1971 Triumph Bonneville T120R, 649cc. Registration number no...

Estimate

£2,500 - £3,000

1971 Triumph Bonneville T120R, 649cc. Registration number not registered. Frame number AE074. Engine number AE07451

The 1971 Triumph Bonneville was a totally new bike. Only the engine carried over from 1970. Not since the 650 twin went unit construction in 1963 had so extensive a redesign taken place. 1971 model year started for the Triumph T120 Bonneville with Engine #NE01436. While the new frame and running gear were getting all the attention, the engine received some updates also. Most significant were the changes made to the cylinder head, head bolts & rocker boxes. These changes were engineered at the last minute by the Meriden factory when they found that the engine wouldn't fit into the new oil-bearing frame. Their approach was brilliant and also yielding some added benefits. Gone were the tiny screw-in valve inspection caps. The headbolts were reworked so that they took the load off the already over-burdened rocker boxes & made the top end easier to torque down. Otherwise, there were minor changes to the pushrod tubes & their O-rings, a new crankshaft flywheel & bolts, and a new timing-side (right) main bearing. Changes were intentionally kept to a minimum because virtually every other part on the bike was new.

There is no previous history or documentation for this machine, but the ‘R’ suffix would designate that originally it was an American export. In need of restoration it would make an ideal winter project and be an asset to any collection.