Triumph Bonneville Pre-Unit Norton BSA Vincent

1959 Triumph Bonneville

Price: US $4,550.00
Item location: Whitefish, Montana, United States
Make: Triumph
Model: Bonneville
Year: 1959
Mileage: 9,999
Engine size: 650
Vehicle Title: Rebuilt, Rebuildable & Reconstructed
Contact seller: Contact form
Description

Triumph Bonnevile Pre-Unit Norton BSA Vincent 1959 Triumph Bonneville


I purchased this motorcycle many years ago from a gentleman who said he had been a Triumph motorcycle dealer . He told me that dealers had access to purchase one T120C 650 cc. race motor per dealership, nd he ordered up this motor. Then he built this “Hare and Hound” off-road racer back in “the day” using the T120C motor. Engine number is T 120C D10124.


After I brought the bike home, friend and I rebuilt it from frame up for her to ride on the street. We purchased replica (Ace) rear fender and taillight mount (yes, hat is a proper Lucas lens) and chain guard. We also found a lovely hand-made alloy tank, olished it out, nd that logo on the tank is hand painted, t is not a decal.


But it was pretty clear that the engine needed to be “gone through” and after burning a piston, he bike was just set aside.


Years later, was able to convince Triumph engine-building legend Bill Werner to rebuild the engine and transmission. The engine was built with new .020 over 10:1 forged pistons, tainless steel valves, ohnson cams, ushrods, prings, nd keepers. The bottom end has been completely freshened with all new bearings, nd polished connecting rods, nd the rotating assembly is statically balanced the Old School way. The timing gears are drilled for lightness in the proper Triumph performance motor fashion. Head bolts and all the rest of the engine fittings are stainless steel.


The cylinder head is an incredibly rare pre-unit head with nine head bolts (This is NOT a unit head on a preunit set of cases). I have learned that these castings became available to dealers as replacement parts late in the production run of the pre-unit 650, hey were never installed on a production bike. This head was undrilled for the 9th bolt when I got the bike but there was a cast-in boss for the 9th bolt. Using a milling machine I was able to bore the head, nd the cylinder, nd thread the cylinder for the 9th bolt, hich is Grade 8.


You will note that the timing cover is a tach drive cover.A proper Smiths tachometer is incliuded. I have never mounted it so you’ll have to fabricate a mount if you want to run the tach.


Magneto is a Lucas K2FC which has been professionally rebuilt with upgraded not-paper capacitor.


Carbs are 30 mm. Concentrics, n good shape. They are jetted really rich for breakin, think we put 260 mains in them, o after a proper breakin, ou’ll probably want to change the jets. On the other hand, his is a somewhat hotrod motor. Leave it rich and be safe.


Engine has been fired, imed, orqued, learances adjusted. Bike has been ridden a mile or two since the engine rebuild, think I’ll ride it a few miles more this coming week. Startup oil was changed. But make no mistake, his is a newly rebuilt engine and will need to be broken in appropriately, ith the usual adjustments throughout that process.


Sump plate is CNC machined alloy. I couldn’t get a decent photo of that.


Exhaust is an Englsih 2 into 1, airly new. Chrome is excellent. Muffler is a genuine Dunstall. Muffler mount is…well,


Transmission is a “Slick Shift”. Bill Werner rebuilt it and converted it to needle bearings. The “Slick Shift” feature works as intended


Front suspension is 35 mm. Cerianis with Ceriani (Arces) triple clamps.


Front brake is a maybe 1965 twin leading shoe Triumph.


Seat is custom made, enuine leather.


Now, hen Bill had the bike in his shop he decided it should become a desert-style replica race bike, o he pulled all the street equipment off. I am encluding that equipment so it would be not difficult to return this bike to street use. Incliudes charging components, eft side battery housing, tc, s pictured. I don’t have a good headlight to include.


The bike could be restored. I have what the original seller told me was the correct front forks, hey’re available separately if a restoration is what you want to do. Very feasible, his frame is not cut in any way other than to remove the passenger peg mounts, hich are fairly easily replaced.


Or it could be a desert scrambler replica, r a flat tracker or…whatever. Some of you may see this bike as a donor for your Triton project. I’d rather not see that happen but once you pay the money, ou decide the bike’s future.


If you’ve read this far through the description you know this is a rare motorcycle. The engine is a T120C, ou Triumph guys know what this means.


I’ll help you with shipping arrangements, ’ll store the bike if you want to come get it at some point later in time.


I hate to see this lovely motorcycle go, ut reality can be a harsh mistress.


This bike will be sold with a Notarized Montana Bill of Sale. The bike was once titled in Montana but title has been lost and Montana’s DMV does not maintain records that old. Forget that nonsense in the Item Specifics about the title being “Reconstructed”, t’s there because Ebay doesn’t allow a listing with “Bill of Sale” for the title.


I require 1000.00 deposit by PayPal within 24 hrs., ull payment by some means other than PayPal within 7 days. The bike goes nowhere until full payment clears.


I will be pleased to answer all questions and shoot more photos if I have overlooked details that you wish to view more closely.




_gsrx_vers_625 (GS 6.9.7 (625))

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