Modified 1975 Triumph Bonneville, better than a modern retro ? 

All these years later, nothing like the sound of a Bonney!

Your opening scene is superb, the sound of the Bonnie is music.

I have a 1973 Tiger 750 that is very similar. I have owned since May 1977. It has over 62,000 miles & still Runs good. I have never split the crankcase so it has original engine bearings. The inner transmission cover has never been removed, so internals of the transmission are all original. When it had 30,000 miles I had the cylinders bored out .020 I made my own wiring harness in 1985, basically duplicated the original, but tried to make better. I replaced the rectifier & diode with a new electronic unit. I add a little 2 stroke (synthetic oil) to the gas & it keeps the carburetor from sticking. I had the cylinder head redone many years ago You should use a Viton o-ring on the exhaust tappet block, other o-rings will leak/fail due to the heat. I rebuilt the clutch last winter & replaced the clutch hub assembly etc. I have replaced the primary chain three times. My bike has a single Amal carburetor with stock side covers & Tiger name plate. I never had the stock paint job & right now it is reddish orange. I have always had short mufflers. I had to get the frame welded years ago because the oil tank was leaking - where the swingarm pivot penetrates through the tank. This is a common problem with the frames. I replaced the tachometer drive with an older style. The original style had a problem with the Welch plug coming out. I do have nicer looking mirrors: They are triangular in shape & stick out farther on both sides. The mirrors mount like originals on the brake cylinder & clutch handle bracket. Anyway, that's my two cents.

I grew up on these bikes! Started with a 69 Trident in 1975, then a 73 650 Bonnie two years later, followed by a Commando 850, then a 750 Bonnie and later a 750 Tiger. In 2009 I was about to lash out the $15k (AUD) for a brand new Bonneville, when a mate came round to tell me he was trading his 1997 883 HD Sportster for a bigger bike. A soon as he told me the trade-in was $7k, it took about 10 seconds to decide to go with that for my first ever Harley. 15 years later and over 90,000 kilometres of touring all over Eastern OZ, and I still have it. I stripped it right down a few years ago everything including wheels came apart and with a set of Carillo barrels and pistons from Hammer Performance, it’s now a 1275cc. Standard heads give it a 1/4 inch squish band and 10.1/1 compression ratio, which with a 2-1 system and an S&S teardrop air box, puts out around 90 HP and double the troque of the original engine. It’s perfectly balanced and although it isn’t QUITE the same as the sound in this video, it is similar in that it is happiest at around 5k RPM and the sound is not far off either. At 67, I think this’ll be my last bike, but listening to this Bonnie revving its way through the gears is music to my ears! The modern Triumphs do NOT sound as good!

A buddy and I ordered a pair of new Triumph 750 Tigers in 1973. They were 5spd front disc brake models. Awesome motorcycles, that we immediately rode out to Edmonton from Birch Island BC, for the 73 Trans Am race. Back home via Calgary and the Rogers Pass. Very comfortable and excellent wheelie bikes. Still one of my favourite bikes that I’ve ever owned. That beautiful sound, brings back great memories!

I had one back in the 80s. I wish I still had it. It was absolutely thee best handling and shifting back roads bike I have ever owned. Loved that bike...

Long-time '76V owner here, love the blue/white look! The '76 has some notable changes, and not all for the better! The left foot shift can cause shifting problems, and the hastily designed rear disc brake come to mind. But with patience it all gets sorted out, and it's a terrific classic bike with plenty of parts availability, good brakes, turn signals, and reliability. A well tuned OIF 750 beats a modern Bonneville Thruxton in acceleration, i know that personally!

PS, I had straight through down pipes, no balance tube, as this stops a smooth exhaust flow! Boyer ignition, & dinamicly balanced. The next job I would have done, if not stolen, was to fit the carbs you have. Just a lovely bike, thanks for your vid.

Triumph Bonneville - the beloved soundtrack of my youth!

I had a T140 Tiger many years ago, covered a lot of miles on it and it never gave me any problems. Also had a few T140 Bonnevilles, but always prefered the Tiger. My favourite Triumph was a T160 which I always regret selling - PYH488R where are you now?. I have a modern Triumph these days, but they just dont compare to the originals. Also had a T120 R - that was a real rocket ship and unburstable. Happy days......

My uncle bought a new 650cc Bonneville in the mid to later sixties.I was only six or seven at the time and it was the first motorcycle I ever had a ride on. He bought it in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan from Nicholson Cycle who were a fairly big British bike dealer. Cheers from Saskatchewan,Canada

Those on here who say the old Triumphs were rubbish compared to modern bikes, or even their Japanese contemporaries, are missing the point of owning a classic bike. You do it because it makes you feel good, even if it makes you swear sometimes. It's like family, you know it's not perfect, but you love it anyway, and I wouldn't trade mine for anything (the Triumph, that is).

