Triumph Bonneville 750 1981 - Is it Fun to Ride?

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Triumph Bonneville 750 1981 - Is it Fun to Ride?

Рет қаралды 18,156

Жыл бұрын

Surely a 42 year old motorcycle must be horrible to ride in this modern, enlightened year of 2023?
Let's find out, while also stuffing our faces with food and checking out lots of other classic bikes.

Пікірлер: 94

@tomtaylor6163 4 ай бұрын

I’ve got a 79 Bonnie now and had a 1978. These bikes are fun and very cool. Hey the Fons rode a Triumph . Ayyyyyyy!

@ivofer8349 Жыл бұрын

thank you for sharing so much with us.... I'm sure jealous now

@stevebolton8471 Жыл бұрын

Great sound from those bikes, saw several examples of bonnevilles with that design at a bike museum today. I love my modern T100 for all of the same reasons.

@thelonegr00ver 10 ай бұрын

My 1980 Bonnie was far more reliable than my 2009 Harley sportster and MORE fun. Wish i still had it.

@j.w.3345 11 ай бұрын

I love my 71 Norton 750 combat and my 73 750 Bonniville. Both are exceptional rides. I’m going to start working on my 76 T140 750 Bonniville barn find I just picked up.

@claytonboyer8509 Жыл бұрын

Beautiful bikes, spectacular fall day. What could be better? Thanks for the lovely ride.

@matthewcoldicutt5951 9 ай бұрын

Biking heaven! What an array of machinery in just the terrain, plenty of twisties, friendly enthusiasts, splendid weather and what a brekky, with dogs on hand. And good to hear you loved theTriumph. I lived close to Meriden as a boy and even closer to the development facility at Umberslade. It must have been a frustrating place work in the 70s, with NVT/ BSA running out of cash and strikes crippling production, but Norman's blue and white machine somehow came to be, along with his Commando, andlovely to see you all, years later, enjoying their charm.

@AfricaTwin-Stuff 9 ай бұрын

Thanks mate.

@gmatty2975 8 ай бұрын

Excellent Video! Your so right... Character, is the one thing most modern bikes appear to lack. ;0)

@paulegan7250 Жыл бұрын

2 Lovely bikes, great weather and roads, and superb commentary. Thanks for sharing mate.

@philrulon 23 күн бұрын

I was surprised to hear you lament the brakes on the Bonneville. I have a 1979 Bonneville, on which I spent significant time and treasure on the brakes. Having made the investment, the brakes are absolutely superb. It has the firmest handle and pedal of all my bikes, many of them quite a bit newer. Yet the pressure required for a vigorous stop is quite light. I hope your friend Norman will take a second look at the brakes on the Bonnie, since I know that they can be made to work with distinction.

@neiljarvis8911 10 ай бұрын

What a perfect day! Great video thankyou!

@NWPipeSmoker Жыл бұрын

Wonderful! I never think of my NC as equivalent of those 'big bikes' of their day, but I will now, with a smile on my face. It's plenty enough. Great observations on all counts. Well done! -Tom

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Thanks mate.

@blearyview2254 Жыл бұрын

Norman is a very clever boy that for sure. Marvellous video sir👍

@johndavy8801 Жыл бұрын

Very nostalgic my Friend,worth watching just for the soundtrack & beautiful vistas… Keep’em coming.

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Thanks mate. It’s good to remind ourselves that “latest and greatest” aren’t always that much better than these old machines.

@JR-bj3uf 10 ай бұрын

The problems with quality control went very deep. It's not just that the build quality of the Triumph motorcycles were lacking. Every nut, bolt, electrical connector, switch, light bulb and cable were suspect as well. Bikes were built with casting flaws. The Japanese didn't have casting flaws. Bikes were built with bolts of questionable quality. The entire manufacturing industry was stuck in the 1950s trying to build products with worn out tooling and zero funding.

@AfricaTwin-Stuff 10 ай бұрын

Spot on with your observations. Sad.

