Bennington Triumph Bash

I have a chance to get a 1972 Triumph Tiger 650 fairly cheap. I was able to check it out this past sunday. It was my good friends bike, he was in the process of updating it when he passed away in July from cancer. It has been setting for about 1 year since Dan was not able to ride for the last year. It fired on the second kick after I turned both fuel valves and the key to the proper position. There was no noise from the engine when it was being kicked or as it started. It did roar to life with a cloud of smoke which did stop as it warmed up. I'm thinking it was either from when Dan stored with oil in the cylinders or there is a oil leak of the smallest amount when setting. What else should I look for as in problems.

Sorry for being off the grid for a few months, Extremely busy this pas summer straight into fall with no break. I'll be on more this winter.

Thanks,

Brett

I wouldn't worry about the smoke on startup -- your buddy probably just followed proper long-term storage procedure and fogged the cylinders with oil, which would of course burn off on startup. It wouldn't be an oil leak because oil will just drain down, not up into the combustion chambers.

I'm actually impressed it started on the second kick after sitting for so long. Sounds like it's a pretty solid bike.

If it's a Tiger it's probably got the single-carb head, which will be easier to deal with but doesn't make as much power as the twin-carb Bonneville.

Enjoy!

--mark

Hey Brent
Sounds like you should scoop that baby up.
I just this summer rebuilt a 1970 Bonneville 650 and I have a 1976 Bonneville 750 next in line to get rebuilt.
I little smoke on startup is minor, a lot of the old Triumphs will smoke on start up because
when she is hot after you shut her down oil will seep down the valve guides and in to the cylinders.
And like mark said if it's a tiger it will only have one carb.
I love the sound and feel of the old Triumph's. If you go for it good luck with her.
Starting on the second kick is a good sign.

Bill

Well it has been a long long long time for me the last few months. I will be getting this little
baby around christmas time or the first of the year. I doubt I'll ride it to the rally the first year but I hope to ride it eventually.

P.S. the doctors think I had the h1n1(swine) flu but they aren't testing so who really knows. This is a crock of shit stirred up by the govenrment and the media but 3 weeks of feeling like shit is enough!

what's the milaeage on it?
you may need new vavle guides if it's over 12,000 as the early ones did wear quikly
easy to do at home and inexpensive too.

I pick up the bike this saturday the 13th! Sorry it has been awhile to post but some of you know that I work for Toyota so you can imagine what is going on.

I'll make sure to check out every thing that was suggested. I'm trying to talk Jen into coming this year, If she comes then I'll make sure the tiger is ready for that kind of trip so she can ride it.

Sorry to hear about your friend Brett but I'm sure he would have wanted you to ride the wheels off that bike. As far as the mechanics it sounds like it's in pretty good shape though it might be a good idea to check the chain and sprockets. It's the electrical system I'd be concerned about. There's only so many wires so I'd go from the battery and work my way over the whole bike cleaning any connection and making sure any dangling wires are cinched up ( shrink tube where chafing can occur) or corroded connections are replaced, as well as replacing any electrical components that might be stock. Voltage regulators are one of those things that work even after sitting for a long time (years) but they crap out shortly afterwards. At least thats what they have done to me. Good luck with it and hope to see it at the Bash.

Todd