It reminds me a lot of my 1973 Tiger 750V, close to the same blue/cream color scheme. They really are a beautiful looking bike, the retro while paying tribute cannot ultimately compare. This bike sounds fanatastic.

My favorite Triumph was the 650C. Single carb. High pipes. Torque monster. Real fun in the dirt. I never owned one but had a friend who did.

Absolutely the best year for the T140V, Sadly my 1973 T140V was stolen. Why I loved that bike was it did everything I wanted, also the right-hand gear change was perfectly balanced with the clutch lever movement, as the brakes were. This was due to the cross movement from side to side. Also this design meant using both sides of your brain for any change of operation. Perfect.

Less than a minute in and what a great sound👍🏻

Thanks so much for posting been riding many years don't even remember but started off 1968 triumph Bonneville stainless steel fenders painted gas tank love the bike

Cool bikes and well presented 👍 Get to see these bikes being Ridden and even modified not stored away

In the mid-eighties I had a 79 Bonneville special. I put a lot of miles on that bike it was absolutely Bulletproof.

I had the 1978 T140E UK spec, export bars and Norton pea-shooters. That was in the early 1990's, now have a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650.

A story for you, My friend Mark bought one in Highschool, still has it and I am 64, Bought from Floyd Young the best West coast English bike man, My Ol Dad Always bought from Floyd, had his rebuild work done there too, if you ever get to see sales records to Talent Oregon Floyds name will be there, I remember my Dad carrying me at 3 yrs old into Floyds shop.

Many thanks Mike, Dave and crew. Love the channel. 46 yrs on two wheels I have been lucky enough to have ridden some of these bikes. Workshop is a great idea. Keep safe.

I used to own one very similar, over 30 years ago; till some bar-steward stole it. It was dynamically balanced. AT a place called Basset-down near Swindon. Floating rollers both sides, using shims to 6thu end play. It was a 1973 model fitted with Boyer ignition. 8.5 to 1 compression and went really well. Also right hand gear shift which is better, as your hand and foot movements are across the centre of balance, as is the breaking. Nice bike, look after it.

I loved my T140 . I changed to the slimmer tank , due to a split nearest to the headstock , and put larger , non-standard , but Triumph , badges on the new red and black twin gold striped tank . Then I put Usa handlebars , the old rubbers that I replaced acted like pendulums ! And then I put Commando reverse cones on . One very pretty bike , in my opinion anyway ! But despite all the cleaning and beeing about with timing and carb tuning ( I had , still have , a mercury manometer ) I could never get it running to my satisfaction . Merlin motorcycles offered me a deal with an SF2 Laverda that I jumped at . Eventually , after failed fettling , Andy had the engine apart and it was found that the cylinders were not bored parallel . Like I said , I loved the Bonney . It seemed light and agile , the stainless single front brake was a nightmare in the wet mind and it made a lovely sound . A grown up 250 really ! Loved it and now I have seen your video , maybe when the dosh arrives I wont chase a new RE or Guzzi . Thankyou .

I had one of these in 1975 a T140v American version same as in film, I still suffer from white finger, vibration was horrendous, they literally shook themselves to bits. My favourite Triumph which I had for 10 years was a T160, wish I'd kept it, I'm sorry but there were no tears shed for the T140. Judging by the amount of mods it is no longer a true Bonneville is it?, but I approve this is how it should have been. Notice you have a lithium battery, I gave up on these after 2 bad winters which killed them dead, even on a lithium maintenance charger, Yuasa for me every time, never had one last less than 8 years.

Much better looking with the retro style side-covers. I have these on my resurrected 1982 American export T140. This was missing a lot of parts when I got it. Tri-Spark ignition was a game changer and it is a joy to ride as well as being reliable. I like the T160 kick start. The T140 is a pretty good daily rider if maintained well but they suffer a bit in the summer here in Western Australia. I pick my riding weather and can always fall back on my Sprint GT or Honda 1300 Super-Four.

I've got a 73 T140v,I love it my friend who's built and ridden Bonnie's for 45 odd years reckons the pinnacle year was 78....

We had 2 of them growing up I could barely kick it over Every spring we would just flood the carbs and kick it over and it would roar to life every time. Loved it !

I love seeing all these vintage bikes and hearing your thoughts on them. Visually speaking I like the Triumphs of the late 50's up until 1970, after that the lines of the bikes changed a little. This one looks pretty damn nice though. Seems like he tried to match the vibe of a 69 or 70. I don't know what half those mods are, but this guy obviously knows what he's doing. I bet it's a joy to ride. : )

I love it ❤ a serious amount of money spent on it over the years but what a fantastic result. I want one now.

So Beautiful! That engine sound can’t be beat! Thanks for Sharing. Just Subscribed!

