New Triumph Rider

[MilfordTriumph]

Good Morning Fellow Triumph Owners,

My name is Don, been riding for a little over 20 years, first started with sport bikes at 16, then bought my first Harley Street Glide about 4 years ago and purchased a brand new one last year.

A couple months ago I had the opportunity to acquire my father in laws 71 or 72 Bonneville, can’t remember exactly because it’s not up at my house yet. I just had it mildly restored over the past couple or years for him so I could fill a desire to be able to go for an ride with him and my father at the same time as they are creeping up in age and just got it back to him at the end of October. He was excited to say the least, however after riding it twice around the neighborhood unfortunately he came to the realization his legs weren’t what they used to be and he wanted me to sell it for him.
I wasn’t about to sell it and asked him what he wanted for it and I would scrounge together the money as it was his he bought new, it’s vintage now and I wanted that history in my garage. He told me if that was the case, give him a dollar.

So, now I have a bike coming up to my house in the spring that I am elated about adding into my garage. Have a couple questions to start:
Has tiny amount of rust in tank, thoughts on tank lining or just good old coke and nuts?
Best place to find parts? Need seat latch and the blinker relay.

Thanks for any help and excited to talk Triumph

 

[Rocky]

Hello and welcome to TT from the east coast of Canda
Nice that you're getting the old Triumph
This a modern-day Triumph forum but we also love the old ones and enjoy seeing restorations and repairs being done.

You will get more responses if you ask your questions in the classics section. A couple of forum staff will help you out.
Just click on forums above and scroll down to classics.

 

[shanered6]

Hi there and welcome to TT from the Highlands of Scotland

 

[Qship]

Welcome to TT from Eastern Canada.
Nice story behind the old Bonnie. Glad you get to keep it in the family

 

[sikatri]

Welcome and glad it stayed in the family!

 

[speedrattle]

damn

nice that youve decided to keep it.

my 72 was gold and white, iirc. i cant recall the 71s.

look at the stays on the front mudguard. there is a wire going backwards and another going forward. if thats all there is, its a 1971. if there is a third wire going vertically behind the fork leg, its a 1972. rockerboxes still had round caps with a cross in them in 71, then 4-bolt oval covers for 72. or you can get serious and just look up the serial numbers on the left side of the engine cases below the jugs, and on the left side of the headstock in front of the fuel tank.

https://www.fagengine.com/blogs/tech/triumph-engine-and-frame-numbers
i cant see anything non--original on that bike except the rear sissy bar which has replaced the stock grabrail.

very nice machine. there are lots of sources for parts for your bike these days. i suggest you first get a workshop manual and a parts book, because then youll be able to describe what you need more clearly.

here a two people i deal with

https://www.classicbritishspares.com/
^^^kyle also has free online manuals

http://www.klempfsbritishparts.com/
mitch is very good on stock parts, but youll need numbers. hes very helpful over the telephone.

btw, any automotive blinker unit will work. if you want the old square one, theyre still available.

 

[MilfordTriumph]

damn

nice that youve decided to keep it.

my 72 was gold and white, iirc. i cant recall the 71s.

look at the stays on the front mudguard. there is a wire going backwards and another going forward. if thats all there is, its a 1971. if there is a third wire going vertically behind the fork leg, its a 1972. rockerboxes still had round caps with a cross in them in 71, then 4-bolt oval covers for 72. or you can get serious and just look up the serial numbers on the left side of the engine cases below the jugs, and on the left side of the headstock in front of the fuel tank.

https://www.fagengine.com/blogs/tech/triumph-engine-and-frame-numbers
i cant see anything non--original on that bike except the rear sissy bar which has replaced the stock grabrail.

very nice machine. there are lots of sources for parts for your bike these days. i suggest you first get a workshop manual and a parts book, because then youll be able to describe what you need more clearly.

here a two people i deal with

https://www.classicbritishspares.com/
^^^kyle also has free online manuals

http://www.klempfsbritishparts.com/
mitch is very good on stock parts, but youll need numbers. hes very helpful over the telephone.

btw, any automotive blinker unit will work. if you want the old square one, theyre still available.

Thanks so much, very helpful! I appreciate you taking the time to respond and give me all the additional information and links

 

[speedrattle]

the OIF triumphs like yours infuriated the traditionalists because triumph changed a bunch of things all at once. so for years people badmouthed them, in spite of the fact that they handled better and were upgraded regularly until triumph finally croaked in the 80s.

i bought my 72 used in 1977 and its still my main motorcycle. doesnt look new at all but ive been messing with it for 45 years now