1971 Triumph T120 RV

Description

• At Auction – Please click HERE
• An early and rare 650 Bonnie
• An historically significant bike
• Very low numbers built , reports suggest around 200

This bike forms part of a larger collection of classic bikes. All the bikes are stored in a purpose-built facility. All start, run and ride. One or two are in daily use. All are maintained. The bikes are protected externally with WD40 and corrosion inhibitor, etc

Launched in 1959, the Triumph Bonneville T120 was the first in the successful series of the Bonneville range, which is probably one of the most recognised names from the Triumph lineup.

This version of the Bonneville T120, the ‘R’, was first introduced as an export version for the American market, also called the Bonneville Speedmaster by the US dealers. It had higher-rise handlebars and a smaller fuel tank.

• Parallel Twin
• 649cc (650)
• Bore/Stroke 71mm / 82mm (2.8in / 3.23in)
• Compression ratio, 8:1
• Gears five
• Tubular twin cradle frame
• Front Wheel, 3.25 x 19
• Rear Wheel, 4.00 x 18
• Front Tyre, 19 inch
• Rear Tyre, 18 inch
• Telescopic front forks
• Rear Swinging arm
• Front Brakes, 8in twin leading shoe drum
• Rear Brakes, 7in single leading shoe drum
• Max speed, 110mph
• Performance
• Max. Power, 50bhp @ 6700rpm

Conventional wisdom says the 1968-1971 Triumph 650 Bonnevilles were the best.

The crack-prone pre-unit duplex frame was ditched. The unit-construction engine was more compact. Engine and flywheel changes moderated vibration. Cams were nitrided to reduce wear. With twin leading shoe brakes, it stopped. Triumph’s then owner, BSA Group designed a new welded chassis that carried oil in its frame tubes, removing the oil tank.

Everything was peachy.

However. When the first batches of frames were delivered to Triumph’s Meriden factory, workers found they couldn’t fit the engine in the frame without removing the rocker boxes first. This slowed production. Triumph missed the lucrative Spring sales season.

They pressed on.

Workers at Triumph’s Meriden headquarters staged a sit-in. In 1974 less than 1000 of the 650cc assembled machines left the factory. Only with another 38 in 1975. Production of the T120 was not resumed following the sit-in. The Meriden Motorcycle Co-Operative was created after the dispute. They concentrated on the 750cc twins instead.

What makes this T120RV special?

Amid this madness at Meridian something happened producing a rare and unique Bonneville which we have here.

The 5-speed is generally considered to have been available from 1972 with the T120V.

However, a small pre-production run of 5-speed models were made in June 1971 only.

They were externally identical to their ’71 T120R 4-speed counterparts, except they did not carry any “V” decals such as the 1972 5-speeds displayed on their side panels.

They were factory (not dealer) modified T120R models. From the factory their engines/frames/and titles are designated T120RV. The V being stamped separately when the transmissions were installed.

These early factory Triumph 5-speeds are not to be confused with the Quaife 5-speeds that were listed as stocked for sale by Triumph dealers in 1970 to qualify for AMA purposes (to qualify for homologation parts “had to be available from Triumph”).

These unique 5-Speeds were not advertised. Neither were they available as an option.

The very few manufactured were simply distributed individually to selected Triumph dealers and sold by word of mouth.

It is thought only around 200 were built.

Summary

We don’t need to tell you what an opportunity this is do we? Good luck bidding.

Happy bidding! Please remember, our auction system has an anti-sniping facility to allow fairness to all bidders. Any bid placed within the last 2 minutes will automatically extend the auction by 2 minutes.

Vehicle Location: Chobham, Surrey GU24 – it’s the responsibility of the buyer to make collection / transportation arrangements directly with our vendor.

Would like to arrange a viewing or have a question? Please contact us at team@evoke-classics.com and we will speak to our vendor on your behalf.

Guide Prices

In a sector, where no two classics are same, how does anyone put a ‘guide’ on a vehicle.   Let’s be honest, everyone knows the broad value of a classic and the ‘market’ decides – but, if you’d like us to provide an estimate that’s fine, just email us and we’ll get back to you.

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