If you have the lose cash, do it. Even if you ride it a while and decide to sell it, you won't lose a dime at that price. Old Bonnies are selling for quite the coin these days. I was thinking of getting one myself, but the prices are crazy!
You are correct I have been watching the market for a couple years and every barn find is a $10,000.00 bike. It is Stupid. I think if I buy this I am overpaying at least $500.00, but oh well. Just the fact that it has all the parts and pieces makes it attractive. I would rather have a 68,69.70 Bonnie. A 1958 T110 would be my dream bike cause that is what my dad had.
You are correct I have been watching the market for a couple years and every barn find is a $10,000.00 bike. It is Stupid. I think if I buy this I am overpaying at least $500.00, but oh well. Just the fact that it has all the parts and pieces makes it attractive. I would rather have a 68,69.70 Bonnie. A 1958 T110 would be my dream bike cause that is what my dad had.
It is difficult to determine value on it Billy without a closer look. $3500 is certainly not out of line for a good running old Bonnie. The oil in the frame models were initially not as collectable as the pre-1970s models but have been increasing in value. These were the Umberslade Hall frames and back then caused somewhat of a goat rope. It was found that the engines built at Meridin didn't fit the frames. Below is a bit of background:
As some have pointed it, the early frames were prone to cracking but that was resolved later on. I had a 1974 Bonnie, among my many others at the time, and never had a frame issue.
"Can get it running" is a bit of a red flag because it can be a problem if these bikes sat too long. They used to have a sludge tube running through the crankshaft that would gum up sitting and cut off oil flow. I cannot recall if they dispensed with it with the 71 and newer because those had an oil filter.
I have a basket case 1957 Triumph T110 sitting in the back of my shop, along with a 47 and 58, awaiting resurrection.
Just don't tell your wife about buying it and she'll never know. I've had so many multiple bikes in my garage over the years that I kept my wife constantly confused. If you have to own up, just tell wifey what a great investment you made.
Be careful about riding that old Trumpet and remember that the shifter is on the right.
There is nothing like a classic Triumph. I always enjoyed watching that fender vibrate while sitting at idle at a stop as those two jugs ride up and down together. I never realized that the pistons were in synch until I rebuilt my 67 on my back porch in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. One piston had a hole in it. I had the head off with the bike in gear and turning the rear wheel. When both pistons went down at the same time I thought I was totally screwed with a blown crank. I kept turning the rear wheel as both went up at the same time. WTF? My Clymer manual then enlightened me. I just love those old Triumph twins and they remain the best part of my riding history.
Well I got a couple real pictures today. Looks like a decent project bike. I looked at it and thought,"oh ya I remember doing this." Tear down and parts list started forming in my mind.
Well I got a couple real pictures today. Looks like a decent project bike. I looked at it and thought,"oh ya I remember doing this." Tear down and parts list started forming in my mind.
Looks pretty complete, think you've made a good purchase.
Went out for ride on mine in the weekend and d*mn they're good bikes still. It wont take much to get it pristine, but my advice would be to make it usable, rows of immaculate restored bikes leave me cold, I prefer to look at ratty, leaking ridden bikes that have been usefully updated to be able to be ridden regularly. Not saying I don't like a nice paintjob, but spend money on suspension, electronic ignition, better oil filtration and possibly a cooler if you live in hotter climates. Oh and make it comfortable to ride.