The best sounding Bonnie I’ve heard. Wonderful exhaust note and none of the infamous piston slap, such as I had on my ‘78 T140 V.

Oh, British Bikes had the Run of the Motorbikes back then. Beautifut handling and Responsiveness! Cheers, and went over there in '95 an '97. Lovely

Liked, subscribed, and shared. Great T140 restomod, kudos to the owner's taste.

lovely bike, love that sound from the exhaust.

Great guys, keep em coming!

Brilliant video ,just what we need in mid winter

Beautiful machine, with great modifications, I'd love to own it. Well done Dave!

Love the sound of a Triumph twin at full song! Love the video. Definitely subscribing :)

Hey, love the bike, brings back many memories of our days running a bike repair shop in the late 1970's. We had some rip roaring times. Stay well mate!

Lovely sound and great work with the mods. Thanks for the presentation.

Sounds awesome and great roads

Very nice bike and the exhaust note Is perfect!!

Love these videos

I'm really not sure why I love watching these ride videos so much, but I do. Thanks for letting me tag along again.

Beautiful bike, I still have a T140ES owned almost from new which has been a joy to own and have had earlier Bonnies including a ' 62 pre-unit which also was lovely.Dave has done a beautiful job with obviously very worthwhile mods and it looks so handsome in an understated way with the earlier side panels.Bet its wonderful to ride, shame they weren't like this from new !.

This bike sounds so sweet!

Just came across your very refreshing YT Channel. Loved the videography, drive by's and Welsh scenery. Lovely Bonnie! Sounds gorgeous! Really enjoyed your commentary voice too :) Subscribed first view! Graeme, NZ

Sounds beautiful. I've never owned a Bonnie, but did own two Tiger 750 single carb bikes and a heavily modified Trophy Trail 500. One of them was excellent, the other not so much. I would love to own a classic but have decided to go for a newer technology parallel twin with fuel injection, after road testing one. Still I miss my Trophy Trail the most.

Brilliant bike, excellent commentary! BRAVO ZULU! Great ideas for a couple of mods to my '78 T140V.

Gorgeous bike 👌 mate

Beautiful bike, lovely sound

Just found the channel, lovely sound from that Bonnie, had a few of them back in the early 80's, thinking about another one before the prices go silly. Keep up the good work lads

I really enjoy the countryside you are taking us for a ride in, the Triumph sounds great, I love the way they handle, I wish it were me instead of you. Thanks for sharing this.

Bloody magic mate, exaust note reminds me of my younger years on a Triton. That's mate. 🇬🇧😎👍

Another great video Thanks for sharing Lovely Triumph

fantastic mods....lots ive 'thought' of, but never get round to doing....you have made the effort....i 'know' you'l benifit from....happy riding....

Morning from PNW keep up the good work,👍🏍️🗻🏔️

Great video and beautiful Bonnie.

Looks and sounds fab! 👍🏻

Best sounding bike of the collection so far ,as Mike pointed out probably the best for ragging around welsh roads .Well thought out mods Dave ,I look forward to the workshop videos .love the blue/silver colour scheme more than the original tank.i remember the 250 desmo well ,pushed it around Cardiff quite often it gave us quite a workout.The dedication was most touching "paddy " was an amazing character who told the best stories ,think of him often.

What a beautiful bonnie 👍

Such a beautiful sound it makes...

Listening to the sound of that 650....I was 18 again for just a few minutes.....Good Video, Thanks

That’s a fantastic looking and sounding bike

Real good vid ! I´ve been riding my youth dream bike for 23yrs a -69 USspec just mildly mod with better ignition a Trispark unit and some more mods like 3ph alternator Morgo oilpump etc. I do think that the old 2LS front ancor very good when heated up slightly , it looks the part as well... Keep up the good work lads!

Interesting stuff. Had a '75 T140V which was right foot shift. I now have a '71 OIF Lightning and a '93 VFR750. The former is badly engineered out of excellent materials and the latter excellently engineered out of crap. Had an R80/7 which had the best of both worlds but not very quick or sporty. At the end of the day it's how it makes you feel. Enjoy!

yet another brilliant bike, thanks

I had a 06 Thruxton Bonneville.. The last of the carburetor versions.. I hated the bloody thing and was glad to see the back of it!!.. The older Bonnies were much better..

Great video guys,I had a 1975 t140v in cherokee red,right hand gear change,all the best

I have a 76V that I’ve owned since 2013, rebuilt the engine with three piece roller TS bearing, Hyde half race cams, LP Williams 7 plate clutch, new Premier Amals and had the head done with +1mm G&S valves and K-lined guides. Looking forward to video on the mods done to this bike, looks and sounds great. I’m preferring riding it to my modern bike.

