Custom 1961 Triumph 650 Street Racer

Here's a cool bike that was up for sale this past year. It was offered up by Glen Bator who runs Bator Internation auctions and motorcycle sales. If my memory is correct he originally listed this bike in the $15,000.00 range! Recently sold at auction here for $4,400. I saw this bike in person at the Hanford Swap Meet and Show the year before last and it was really sweet. All original custom work from 1964 and in excellent condition, in my opinion it should be worth at least $8,000.00. Really a beautiful street racer design including: Bates pleated leather racing seat, Sport front fender and small Bates side mount headlight, Wassell Banana gas tank, Bitchin' paint, lots of original chromed parts and with the silver painted cylinders possibly a C model.

Triumph 1960-1962 Duplex Frames

A discussion came up with a fellow Triumph builder after my 1960 TR7 post about model numbers and frame types, making me think I should provide a little info on the Duplex frames. The very first 1960 frames like the frame in the top picture did not have a lower back bone reinforcement tube. These frames almost immediately resulted in a nightmare of warranty failures because of cracking at the neck area. Triumph quickly modified the frames by adding the lower tube early in 1960 so not all 1960 models came with this weak frame. I bought a early 1960 Bonneville some years ago that had the original frame without the support tube and it was in horrible shape with the neck area covered in patches and welds over welds. Triumph offered a replacement front frame section through warranty that had an X stamped on the neck area. I found one of these to replace my early '60 frame. If you have a early 1960 Triumph 650 that does not have its original frame this problem is probably the reason why. If you have an original early 1960 frame in good unmessed with condition and are building a rider I would sell it to one of those fanatic for correctness restorers and get yourself a frame that won't break in half while your riding it!

1961-62 Triumph TR6C

This is pretty close to what I would like to do with my 1961 Triumph TR6C project. I have all the parts pictured here including a period bash plate similar to this one, as well as some NOS MCM high pipes. Still need a aftermarket, side mounted air cleaner tho!

1960 Triumph TR7 aka The T120

It leaked gas when put on it's sidestand, coughed at idle and left it's mark with oil drips over night when brand new from JoMo. But it had power to spare, handled great and looked amazing. The 1960 Triumph Bonneville. From all the information I have there were never ANY Bonnevilles stamped with the TR7 designation. As far as I know it was just an American advertisement based keyword to connect this new model with the much loved TR6 that this new Bonneville was based on. I believe that ALL Bonnevilles regardless of year or destination were stamped T120.

Also, A and B models were not stamped on the machine and as far as I know there is no record to research what a specific motorcycle was. Unfortunately, no matter what year or type of Triumph you might have, you will not know if it was a A or B model. Of course there are other designations such as C or R models and a host of others that do have the letters stamped on the engines, but the A and B designations were not stamped anywhere on the Triumph's.

1960 CYCLE Magazine

Streamlined or Conventional ???

CYCLE magazine ad from 1960. If I want streamlined, I'll get an AVON fairing, not a bathtub. But It kinda sounds like the main purpose was to keep your trousers clean. No use to me since I like wearing greasy clothes, and damn they're ugly...

1960 Webco Oil Manifold for Triumph Twin

During the 1950's Webco sold the finned sump plate for Triumph engines and the finned valve covers too, but it was not until 1960 that the finned rocker oil manifold was produced.

The 1960 type pictured here had four fins and the name was upside down when placed on the right side of the engine. A good reason to flip your rocker boxes to run the manifold on the left. If you have the Webco float bowl extenders for Amal Monobloc's they stick out on the left as well.

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This type of Webco manifold was made for pre-unit engines as well but with a centered oil line. Not exactly sure when this type was first made, but I believe it was around the mid 1960's to replace the original 1960 version.

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This Webco manifold dates from the mid 1960's as well and is designed to clear the fins on the unit construction rocker boxes.

Catalog listing from 1968


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Pre-unit rocker oil manifold of unknown manufacturer. Somewhat harder to find than the Webco parts. Made of alloy and larger than the Webco version that it resembles.

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Recently Identified as MCM. Made of steel.

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NOS Wassell rocker oil manifold made in the UK that will fit both unit and pre-unit engines but with some clearance problems on the splayed port dual carb heads. Submitted by Pete from San Diego.

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I believe this one from Pete's collection is a UK part as well.

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Got any info to ad? Leave a comment!

The 1960 Triumph 650 cc OHV Twin Engine

1960 Triumph Line

Here is the complete Triumph brochure from 1960. Printed in London, England. Courtesy of Show & Go blog contributor Angelfink.

The TR5 A/C is a beauty and ovbiously designed after California desert racers. Love the small competition gas tank and the little MCH 66 Lucas headlight. Magazine tests of this one soon.

I picked up a 1960 TR6C project recently for next to nothing! Collecting desert sled parts for it now.

DER BIRD

Also known as the TR7A and TR7B in the US to draw attention to the fact that these two models were the popular TR6 motorcycle with the dual carb head.

Gone On Twins

A very rare 1957-59 T100RR as posted previously with the complete feature.

Hot Rod 1960

A Trio of Triumphs

The ultimate stripped down and skinny show and go Triumph.

Ed Kretz Shop Special out of SoCal. Big Bear cam? Oh yeah!

Super Skinny, Super Cool.

1960 Rod & Custom

The Crazy Cycle

This thing must have been wild looking in color with all the red anodising and chrome. The article says it's a 500 or 40 cubic inch? Either way with all the engine mods it must have been a screamer. The engine has a TriCor dual carb manifold with a chopped Amal Monobloc set. Check the shortened front forks. The triple tree neck stem has been lengthened to shorten the forks for the drag strip. Crazy cool man...

1960 Speed Mechanics