@m2menuiserie540 7 ай бұрын

I bought a Triumph Tiger 750 in 1977 with about 1000m on the clock. It looked fine, but just about everything that could go wrong went wrong. And I loved it. The problems began with the engine design fundamentals - as an excessively bored out 360° parallel twin it shook everything into fragments, from the engine itself to bulb filaments to the petrol tank. That, combined with inherent design flaws (watercooled clutch and gearbox internals, self-ejecting header pipes, popping rockerbox gaskets (x13), seizing brake calipers front and rear) almost non-existent quality control at the manufacturing stage (ungreased needle-roller steering head bearings) taught me a great deal about bikes. But cruising along at the speeds you were at in the video, it was a joy to ride.@@AfricaTwin-Stuff

@PatrickWhitaker-ls2cs 6 ай бұрын

@@m2menuiserie540I had most of that on my 79' T140

@m2menuiserie540 6 ай бұрын

Snap! Literally. But people are now buying these things at crazy prices. At least in the US the vendors suggest you bring a trailer!@@PatrickWhitaker-ls2cs

@tonymaurice4157 5 ай бұрын

Aftermarket parts resealing and mine is now oil tight. 79 750

@rustynuts82 Жыл бұрын

Lovely bikes you have there, weather too!

@martindavies8326 3 ай бұрын

Great bikes mate, love my classic Triumph.🇬🇧👍

@paulbannon498 7 ай бұрын

What a beautiful morning to set off with the misted hilltops, a good day to be alive and on a motorcycle 😊

@AfricaTwin-Stuff 7 ай бұрын

Absolutely 😘

@steventhomson8387 Жыл бұрын

I had a 2012 Bonnyville and some of the best motorcycling memories I've ever had remain with that bike. It had the king and queen seat and was great for two-up. I took it to the northern rivers of NSW and stayed at Nimbin overnight and that was definitely an experience.

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Ha! Nimbin! Adds a new meaning to smoking exhaust.

@garethlipyeart6520 10 ай бұрын

nothing like a proper one though

@highdownmartin 4 ай бұрын

No offence mate but that’s not a Bonnie

@steventhomson8387 4 ай бұрын

@@highdownmartin that was a past tense comment but no offence if you can’t realise that!

@rickconstant6106 11 ай бұрын

You can make a big improvement to the front brake by fitting a 13mm bore master cylinder. It is identical externally to the standard 5/8", with the same fittings, and screws straight in as a direct replacement, but the smaller bore gives much better feel and more leverage. I fitted one on my 78 T140V 4 years ago and it has transformed the braking. I just wish they had been available when I first got it, 30 years ago.

@AfricaTwin-Stuff 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for the advise. Norman has done this to his Norton but the improvement was so small as to be invisible. But nothing to say it won’t work for the Triumph.

@17duplo17 7 ай бұрын

The 13 mm has worked for me but I would not say it did "transform" the braking - but it did improve quite a bit. The adjustment is a lot more fiddly since the 13 mm set up does not have a pressure check valve. The big game changer for me was a floating disc and the alloy caliper.

@jamescroft4298 Жыл бұрын

Norman's a good friend to have. Along with my NC, I have an 85 R80 and at 4,000 rpm it's mechanical symphony :)

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Agree. He is a good mate.

@paulwoods682 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great video, great weather, great bike and great commentary. I couldn't have described my experiences riding my own 1973 Bonneville any better. Only difference is mine is kick start only.

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Arrrr. Then YOU at least are a REAL man. Not like us “button wimps”

@user-oo8tm9ti5q 8 ай бұрын

fantastic Bike I have this bike in 1988 at my Home Egypt Cairo but we face some deffcults regarding spaer parts my elder sun Have BSA 1969 and we travel too much in Egypt citis . the Bretain engner who desined the engien should be offer a nobile Prise

@jeeves6490 Жыл бұрын

Deliberately maintained pace on the highway the other day to have one ease past me so I could admire it as it passed. Knew it was a Trumpy by the header pipe profile in the mirror as he approached, lovely thing with a nice burble. American spec bars from the look, and he was heading into the rain. Turned my wipers on, and would have swapped places in a heartbeat. Enjoy your channel mate, thanks.

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Thank you. 🥰

@cosmicmichael 8 ай бұрын

I had a 1979 Triumph Bonnerville T 140 V. I sold it to a mate about 13 years ago. I wish I hadn't.

@davidwilliams5942 Жыл бұрын

Norman and yourself are very lucky people indeed and you make very jealous 😊😊😊

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Thanks mate. Yep we are very fortunate, and me especially.