Great sounding bike as all British bikes are, my 1968 T100T Daytona has some modern upgrades, and it makes it more of a pleasure to ride + more reliable. Cheers great video. ⚙️🔩🔧👍

I have loved/hated my Brit-bikes in the past. In NZ the only real Win is cheap reg. If you thrash a 75 Bonnie to Auckland and back (from Manawatu) the consequent engine-work could cost up to 5k. There seems to be a lot of myth out there about owning an old Brit. They are what they are , I would happily thrash my 75 xs650, over my (old) 79 Bonnie , knowing that the engine wont crap itself. If you ride quietly around town, with the odd 'burst' , the Bonnie is a great ride. David NZ

Enjoying your videos very much, beautifully filmed and edited. Love seeing and hearing these classic bikes in the English countryside. Would love to see you guys do a video on a classic Kawasaki Z900. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺

12:39 that is a beautiful sound I have like a beautiful singing voice this bike Haas! I love it. I remember being ready to get out of high school and sitting on one of these with this Tiger tank 12:03 that the blue on this one does something that dazzles me.

unreal Bike sir , Used too Have one 72 T140 , always Wanted another one as a keeper , hopefull one Day

In 1982 I stupidly traded my 1969 BSA Rocket 3 for a covered sidecar for my Honda CB900C! Your channel has brought back memories, mostly positive, thank you!

Bought a '76 new and it had a lot of annoying glitches, but I loved it anyway. This bike is amazing though. Love what he's done to it. Just found your channel and subbed.

A fantastic bike with love to have one

you've gotta love that sound

I have a 71. Love that old bike.

With smoother camera work that would be a great intro to a movie, and stunning scenery in the land of lemon drizzle. 👍👍 Love the Bonneville! but am pretty happy with my 650 Interceptor. If you have no regrets, you haven't lived long enough. 😆

Very very nice- Thank you for sharing. I have a 78 T140V that I have owned since 1986. Its 100% stock, (barring a boyer ignition that has performed flawlessly for over 30 years), - and I have to confess that all the impressive mods that he has done to this one feel to me a little like thousands spent "gilding the lily" a bit. I ride mine almost every weekend on some of the twistiest mountain roads that CA can provide and it performs just as it should - and just as seen and felt in this video. And like he said, (while I have a number of terrific classics too, all of which are "worth more" than the T140V), its the last of all my bikes that I would part with. It is eminently practical, very user friendly, and very fun to ride with one, or two, passengers. Say what you want about the OIF bikes, they are much more reliable machines than the 60's bikes and every bit as satisfying on the road. Again thanks for sharing-

Interesting video , Well done Dave, and agree with all the mods & no belt, (carbs ?).These are the best of Practical British Classics imho when sorted. Tnx gentlemen.

Ah lovely, great vid mate! I have a ‘72 Daytona and a ‘04 Bonneville, the difference is night and day with respect to modernity. I’d love an oil in frame Bonneville as well…

Nice video, lovely bike. Subscribed. Cheers. Always liked riding a British or Italian bike. Had a Norton, 2 Triumph's, a Ducati and 2 Guzzi's in the 70s/80's. Also agree about the Evo 1200 Sportster, great bike.

I bought a 1976 Bonny just over a year ago, a near basket case. I wanted to have it up and redgo'd before summer (Australia) I it might be mid to late summer before that happens. I am so happily envious of you.Great sound

I hear you on the selling of a bike. Owned a 1973 T120...was a proper shed find, fixed it up. rode it and sold it a couple of years later. Still to this day super sorry about that.

I was going to buy one but all the magazine road tests all had little problems so I bought my CX-500. I have 1965 Triumph TR6 for 40 years. Rode it every day. First kick bike with a Fairbanks Morse magneto. Great bike.

That's a truly beautiful bike. I think if the older bike didn't have Lucas electrics I think it's probably better than the new Hinckley Triumphs.

Yup, yup, that’s the sound I fell in love with as a young pup. Happily I’m still addicted and I have two beautiful twins to keep the throbbing happening. 😎

Own 2 Triumphs & have never had a bad day on either of them. 07 Daytona, & 09 Scrambler. Will be building an oldie soon, Triumphs here in the states are really coming on & nothing beats what you do yourself when your riding one!!!

The Boat Inn at Erbistock looks great.....must take a trip there.....next to the Dee.....idyllic.

That's the one for me, even over the 68 Bonny. Lovely bike.

love the sound would like to ride one

A guy I worked with bought a 77 jubilee special it was very reliable. Never let him down. Used every day for work and long weekend runs.. Sounded better than a nightengale.

Fantastic bike, fabulous sound in beautiful scenery. It was a Bonneville of a friend that took me to the 70‘s bikes. Now I own one of the first Guzzi T3 from 1975, beautifuly restored. Did you guys ever think of having a „bike‘s weekend“ near you? I would come over from Germany to the UK to drive with you blokes! I love your channel!

what an absolute beauty,

Great bike, enjoy!

Absolutely love it 😀