1969 Triumph 649cc T120R Bonneville, Frame no. GC21857 Engine no. T120R GC21857

1969 Triumph 649cc T120R Bonneville
Frame no. GC21857
Engine no. T120R GC21857
• Matching numbers
• Gorgeous, accurate restoration by a master craftsman
• '...a cultural icon in America'

'This year saw the Bonneville further refined into arguably the finest of all.' Both the 1969 and '70 models were high-water marks for both the model and Triumph as a company. 1969 was almost a high point year on the race track for Triumph. 'Malcolm Uphill won the Isle of Man Production TT on a Bonneville, at an average speed of 99.99 miles per hour with the first ever 100-mile-per-hour lap on a production motorcycle.' In 1971, the oil-in-frame replacement Bonneville was introduced with high hopes, but it just didn't have the panache of its precursors. However, by 1969, when this Bonneville was first sold, constant motor, chassis and styling improvements had evolved the bike to peak form. The excellent 8-inch twin-leading-shoe front brake had been in place for a year; likewise Amal 930 Concentric carbs, now rubber-mounted. Also carried over from '68 was a frame with thicker gauge tubing and beefed-up swingarm. Inside the engine, 'N' camshafts were nitrate-hardened for better wear, while the 4-speed transmission was improved with a slicker shift mechanism, stronger gears, and larger main and layshafts. The gas tank's familiar 'double scallop' paint scheme made its debut in 1969. Now synonymous with Triumph, the pattern was actually developed by custom painter Bill Betz for Bob Leppan's Triumph-Detroit dealership before wisely being adopted company-wide. Here, we see it carried out in the popular Olympic Flame/Silver with paint mixed by the paint wizard Don Hutchinson.

Treated to a professional restoration in the past year, this matching numbers Bonneville sourced from the Classic Vintage Motor Bikes Collection has been through a ground-up restoration. The vendor advises us that the engine was torn down and received new valves, pistons, connecting rods, the crank was balanced and then carefully reassembled into its newly vaporized cases. New Amals were installed together with a new wiring harness into the newly powder-coated frame, fork legs, plus silver front and black rear wheel hubs with genuine, correct, re-chromed Dunlop wheels with stainless steel spokes, and genuine new Reynold chain. New 'period style' Dunlop, 3.25 front and 4.0 rear, tires were fitted and the wheels balanced. Original cadmium plated hardware was used where possible, a rare bonus today. A genuine Lucas headlight, taillight and reflectors lens and housings are installed as are the correct stainless steel front and rear fenders, and genuine tool tray and battery brackets. Now with about c.40 test miles since the restoration (but only one of which was recorded on the odometer), the Bonneville's condition is described as simply superb. Its restoration is both museum and show quality – neither 'over restored' nor 'a little unfinished in the detail.'