new bike, Triumph speed twin, needs a bit of TLC though

[Bike Breaker]

If you're on a hardtail, you don't need a huge amount of power, because you aren't going to get a a chance to use it all that often. Well, not if you value your spine anyways .

Is that what we oldies call a rigid?

[Big Pete]

Indeed, altho I would say that usually IME "hardtail" would be used to describe a modification, whereas a rigid would be stock.

[Bike Breaker]

Might I suggest you get a sprung saddle.

[Big Pete]

Might I suggest you get a sprung saddle.

Believe me, the seat is high on the list of things to change

I've had a lightwieght hardtail before, and a sprung seat is pretty much essential, even when you only run 10-15psi in the rear tyre. The last one I had was a bicycle type sprung seat that was further mounted on coil springs to the frame. It was moderately effective, but the shape could have been better, because it felt like you were in danger of sliding off the back. I'll make the one for the triumph myself, so it should me more suited to the task.

[GiantPygmy]

Theres a fair few 500 chops around, both hardtail and softtail, plus the bobber style stuff. These two are ones I particularly like

Both those are lovely

[TooFamousRob]

The engine is a t100, speed twin, probably late 60's I'm told. Some home assembly required

T100 is a Tiger 'undred (or later a Daytona as well) not a Speed Twin.

They aren't light, but they aren't all that much more than a set of forks tbh. The links are all TIGged tube, but the legs are bar.

Theres a fair few 500 chops around, both hardtail and softtail, plus the bobber style stuff. These two are ones I particularly like





If you're on a hardtail, you don't need a huge amount of power, because you aren't going to get a a chance to use it all that often. Well, not if you value your spine anyways .

While I've got my pedantic pants on those are both 650s. A unit 500 is not such a pretty engine and looks a bit squashed in comparison, particularly in a hardtail chopper.

[Big Pete]

I stand corrected, this is my first old brit, I was surprised when the guy I collected it from said speed twin, because I thought that single carb = Tiger.

[Lutin]

The whole single / twin carb, 500 / 650 / 750 thing is a complete nightmare - if you are a pedant. And don't get started on the cams (E3134?)!

Personally I'd go for whatever would give me the low down grunt, rather than top-end. But what do I know?

[ink ink]

The whole single / twin carb, 500 / 650 / 750 thing is a complete nightmare - if you are a pedant. And don't get started on the cams (E3134?)!

Personally I'd go for whatever would give me the low down grunt, rather than top-end. But what do I know?

I've not used Unit 500 or 350 engines but E3134 cams give power everywhere in the rev range on 650s.. What fucks up low rpm power is oversized inlet valves and ports- and that is expensive first hand experience.

Pedants don't build choppers.

[Big Pete]

I've not used Unit 500 or 350 engines but E3134 cams give power everywhere in the rev range on 650s.. What fucks up low rpm power is oversized inlet valves and ports- and that is expensive first hand experience.

Pedants don't build choppers.

going to stash that one away for future use.

Big ports might flow more, but that isn't going to help at the bottom end for sure. This ones just going back together pretty much as standard. I think theres a Morgo oil pump to go on, might go with an electronic ignition, because I can't be arsed setting points all the time, and I'll probably fit an uprated genny, because I like to see where I'm going at night.

My other BinL has a tuned 500 lump, big ports twin big carbs, fancy cam, used to run a Hunt mag. He had it in a softatil chop, it was pretty quick in its day.

[ink ink]

going to stash that one away for future use.

Big ports might flow more, but that isn't going to help at the bottom end for sure. This ones just going back together pretty much as standard. I think theres a Morgo oil pump to go on, might go with an electronic ignition, because I can't be arsed setting points all the time, and I'll probably fit an uprated genny, because I like to see where I'm going at night.

My other BinL has a tuned 500 lump, big ports twin big carbs, fancy cam, used to run a Hunt mag. He had it in a softatil chop, it was pretty quick in its day.

Morgo "double capacity" plunger type oil pump is a well-made slightly bigger copy of the Triumph pump. Fit one if you like- there is no discernible difference in use. Keep clear of Morgo rotary oil pumps if you want an uncomplicated life.

The only electronic ignition, for Triumphs, that gets a good press is the TriSpark. Stay away from Boyer products in general and Boyer Micro Power in particular.

The best alternator is probably whatever is sold as a "Lucas" 3-phase 180W these days. Sparxx claim 210W but the actual current is the same and Sparxx rotors don't always fit onto the crank.

[Big Pete]

Hmm, I reckon the engine is a bitsa, crankcases are stamped T100R, which seems to be a Daytona, but its got a single carb head. Knowing some of the history of this motor (like the fact that it had 3 inlet valves at one point, and the small end bushes had been fitted with the oil holes mis-aligned) I can't say I'm especially surprised.

Interestingly, the engine appears to have been designed in metric, which is good news for me as all my existing measurement kit will work without conversion.

[markw]

blimey. stared at the pictures for a couple of minutes, and.....if you gave it to me, i wouldn't know what to do with it...
if not a bike, it would make a nice ship's anchor.

[Milky82]

Looking forward to seeing the finished result already

[ink ink]

Hmm, I reckon the engine is a bitsa, crankcases are stamped T100R, which seems to be a Daytona, but its got a single carb head. Knowing some of the history of this motor (like the fact that it had 3 inlet valves at one point, and the small end bushes had been fitted with the oil holes mis-aligned) I can't say I'm especially surprised.

Interestingly, the engine appears to have been designed in metric, which is good news for me as all my existing measurement kit will work without conversion.

The T100 alphabet is too complicated for me. A, C, P, R, S, SS, T, etc. They sometimes went back to previous letters.

That case appears to have a hole for a distributor. I think that's an early feature, unless the hole outlived th distributor in production. Does it have points in the timing cover?

A Daytona has a ball bearing timing side main bearing, rather than the earlier bush. There is an expensive conversion available from SRM.

If you ask on BritBike.com website Triumph BSA Norton you might get info from some Americans who really know their Unit 500s, or at least the export models.

What do you mean by "designed in Metric?" Almost all fasteners should be BS, if pre-1967 and a mad mixture of BS and Unified if later. I believe all bearings should be in inch sizes, but I'm no expert and occasional metric bearings did sneak into some Brit bikes. Triumph used metric main bearings on late Bonnies.