OIF Question

[The Seeker]

What year exactly did Triumph begin the Oil In Frame models?

I am looking at a 1971 Bonneville 650 online and wasn't sure.............but I also don't want to ask the seller until I'm more sure about being able to afford it or not. There's not much sense in asking loads of questions and wasting his time unless I'm more certain.

Are the OIF models OK? The bike I'm looking at looks (and is stated) to be totally restored and like new, but I've never had an OIF Triumph before.

 

[CarlS]

AJ, I believe it was 1971. My 71 Tiger is OIF. The first year is the least desirable year of the OIF bikes. They were taller than their predecessors and a lot of folks did not like the feel. The second year, Triumph changed the frame design and got it lower so that the OIF bikes felt like the older bikes. Being long legged anyway, I don't care about that extra height. As a purist, I prefer pre-OIF Triumphs; but I have no problem with the OIF's.

 

[Dschief]

1971 was the first year for OIF. They are actually quite good bikes. The frame was stiffer than ealier frames and handled very well, if not better. 71's were criticized for being too tall, and the seats were lowered a bit in 72, but they were not as tall as a lot of modern bikes. If memory serves, the 650 OIF was only made several years, owing to the workers strike, and then dropping it in favor of the 750.

 

[CarlS]

Dave, you are right. 74 or 75 was the cutoff due to the strike. I don't have my history in front of me. I know I wanted to buy a new Tiger in 74 and there were none to be had. I bought a 73 Yamaha TX-650 instead.

 

[The Seeker]

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. It also has the naked front forks (no gaiters), the squarish side covers (obviously an air filter and not an oil tank), and the cheaper looking (to me anyhow) tail lamp.

I really would prefer a '70 or less, but wow...they also jump in price!!!

 

[CarlS]

Oh yes, the pre OIF's are much more sought after and are getting harder to find, thus the increased prices. Because the pre-OIF's are getting harder to find, the demand for the OIF bikes has increased and those prices are starting to rise - or they were before the recession anyway. They do have side covers on place or the oil tank. It seems to me that there was not much difference in the tail lights between 70 and 71. The tail lights changed from the 60's style when turn signals became mandatory. I forget what year that was. GrandPaul will know.

If the numbers match, and the price is right, I'd grab it. If the numbers don't match, you have some bargaining power; I'd still grab it at a low price. The numbers do not match on my 71.

You can always put gaiters on it. Lot's of guys did that back in the day. I have put them on both of our 03's for practical reasons - protection from stone chips and salt air.

1969 appears to be the banner year for Bonnevilles. 69's are the most sought after and bring the highest prices.

 

[grandpaul]

If you have a 32" inseam, a '71 will be manageable as far as seat height. Anything shorter and you'll be tippy-toeing.

The "oily" frames, if over-stressed, can crack near the root of the swingarm mount lugs, look for evidence of oil in that area and beware. It means stripping the bike down significantly to repair it correctly, but will then be the strongest Bonneville frame you can get (I believe there is a lter swingarm that is a bit stronger still).

There isn't any one year SPECIFIC Triumph big twin that's better for a SPECIFIC PERSON. There are good and bad specific bikes of every year. Some have been better cared for and not abused, those are always better regardless of the year.

I personally don't like the big airbox/sidecovers, but you can buy "beauty" kits (old style sidecovers and standard air filters), and just swap 'em out!

The 71 engines are more oil-tight than earlier engines; that's a plus.

Personally, I don't like the shared crankcase and primary oil, but if the bike has had regular maintenance, it's not an issue.

There are several gorgeous, well-maintained oily frame Bonnies selling for significantly less than $5,000USD, so DON'T PAY TOO MUCH in this buyer's market!

 

[Dschief]

I did the "beauty kit" on my 76. It does transform the look, especially combined with the old style "silencers".

 

[The Seeker]

I needn't worry about the height either as I'm plenty tall enough.....if I can stand flat footed on my Trophy 1200, then no bike is out of my height range.

I've seen a few out there at reasonable prices but they all have the drawback of not being close enough to see in person. I won't buy a bike from a stranger on the internet that I cannot see in person unless it was someone here on TriumphTalk that I can trust. The other drawback on some was that they didn't have a title. One guy tried to convince me that PA would accept a notarized "bill of sale".....but I've been down that road before and know that he's flat-out wrong. He said states don't title things that old. But I have an older bike already with a PA title. I know lots of guys with bikes even older than mine with PA titles. I know I could get one of those title places to issue one, but I don't want to go through that hassle.

So, the ones I'm looking at are both within an hour's ride from my home:

This one is at Collins Cycle (the Triumph dealer I bought my Trophy from):

It's a '72 T-120RV (Tiger) and they are asking $4800. I know I can trust Steve Collins that the bike is mechanically/electrically perfect.

