We have featured several BSA Victors over the years here. They are always a crowd favorite, and could serve as the poster-boy for the original “dual-sport” concept – take a race bike, add lights, a mirror and pretty it up a bit, and go!
1970 Rickman Triumph Metisse
Most of you know the story of brothers Don and Derek Rickman, who started out in the early 60’s building custom frames for British scrambles bikes and later road racers. Their frames were light and rigid, and they incorporated some innovations such as oil-in-frame, eccentric swingarm adjustment,and larger diameter telescopic forks. The frames were very popular with racers, enough so …
Ending Soon – One Owner 1967 Triumph Tiger T100C
The Edward Turner designed Speed Twin was released by Triumph in 1938 followed in 1939 by the Tiger 100. Both were 500 CC parallel twin machines, but the Tiger was lighter and faster. WWII intervened in Triumph’s production and the factory was bombed into rubble. Civilian production of the Tiger resumed in 1947. Though the Bonneville would outsell the T100 …
1971 Triumph T25T Trailblazer
Built for just two years the T25T (1970 and ‘71) was an attempt by the Triumph/BSA brain trust to capitalize on the scrambler craze. The styling was good with a unique exhaust setup but they had a reputation for heavy vibration and weak gearboxes. Whatever the reason they just didn’t sell very well which puts them squarely in today’s collectible …
1953 BSA B33
Post Sale Update: This B33 sold for $8,853.53 after 20 bids on eBay. I look at this and other classic British singles, and I know I see something that isn’t really there. Like a dream, or maybe an icon, that is honored in my mind. If not common Brit singles were at least routine when I started riding in the …
High Miles, Low Price – 1998 Triumph Daytona Super III
The photos are hopeless and it’s lacking a lot of information, but this is by FAR the cheapest asking price I’ve ever seen for a Super III: $1,300.
Rob North Frame – 1971 BSA Rocket 3 Racer
Post Listing Update: This bike was relisted a couple of times – the highest bidding ever got was up to $30,100 but that wasn’t enough to meet reserve. Rob North isn’t as well known as he probably should be, but aficionados of Brit bikes know him as the fabrication guru who Triumph went to for frames in the early 70s. …
1968 BSA B25 Starfire
Introduced in 1968, the BSA B25/Triumph TR25 was another ‘badge engineered’ entry from the brain trust at BSA/Triumph. The two models were mechanically the same with only trim and badging to differentiate between the two. The B25 Starfire was essentially a C15 wrapped in handsome new trim. Somewhat underpowered, somewhat ‘fiddly’ it was the quintessential English 250 CC single. Very …
1969 Triumph Trident
Post Sale Update: This Trident sold for $12,000 after 28 bids on eBay. I wrote up a Trident earlier this month, and under ordinary circumstances wouldn’t even consider doing another so soon. The compelling reasons for doing this one are: 1: It is the very rare early 1969 model, one of the first 200. 2: I know the collection this …
1955 AJS Model 20
When Triumph announced the ‘Speed Twin’ in 1938 AMC (Associated Motor Cycles) knew they needed a twin for their AJS and Matchless lines. Though development started almost immediately, WWII pushed the introduction to 1948 for the AJS Model 20 and the Matchless G9. AMC improved on the Triumph design in several ways, not the least of which was a third …
1951 TWN Triumph BDG 250
In 1886 Siegfried Bettmann founded Triumph Bicycle factory in Coventry, England. They would go on to make more than a few motorcycles, part of the fabric of motorcycle history. In 1896 Herr Bettmann founded another bicycle factory in his native Nuerenberg, Germany and it was also Triumph Bicycle. By 1902 Triumph (England) started making motorcycles and Triumph (Germany) started in …
1971 Norton Hi Rider
Post Sale Update: This Norton sold for $3,749 after 18 bids on eBay. I’m going way out on a limb here by calling this one of the weirdest looking motorcycles ever produced for sale to the general public. What makes this one especially bad is the fact that there is a venerable Norton Commando hiding under all that. What were …
A Rare Bird – 1974 John Player Norton
The 1974 John Player Norton is among the most widely recognized collector bikes since WWII. A one year only (1974) model the fairing and trim are settled on an a stock Norton 850 Commando. Only around 200 were made, and 120 of those came to the US. Understand, the John Player Norton is NOT a race bike. I simply looks …
The Worst Bonneville? 1971 Triumph T120R
1971 was not a premium year for the Triumph Bonneville. It started with great promise, with the biggest redesign since the motor and transmission were made into one unit. The really large news was the new frame which carried the motors oil. Problems started almost immediately for the ‘71. A brand new computer system led to parts shortages and very …
Owned by George Wills – 1953 Triumph Flat Track Racer
George Willis is a 14 time national dirt track champion. This is one of his personal bikes (and he’s recently raced), but now it’s time for a new owner who will hopefully continue to ride it aggressively.