@andrewewan624 Жыл бұрын

Had a 1973 T120V..650cc..and 1974 Norton 850 Mk 2A..back in the day Enjoyed both when running well.. Both let down by the infamous Joe Lucas electrics..😮

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Yes. I forgot to mention the Triumph standard electronic ignition (Lucas) has been replaced with a modern unit.

@passinthru4328 Жыл бұрын

Ah yes . . . Joe Lucas, the Prince of Darkness.

@ianbishop5951 Жыл бұрын

Norm is a very lucky chap owning all theses classic beauty's

@stevedobson7837 Жыл бұрын

Those older machines have a character all there own.

@malcolmpas Жыл бұрын

Presume you’re talking about the motor bikes ? 😂😂

@vidyaruchi4810 6 ай бұрын

Where are you guys? Wish you would say - I think I will go and live there and buy myslef an old Bonni. SAdly that will never happen in this lifetime.

@ronsmith6242 Жыл бұрын

No matter what you do. I enjoy it great bike great roads and I very nice Ozzie to boot well done 👏👏

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Ha! Thanks mate. Very kind on you.

@jimclarke1108 8 ай бұрын

Excellent looking bikes🏆🏆

@carlnapp4412 Ай бұрын

My Bonnie is from '72. That's all I can say because I haven't got modern bikes. My oldest one is a Horex Regina 350 from '54, than come the two Velos, the Bonnie and last but not least my Kawa Z1R from '79. I really don't know how a "modern" bike feels, but I love to ride my babies. By the way, he who loves dogs and is loved by them can't be a bad person. That goes for the landlord and the landlady as well. What a lovely landscape! Where is it? Cheers!

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Ай бұрын

Where? New South Wales Central Coast area of Australia (Kulnura)

@carlnapp4412 Ай бұрын

@@AfricaTwin-Stuff Thank you! From here, Germany, it's rather hard to locate.

@my2cents395 8 ай бұрын

One thing I never hear vintage owners doing is changing fork oil. Today's oils should be better than 40 to 60 year old fork oil. New tires and modern shocks would also be good updates. On thing about old bikes is that someone knows what goes wrong and what to do to prevent it. You are riding an investment. Yes in 20 years your bike will be worth more. You may even make money riding. Now that is job worth having.

@AfricaTwin-Stuff 8 ай бұрын

Good point. All Norman’s bikes have new fork oil and new tyres - tyres use modern rubber but have classic patterns.

@grahamglencorse307 Жыл бұрын

G’day Adrian, now I know why Dalmore is getting a bit porky, he’s got a nose for the eggnbacon rolls. Thanks to you and Norman for taking us along on some beaut classic bikes. A refreshing change to the 2 wheel computers. Nice of you to give the Mrs a go too, and, showing the hard working staff at the best bike friendly cafe on the planet. Good riding mate.

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Thanks Graham. Dalmore? Porky? …. Never! 🤣

@colinthomasson3948 4 ай бұрын

Triumph Bonneville 750 1981 - Is it Fun to Ride? on what planet would it not?

@stevenbrown8708 Жыл бұрын

At the same time in the early 1980's Triumph made a 650 Thunderbird and I had one for about 10 years trading it in for a new Triumph Trophy. I should have kept it and used both.

@alfordmick Жыл бұрын

Great vid & nice to see some background. I like the camera work & as others say you’re very lucky to have “Norm” as a mate, even if he’s more interested in bacon rolls.😂 recon you’re in for some flak over the “even a girl” comments 😂

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Ha! Thanks mate. I’m waiting for the comment about the table graffiti that I didn’t see till after editing!

@jeffarnie Жыл бұрын

I don't think I've seen less than 30 bikes in the times I've been at Jerry's and after seeing what was there, I might have to hide my CB500X around the back next time. You highlighted many classics on this visit however the one that caught my eye was the Suzuki 750GT. I had the 550Gt and my good friend had the 750. In those days (70's), I thought how big was that bike, yet by todays standards not so much. You've ridden a few bikes of Norman's now, he appears to have a good vintage collection. Enjoyed the tour of Jerry's.

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Thanks mate. I owned a Suzuki 500 Titan in the 70’s. Still love two-stokes.

