Triumph T140W TSS

[DaveM]

Designed to appeal to the US market, the TSS had an eight valve Weslake Engineering cylinder head developed by American racer Jack Wilson from a design originally commissioned by the Rickman Brothers in the 1970s.

The crank was a fully-machined single forging with increased big end diameter making it much stiffer and better-balanced, and producing one of the smoothest running motorcycles in the Triumph range. The new eight-valve cylinder head had smaller valves set at a steeper angle and recesses in the pistons allowed a 10:1 compression ratio.

UK models had a pair of 34 mm Amal MkII carburettors while the export models had Bing constant velocity carbs. Other changes from the standard T140E included offset conrods, steel-linered alloy barrels, strengthened swinging arm and high output three-phase alternator.

A TSS raced by Jon Minonno for Texan Jack Wilson 's Big D Triumph dealership achieved outstanding results in the Battle Of The Twins races for 1981/2.

According to the Triumph build books, held by the Vintage Motor Cycle Club, the first TSS was built on 27 October 1981 for the north American export market.

Specification and more

 

[CarlS]

Great post and good information.

 

[The Seeker]

I hate when they say things were designed to appeal to the US market as if Americans have no sense of taste!!

Americans bought the majority of Triumphs down through the years (more were exported here than anywhere else).

It's just that Honda strolled along and started making less troublesome bikes at a competitive price with better performance that doomed Triumph. They were just too slow to catch on that they needed to update especially the performance and reliability side of things.

Many Americans remained loyal however...like those of us here!

 

[DaveM]

I don't think it means that Americans have no sense of taste just that the needs are different to others

 

[mikechev]

I hate when they say things were designed to appeal to the US market as if Americans have no sense of taste!!

Americans bought the majority of Triumphs down through the years (more were exported here than anywhere else).

It's just that Honda strolled along and started making less troublesome bikes at a competitive price with better performance that doomed Triumph. They were just too slow to catch on that they needed to update especially the performance and reliability side of things.

Many Americans remained loyal however...like those of us here!

I think it fair to say the American market influenced Triumph more than any other! some of the best models came out of the US.

Slow to react? yes but did anyone see the Japanese coming? maybe their (Triumph) time was over, they had been re-inventing a 1950’s design for over 20 years.

 

[shanered6]

mikechev has a point ! another point to consider ,is the fact that the uk is only a small country and the miles covered by a bike are a lot smaller !
so when they pushed in to american market things had to improve vastly over the thrown together brit package .
the miles covered by the bikes in america are huge compered with here .... so quality had to be better .

 

[mikechev]

Thanks shanered6

Although I'm not so sure about the miles covered bit, I'm from Scotland originally and know where you are is a lot of miles from most places so I'm sure you test the reliability of your Triumph reguarly.

 

[shanered6]

when i say about the miles , i ment to say miles in one trip , but come to think of it your right ! my bike does do some big miles in one trip.( you have to to get anywhere up here )

 

[The Seeker]

The USA varies a lot too. Here in the North East, it's congested with city bordering city. When you hit Ohio and go West, the towns are further and further apart.

To be fair also.....the Japs nearly put Harley-Davidson out of business even though they were built for US roads.

Harleys...........like Triumphs, BSAs, and Nortons always had a puddle of oil under them.

I remember the joke back then was: "How do you know when your Triumph needs oil? - When there's no longer a puddle underneath it!"

You could always pick a Brit bike owner out of a crowd by the smell of petrol on his fingers from tickling the Amal carbs....LOL!

 

[shanered6]

ye ! but it sure was handy for oiling your chain (scot oiler triumph were doing it in the 60s )

 

[Sea Dog]

Great post and good information.

Thanks for this post Dave. Very interesting

Sea Dog

 

[The Seeker]

My Wife actually summed it up best once......

After knowing me for a number of years riding Brit bikes and owning many MGs, TVRs, Triumph, Lotus, cars she knew the story.

So when the British Navy was sailing across the Atlantic to take-back the Falkland Islands, our CNN kept showing video of the British fleet in the worst kept sneak attack ever.

While looking at the long line of British ships, she turned to me and said that the first ship , an aircraft carrier was the only actual warship and the rest of them following behind were cargo ships full of "Oil Dry" to soak up the oil on the deck of the carrier!

 

[shanered6]

yep thats us ! ( oily folk ) it took the japs to show us you need a smooth surface for gasket's to work ! and a gasket made of thick card not news paper to seal with.

 

[CarlS]

mikechev has a point ! another point to consider ,is the fact that the uk is only a small country and the miles covered by a bike are a lot smaller !
so when they pushed in to american market things had to improve vastly over the thrown together brit package .
the miles covered by the bikes in america are huge compered with here .... so quality had to be better .

I think it is the durability as well as the quality. The 70's brought about more durability and the Jap bikes showed more quality.

The USA varies a lot too. Here in the North East, it's congested with city bordering city. When you hit Ohio and go West, the towns are further and further apart.

To be fair also.....the Japs nearly put Harley-Davidson out of business even though they were built for US roads.

Harleys...........like Triumphs, BSAs, and Nortons always had a puddle of oil under them.

I remember the joke back then was: "How do you know when your Triumph needs oil? - When there's no longer a puddle underneath it!"

You could always pick a Brit bike owner out of a crowd by the smell of petrol on his fingers from tickling the Amal carbs....LOL!

yep thats us ! ( oily folk ) it took the japs to show us you need a smooth surface for gasket's to work ! and a gasket made of thick card not news paper to seal with.

There was really no excuse not to build an engine that did not leak. However, my '66 Trophy never leaked. My '74 Yamaha TX-650 always leaked. LOL.