I was too young to own one in those days, but this neighbor dude had a 650 BSA Spitfire and it was cool during its time.
Also, bikes like the Norton 750 Commando and Triumph 750 Bonniville were cool, too. Basically, I always liked 'em because they had great style and the names were all so cool. Of course, the problems with their electrical systems were well known and likely did them in (especially when the very reliable Honda CB 750 came out, the first bike that could be trusted to go coast to coast without problems).
Later on, about 1969, Kawasaki introduced the 500 triple two-cycle. It was cool in its own right … being able to beat Corvettes in the quater mile, and only costing $999.00.
Too bad the British bikes couldn’t compete with the Japanese bikes. But at least they did once upon a time have their moment in the sun, brief though it be.
I’m not a motorcycle expert by any means, but I seem to recall that the Bonneville was a 650. The 750 was the Trident. In later years, Triumph came out with a limited edition Bonneville 750 as a nostalgia thing. But I could be wrong.
At any rate, I used to love those bikes when I was a teenager.
Growing up, about the only bikes around were the Harley and the Indian. As a young fella in L.A. in the late 40s, the Brit and German ones began to show up, and they were great compared to the heavy hogs. Like the British sports cars, they were really fun after driving a big clumsy car. As the saying had it, “It’s like putting on sneakers after wearing army boots.”
I really enjoyed my Triumph Tiger until could no longer keep up with the paymens, and shed tears as they took it back. :mad:
I work on them quite often, some older than others. Got a '73 Norton Commando 850 Interstate myself. New Norton Commando 952s are being built in Oregon, and Triumph returned to the US market in 1995.
There are lots of clubs dedicated to vintage British and European bikes, too.
The original T120 Bonnevilles were 650s, in '73 the T140 saw the introduction of front disc brakes and the engine was increased to 750cc. There was a limited edition Silver Jubilee Bonneville, of which 1000 were sold in America.
Back in 1983, I passed up a Norton Atlas, stripped down and set up as a cafe racer, for $450. Yep, the 750 Commando engine in a featherbed frame. I still kick myself whenever I think of it.
I had a friend who owned one of these. He had a hell of a time keeping the engine tuned, it seemed. Then his battery exploded and ruined the paint job. Ah, British engineering.
Oh, yeah, I remember. BSA made a one-lunger, a 441, I think, that exuded the kind of “machine-ness” that made Harley riders love Milwaukee. Bob Dylan wears a Triumph t-shirt on Highway 61 Revisited. Before Honda took over everything, BSA and Triumph were the cool bikes to have. I remember my older brother saying some guy was “too much of a nerd to ride a Triumph.” The guy had one, though.
