If you’re thinking about purchasing a vintage British motorcycle there are a few things I have learned through the years that may be of assistance to you.
Ever since I was a child I have loved vintage British motorcycles, particularly Triumphs. Since the age of 19 I have owned at least half a dozen Triumphs in various stages of assemblage as well as two BSA 441 Victors. For many years, I rode my 1967 Triumph TR6 then my 1973 Triumph Tiger 750 almost year-round. For six years I also rode a custom 1968 Triumph 650 chopper.
To this day, I still have a range of Triumph parts saved from various bikes. While growing up in West Hartford, Connecticut several of my friends and acquaintances also owned an assortment of vintage British bikes. For many years I was also a member of a vintage British motorcycle club.
To me, Triumphs had all of the rough and rowdy image, sound and great appearance that Harley-Davidsons were known for, but Triumphs seemed to have a touch of class that Harleys didn’t possess. Here are a few things that I’ve learned about vintage British motorcycles through the years.
Oil Leakage
Among owners of vintage British motorcycles there is a widespread acknowledgment that their machines are going to leak oil. Almost without exception, every time I parked my different Triumphs there would be at least a drop of oil on the ground underneath the crankcase.
The amount of oil that leaks from most vintage British motorcycles is usually minimal and it seems to me more like an idiosyncrasy than necessarily a product defect. With most of my Triumphs I would usually add a tiny bit of oil to the crankcase once or twice a week to make up for any that leaked-out.
Parts Availability
Here in the West Hartford, Connecticut area a top-rate British motorcycle parts store was in existence until a few years ago. Many a Saturday afternoon I would be there in search of a washer, or carburetor rebuild kit or even the chrome Triumph emblems that sit proudly on the sides of most Triumph fuel tanks. When the store closed I was very much saddened.
Back in the early 1990s I needed a replacement transmission for my ’73 Tiger and could not find one anywhere in Connecticut. At a vintage British motorcycle swap meet I met the owner of a vintage British motorcycle parts store in upstate New York who said he had the tranny I needed. A week later, two friends and I drove in a van from West Hartford, Connecticut to Scotia, New York and purchased the transmission. That was before I had any knowledge of the Internet with its easy accessibility to parts.
If you have a British motorcycle parts store in your area, that’s a great thing. If not, many, many vintage British parts are now available online. These include original and aftermarket parts.
Price of Parts
As with most types of vintage vehicles, parts for vintage British motorcycles can be expensive. Because they are vintage vehicles and they are not made anymore it stands to reason that parts for these bikes would be pricey. At the same time, parts for pretty much all motor vehicles can be expensive.
The Attention Factor
Vintage British motorcycles seem to attract attention wherever they are ridden. Whether you’re sitting at a stop light or parked at a store or restaurant people frequently want to ask questions about British bikes. While riding a vintage British motorcycle on the road or highway it’s not uncommon to have fellow motorists beep and/or give a thumbs-up symbol.
Challenging Electrical Systems
The electrical systems on vintage British motorcycles are often the sources of great commiseration and consternation for the owners of said bikes. Every Triumph and BSA that I have owned has experienced plenty of blown fuses and mysterious shorts. Some vintage British bike owners even carry extra fuses with them at all times. On one of my Triumphs I had two spare fuses taped to the underside of the seat.
When you purchase and own a vintage British motorcycle you will become aware of the workings of electrical parts such as zener diodes, rectifiers, heat sinks and entire electrical harnesses. Many if not most vintage British bikes feature Lucas electrical systems, which are either legendary or notorious depending on one’s point of view.
The Pleasure Factor
When a vintage British motorcycle is running well, it is truly one of the finest, most pleasurable vehicles one could hope to operate. The combination of well-balanced weight, quick acceleration and impressive power, smooth gearing and awesome sound make riding a Triumph, BSA, Norton, Matchless or Royal Enfield a dynamic experience.
Sources :
Personal experience with owning many vintage British motorcycles