I just think that's a bit high on the price though.



The other one is on eBay right now, but the auction is ending soon and I can negotiate with the guy in person once it's over.

Here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180557895362&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT#v4-43

It really looks and sounds like it's been done right.

He's got it listed at $4000 but has gotten no bids and it says the reserve hasn't been met.

The same guy is also selling this 1969 Tiger bobber:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180557518106&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT


The nice thing about the Tiger (from Collins) and this guy's Bonneville is that I can test ride them in person and they already have PA titles.

 

[The Seeker]

On any of these, I would switch over to the 60's style silencers.

Exactly how would one go about switching the side covers?

I know I'd go to the pancake style air cleaners, and I can see where it would be easy to change the left side cover. But what about the right side? You just buy an oil tank and bolt it right on as a "dummy" tank?

 

[Dschief]

The beauty kit comes with both side covers, which are more rounded, as well as the pancake Volkes-type filters.

Are you sure the gold and white bike is a Tiger? It has Bonneville on the airbox cover, and it appears to have dual carbs. A T120 RV is the designation for a 5-speed 650 Bonneville, which would be a rare '71 as most were 4-speed, again, if memory serves. They were made though.

 

[Dschief]

BTW, I'm not much for Bobbers and flames, but that ebay Tiger you posted looks very well done! It has a hydraulic clutch conversion, and a single Keihin PWK carb, and the flames even look really well done. The coil over front fork looks really cool too.

 

[The Seeker]

[quote author=Dschief link=topic=10178.msg50313#msg50313 date=1284303396]
The beauty kit comes with both side covers, which are more rounded, as well as the pancake Volkes-type filters.
[/quote]

Oh so they actually make "beauty kits" for them? I wasn't aware of that and figured you just bought replacements of the original left side cover and an oil tank.

Are you sure the gold and white bike is a Tiger? It has Bonneville on the airbox cover, and it appears to have dual carbs. A T120 RV is the designation for a 5-speed 650 Bonneville, which would be a rare '71 as most were 4-speed, again, if memory serves. They were made though.

I noticed that too!!!

It's pretty weird that they have it listed as a Tiger since Steve Collins has been wrenching and selling Triumphs since the 60's.

 

[The Seeker]

[quote author=Dschief link=topic=10178.msg50314#msg50314 date=1284303597]
BTW, I'm not much for Bobbers and flames, but that ebay Tiger you posted looks very well done! It has a hydraulic clutch conversion, and a single Keihin PWK carb, and the flames even look really well done. The coil over front fork looks really cool too.
[/quote]

I agree 100%!!!

When I saw that guy was selling that bike, I figured he knew what he was doing in the restoration of the Bonneville.

It even has footboards with "Triumph" in the rubber pads...something I have never seen before.

 

[The Seeker]

This one on Craigs List also looks like it would be worth taking a closer look at:

1971 triumph bonneville - $2800

1971 triumph runs really strong,eletric ignition new cluch some extra parts 2800 firm


The price sure is good...so good it makes you wonder why???

I see it would need proper silencers though.

 

[DaveM]

Well I am not a Bobber person so I would not even think about that one. The others sure look sweet :y115:

 

[Dschief]

[quote author=The Seeker link=topic=10178.msg50321#msg50321 date=1284305157]
This one on Craigs List also looks like it would be worth taking a closer look at:

1971 triumph bonneville - $2800

1971 triumph runs really strong,eletric ignition new cluch some extra parts 2800 firm


The price sure is good...so good it makes you wonder why???

I see it would need proper silencers though.
[/quote]
The price looks pretty good, right about what I paid for my T140.

 

[CarlS]

[quote author=Dschief link=topic=10178.msg50313#msg50313 date=1284303396]
The beauty kit comes with both side covers, which are more rounded, as well as the pancake Volkes-type filters.

Are you sure the gold and white bike is a Tiger? It has Bonneville on the airbox cover, and it appears to have dual carbs. A T120 RV is the designation for a 5-speed 650 Bonneville, which would be a rare '71 as most were 4-speed, again, if memory serves. They were made though.
[/quote]

AJ, that is a gorgeous bike. I agree with Dave; it is a Bonneville. If it is a five speed Bonnie, grab it.

 

[CarlS]

[quote author=Dschief link=topic=10178.msg50326#msg50326 date=1284307212]
The price looks pretty good, right about what I paid for my T140.

[/quote]

That price is suspiciously good. You can't rebuild a neglected one into a rider for that amount. I wonder about the title?

 

[The Seeker]

[quote author=CarlS link=topic=10178.msg50342#msg50342 date=1284317584]
That price is suspiciously good. You can't rebuild a neglected one into a rider for that amount. I wonder about the title?
[/quote]

It has a PA plate on the tail and in PA you couldn't register the bike without clear title to it.