@themotorider1 6 ай бұрын

Most people with classic bikes have a modern one too. I've got a 650 Bonnie and a 2023 Honda CB500X (and a couple more bikes) and would be happy to look at either. 👍

@ChrisTowner-wc8zj 5 ай бұрын

The biggest problem with any classic bike is previous owners bodding and buggering.

@AfricaTwin-Stuff 5 ай бұрын

Yes it’s a risk. Fortunately the previous owner of this bike was an expert and restored it perfectly.

@allan3371 8 ай бұрын

Hi, I have just acquired a very nice 1980 T140 EV, very happy man. However, bit of hesitation with the carbs down low. May i ask whether the triumph runs amals or are they mikuni’s?

@bigjoe4020 Жыл бұрын

That very nice of Norman. Can you ask Norman if he needs another friend ? 😁

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Hmmmm. Well, he has ONE friend at present. But I think he is wondering if it’s his sparkling personality or his bikes that attract that friend. So I dare not ask just in case that friend gets replaced.

@jimdoolan2277 Жыл бұрын

Morning great video on another note my 2023 nc750x is about to hit 15000 km and the chain is shot got hard spots in it so looks like it hasn't been improved Cheers ✔️ 🍻

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Thanks mate. Yep Honda still scrimping on parts sadly.

@crispernator Жыл бұрын

Gday mate that sound brings back some memories ,i learnt to ride on an xs2 650 yamaha before all the bullshit 250 crap came in i was 16 at the time ,just watching this i want to sell the 500 and maybe get something close to it like a interceptor but the 500 will do for me speaking of which had an exon valdez moment trying to do an oil change the other day note to self do not do oil change on the centre stand puled the plug and oil went straight over the top of the pan onto the driveway heaps of fun anyway great video and a credit to norman .

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Thanks mate. Yep. I can identify with oil change spills. You’d think I would have learned after all these years.

@user-iv7qg7js9v 7 ай бұрын

Where are the silencers from, I want that style for my 1979 T140 E? Great video!

@AfricaTwin-Stuff 7 ай бұрын

Sorry. Don’t know. The bike was purchased with these on.

@JumpersJim Жыл бұрын

Great to hear you chatting with the family in the cafe. So polite and debonair, you old smoothie. It has to be the Kettle for me, never could understand why my mates preferred to spend their time repairing their British bikes while I was out riding my Suzukis. BTW who is Dick?🤭

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Ha! I was waiting for someone to answer that question. Clearly it is referring to Richard, commonly called Dick. But Belinda is heat-broken to hear the scribe loves Dick and not her. Repair? Yep. My first road bike was a AJS 500 twin. I spent way more time repairing that pile of poo than I did riding it.

@rover100bunson Жыл бұрын

i own a recent royal enfield 650,the rear tyre is 130 section, ive seen a honda 125 recently with the same, my old gs1000 was 130 also, people are always looking to put the largest tyre possible on but its not necessary 5o my mind

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Agree. The narrow tyre makes the bike handle better.

@stevebolton8471 Жыл бұрын

How did Norm get the modern tolerance machining and other upgrades done on the Bonneville? I know that some companies make modern tolerance versions of classic engines but couldn’t find anything else in my searches in the UK

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Arrr. The trick is to buy a classic already restored - as Norm has done with many of his bikes. I admire those who restore clapped out originals but the cost always is greater than the resale value.

@JohnG11000 Жыл бұрын

Giday, 1981 found me purchasing a1971 Triumph TR6R oil in frame 650.used six days a week i kept it for ten years loved it, Would i have another?not a chance.though the exhaust note is sweet the tappets sound like a skeleton having a wank in a biscuit tin.

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Ha! Very amusing. But I happen to link the mechanical sound - weirdo that I am!

@theobster Жыл бұрын

I have a 78 Tiger 750, same bike as the Bonnie but single carb. I’ve had it for 15yrs, it’s completely stock, it’s been 100% reliable and is a joy to ride. Mine is UK spec with the breadbin tank and slightly odd tucked in handlebars, I really like the look of the bars on your bike are they standard??

@AfricaTwin-Stuff Жыл бұрын

Thanks mate. I believed the bars are standard but were bought with the bike. I really love them.

@mickymac6571 7 ай бұрын

The exports had hi rise bars and peanut tank, the UK spec had straight bars and big tank.