can get away with becuse after all its an old bike and old bikes sound like that eh!!!

So lets look at some of the detail of the bike as it was before starting on its restoration, well refurbishment really as I cannot claim to have restored it.

As you will have probably noticed it does not look too different, unless you have an eagle eye for detail - well I can tell you there is over £1000 difference and that is only what I have remembered to count - start one at your peril, good fun, loads of angst and heartache and just when you are about to sell it all you go for that final run down the road and hey guess what it runs sweetly, you lose yourself in nostalgia and the convince yourself that "well as I am in this far I might as well spend another few pounds to sort this little problem out!" - oh yes suckered in again - but of course for me it is easy now because it is all sorted, well apart from painting the tank the correct colour, perhaps rebuilding the wheels in stainless and that headlight is the wrong size for a T100C !!!! Oh dear here we go again.

Anyhow back to the refurbishment - I spoke to a very good friend of mine - John Roberts a real old stager with a wealth of experience and Triumph expertise - he gave me tips and confidence to strip the engine down. Another mate of mine suggested that I should get the mechanics spot on before ploughing money into the cosmetics - good advice.
I will add photos below of the strip down but after stripping it down and realising I did not have British sized tools and the special tools to build some parts I have to concede and John's words were music to my ears "Any fool can strip on but it is something else putting it all back together properly, if you want I'll do it for you" - "Oh yes please", I said- with a proviso that I could watch him build bits of it for my own learning. All agreed except for the one bit I did not really factor in - the condition being that anything that John said needed replacing I replaced becuse as he said "I am not building a bodged engine and then having guys say John Roberts built that unless it was perfect and ran as sweet as the day it left the factory" - I agreed and may as well have left a blank cheque book behind - it is mad how many parts needed replacing - it is to all intents and purposed a new engine - looks and runs good though so that's alright then!










OK the strip down revealed some problems - pistons scored and some amrks on the barrel - however these could take a rebore so I thought - not bad lets keep going - before I go any further the rebore did not happen - new barrels and pistons it had to be - in fact new everything seemed to be the order of the day.




It is quite an amazing sight seeing the engine stripped down by someone who really knows what he is doing. All the parts of the engine were absolutely cleaned down before any thing was pulled apart and everything labeled and put into boxes. I did receive a number of packets of bits with expletives written in the label explaining its state of usefulness - I did find it so amusing - who needs technical jargon! And so the parts purchasing started. New barrels, pistons, pushrods, bearings, shims, washjers, springs, this that and the other. The bigget cost was the head. You will see from the photo above that it was in a sorry state so I decided to give it the full works. SRM Engineering in Aberystwyth was suggested by my builder although there is a firm called Hargreaves Engineering in Carmarthen who could have done an equal job - but I was at the mercy of the builder and he said as he did not know Hargreaves work he was not too happy so SRM it had to be - having said that their work is extremely good if a little expensive. In went the old head and back came the same one with full unleaded valve seat conversion, colsbro valves and guides, a fin repair, skimming and 4 thread repairs to hold the rocker boxes - £495 exchanged hands ! Oh yes this is not a cheap job and so think carefully. The head is superb and works really well - I am sorry I did not get it bead blasted now but the costs were getting out of hand and so somethings had to cut back - memories of my mates words "get it mechanically right before doing the cosmetics".

So basically the decision was made and the bill paid - this is the time you have to bite the bullet because being so far in financially you might as well go the rest - bearing in mind that the bike will never be a concours winner because of the mismatch frame and engine numbers. Anyhow I though you should drool over a few of these shots - I think the light is great and they really do show the inards of the engine off well.

In my haste to get it all up and running I forgot to take pictures of the final assembly and so it has been almost a year now. I have been running it in, helped immensly by the speedo over reading so I have been going a lot slower that I thought - good news for the engine at least. Over 1000 miles and a couple of oil changes and it is running well. I have recently added new front pipes and H piece to finish it off.

I made a decision recently to not strive for totally original but to get it tidy and ridable - this is just about complete but I still cannot get my head around the number of screws, bolts and attachments that seem to relentlessly unscrew making a quite, smooth tight and oil free bike look a bit ratty when I have done 50 or so miles. I am learning and I think I have not sorted it all out !!! Here's hoping anyhow.

I will stop this posting now as from here on it is about riding and maintenance. My wife suggested I sell the bike a few months back as she quite rightly pointed out, I was spending money but not getting the enjoyment from it. This has now changed. A new clutch, primary chain, head tightening and valve clearance setting has transformed the bike and to prove it I entered the Saunderfoot 75 Trial and have done a few social rides as well.

A mate of mine with a Norton Commando recently remarked at the Triumphs performance as he followed me over 50 miles - "What cc is that bike?"!!! Oh yes perform it does and is quite capable of going well into illegal speeds. Lets hope I can keep it like that.

I have joined the Vintage Motorcycle Club and look forward to quite a few runs out with them.