1969 T120R Barn Find!

[munkybarz]

Here we go again, I just scooped a 1969 T120R that I spotted on Kijiji. It naturally had the 4" over fork tubes and the tweak bar etc. The Frame welds had the bondo smooth out treatment, which is a snap to blast off. It wouldn't kick over because someone had dumped it hard on the left side and the primary cover was rammed in against the clutch basket, normal stuff really. Maybe that's what got this one parked, we'll see. Anyway, I took one of the lollypop mirrors out of the spares box that was sitting beside the bike, a rag and some carb cleaner off of the workbench in her garage and proceed to lie down and get under the bike to see if the case halves matched, yep, they did. The left case had the phantom triumph logo under the unaltered case characters and another pleasant bonus was that the frame numbers matched them (AC 10###). She couldn't find the Ontario registration and said that if necessary she'd do the whole affidavit thing and get me the goods. Luckily a message was waiting for me at home that yes, she had found it, woohoo! This was a real spur of the moment acquisition and there were some posted speed issues on the way there because some other prospective buyer was on his way up from the city, so I had to make a pre-emptive strike. I'm not going to tell you guys what I paid for this jewel in the rough because you'll get steamed at me! Suffice it to say, I got the 'How many bikes does a guy really need' speech from my wife. I don't even have any photos because by the time I got home the Kijiji posting had already been yanked.

I'll keep updates happening on this,
-Bill

 

[DaveM]

Well done Bill but you are just going to have to tell us what you paid for it

 

[CarlS]

Congratulations, Bill!! That is a great find. The '69 Bonnie is one of the most sought after. It is considered the epitome of the classic Bonnevilles. I am eagerly waiting for the pics!

 

[Rocky]

Nice going Good luck!

 

[Silli]

This is something all Triumph fans can only dream about. Well done!!

 

[munkybarz]

It all happened so fast, it's the feeling that comes over me, kind of like

'I don't really need another bike :y14:

uh, yes I do

no I don't

yes I do !

Okay you win, I do need another bike after all.

 

[CarlS]

A man can never have too many bikes!!

 

[The Seeker]

I agree that the 1969 is THE pinnacle of Bonnevilles.

I only wish people kept more than just livestock in the barns around here :y14:

 

[munkybarz]

Okay, update;
My wife said she'd make the trip with me to go pick it up and help me put it in the van. Whew, does it get any better than this?

 

[CarlS]

Wow, she is sold! You must have done some fine diplomatic work!!

 

[munkybarz]

Wow, she is sold! You must have done some fine diplomatic work!!

It's always easier to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission!

 

[CarlS]

I agree with that 100%!!

 

[grandpaul]

Excellent score!

I, like all the others, await pix...

 

[munkybarz]

Here she is, ain't she gorgeous? LOL. A true barn find. WooHoo!



This photo was taken sometime last year by the previous owner's wife to list it on Kijiji.
I now have the bike at the shop and I'll take a bunch more as I go.

Wish me luck,,,,Black on Black Bobber here we come.
-Bill

 

[CarlS]

Believe me, my 68 TR6 looked worse than that! Your's will be a fun project and I am interested in following it. Please keep us updated.

 

[Doug]

Come to think of it,weren't we all guilty of doing things like that back in the '70s? I mean it was just another old(10yr) bike that seemed to have no historical value.
To my eternal shame I can remember cutting the back end off a BMW R69 and grafting it onto a Honda CB450 to get that rigid rear look.......

 

[DaveM]

Well it sure is going to be a fun project and great one to follow that is for sure.

 

[shanered6]

ye good luck with it ! for me its the buying of a wreck, and then rolling it out looking great! after some hard graft that makes it for me

 

[DaveM]

A job like this is far beyond what I could do that is for sure

 

[shanered6]

A job like this is far beyond what I could do that is for sure

we all have diffrent skills ! i was just lucky enough to have a dad that could do anything :y42: litraly from forestry to biulding to mecanics and everything inbetween ,so i had a spanner in my hand as soon as i could walk !