Description
Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
The Triumph Bonneville is a bike that needs no introduction, named after the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah and notorious for its wins at the Isle of Man TT Production 750cc class in ’67 and ’69. The British classic was initially produced from 1959 to 1988, and it was subsequently re-released by ‘new’ Triumph in 2001, kickstarting the modern neo-retro revival.
The first model in the Bonneville family was the T120, a bike based on the Tiger 110. When it debuted, the 650cc parallel twin featured pre-unit construction, but Triumph eventually switched to unit construction in 1963. When paired with a set of Amal concentric carburetors and some upswept exhaust (at least in the case of the R; the C was fitted with some high pipes), the Bonneville was good for 46hp and 37.8lb-ft of torque. Top speed for stock bikes came in around 115mph, though Johnny Allen famously set a record in 1956 with a heavily modified Triumph hitting 214.17mph over a standing mile.
Many motorcycle enthusiasts consider the 1968-1970 models to be the ‘best’ of the classic Bonnies. Along with offering improved reliability and performance compared to the 1959 original, they also avoid the complications associated with the oil-in-frame models produced from 1971 onwards.
As VisorDown puts it, “they don’t come much better than a 1968-70 650 T120; in fact, it’s arguably the most definitive classic British bike of all.”
This example is VIN: GC22381T120R, Engine #: GC22381T120R. It was originally sold in Canada. The seller acquired the bike through an auction nine years ago.
During his ownership, the seller has covered approximately 2,000 miles. The odometer shows 14,323 miles.
3-25-23 Update: For you Grand Tour fans, the seller let us know that he actually rode this bike in the opening scene of several vehicles riding in the desert to greet Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond, you can see it in Episode 1 of Season 1:
Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us clean the carbs.
Modifications:
Upgraded steering neck.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Dunlop K70 tires that have aged out.
The sale includes one key.
Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Triumph is offered on a clean California title. Have any Bonneville stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
