Triumph Bonneville 650 and 750 (1958-1983): books - history

The Triumph Bonneville Bible - All models (1959-1983)

A detailed history of the Triumph Bonneville: its antecedents, how it came about, and year-by-year production changes, with detailed technical specifications and contemporary road test reports showing how the Bonneville compared with its rivals.
However, the history of the bike cannot be separated from the turbulent story of the company that built it. Triumph went from huge successes in the 1960s, when the Bonneville conquered North America, to troubled times in the early 1970s, leading to the formation of the workers co-operative that heroically kept the Bonneville alive for a further nine years.
All this is covered here, plus details on how Triumph spares producer Les Harris took over production into the late '80s. Also tells you how to buy one of these iconic bikes secondhand - all the pitfalls, what to look for, and what they are really like to live with.

Features year-by-year details of all production changes, detailed technical specifications and advice on buying a secondhand Bonnie - pitfalls and points to look for.

Triumph 650cc and 750cc Twins - Bonneville, Tiger, Trophy and Thunderbird

The unit-construction 650cc Triumph 'B' series twins were the top-of-the-range models in Triumph's range from their introduction in 1963 through to the introduction of the 750cc Trident in 1968. The model range outlived the Trident, grew to 750cc in 1973 and eventually went out of production in the late 1980s.

This book gives a detailed technical analysis of the bikes, and charts the development of the range from its introduction through to its heyday in the late 1960s. It looks at the development of the range, and covers the various models produced including a restoration of probably the best model produced - a 1970 T120R Bonneville.

Triumph Bonneville (1959-1988) - The Essential Buyer's Guide

Over 29 years in production, the Bonneville is for some the definitive postwar British vertical twin, perhaps even the definitive British bike of all time, with all its strengths, weaknesses and character. Although there might seem to be a wide range of models and special editions, all are based around the same 649cc or 747cc vertical twin. There were plenty of changes over the years, but none of them changed the basic
Format of this classic British bike. Aside from all the history, the Bonneville remains a tremendous classic to own, so long as you're prepared to look after it.
This is a practical, straightforward guide to buying a secondhand Triumph Bonneville, from the very first 1959 T120 pre-unit 650, to the very last T140 unit 750 machines built by L F Harris. What they're like to live with, spares availability and prices, plus point-by-point guide to buying a Bonnie. One hundred colour photos, useful appendices and expert advice mean this book could save you thousands.

Triumph Bonneville 60 ans

Découvrez l'histoire de la Triumph Bonneville qui tire son nom des célèbres lacs salés de l'Utah aux Etats-Unis où elle a battu un record du monde de vitesse en 1956.
La Bonneville est rapidement devenue l'archétype de la moto anglaise, conservant son record du monde pendant quinze ans tout en fascinant les passionnés du monde entier, y compris des stars d'Hollywood.

La renaissance de la marque Triumph a permis à la Bonneville d'entrer dans le XXie siècle mieux armée que jamais pour conquérir les cœurs grâce à des technologies et des performances modernes qui n'ont altéré en rien son style unique et son statut d'icône.

Sommaire:

1. Naissance de la Bonneville: 1959-1962
2. Apparition de la boîte intégrée. 1963-1967
3. L'âge d'or de la T120. 1968-1970
4. Le réservoir d'huile dans le cadre. 1971-1973
5. Le blocus de Meriden et la coopérative. 1974-1979
6. Le déclin et la chute. 1980-1988
7. Renaissance de la Bonneville. 2001-2007
8. L'arrivée de l'injection. 2008-2015
9. Refroidissement liquide et plus de cylindrée. 2016-2018

Triumph Bonneville : 60 Years

First manufactured in Great Britain in 1959, Triumph's legendary model resonates deeply with motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide who love its style, sound, performance, and undeniable coolness. It's no surprise that Triumph was Steve McQueen's favorite ride.
The Bonneville's story is one of successes and challenges as Triumph grew steadily in the post-World War II decades to become America's most successful "import" motorcycle marque. Triumph won every championship worth winning, owned the world speed record for fifteen years, and wooed Hollywood's hottest stars.

Bonneville was Triumph's halo machine, one of the highest performance motorcycles of the 1960s. However, as competing marques eventually eclipsed the Bonneville in the 1970s, Triumph management struggled, leading first to bankruptcy and then to the demise of the company in 1983.
Triumph was resurrected by British industrialist John Bloor in the late 1990s to become a twenty-first century global success story, which includes a revived and thoroughly retro-contemporary Bonneville range.

Triumph Thruxton Bonneville 1959-1969

The Thruxton Bonnevilles are a batch of 52 bikes built by Triumph in 1965 to meet new homologation requirements in production racing; only about another one hundred or so were built. Because they were referred to in the build books as made 'to Thruxton specification' these bikes became known as Thruxton Bonnevilles, but not by Meriden. Although built supposedly to the homologation rules of the time, the factory included many parts not generally available to the public - in common with most other manufacturers!

They were very successful racing machines capable of sustained high speeds, and with the handling to match. After Edward's Turner retirement in 1966, his 'no racing' attitude was changed by his successor to the 'Win on Sunday - sell on Monday' approach prevalent in the USA.
In 1967, the news of a new class for Production machines in the Diamond Jubillee TT races on the Isle of Man gave new life to the Bonneville. At Meriden a new version was built and John Hartle came in first. More success at the TT followed in 1969 when Malcolm Uphill completed the first 100mph plus lap and averaged 99.99mph in winning the race on a Thruxton!

This book describes how the Bonneville was conceived, the design modifications carried out by the factory, including detail on special 'works only' parts for racing, race preparation, and their immensely successful racing campaigns especially at Thruxton (after which the bike was named), Montjuich Park in Barcelona and the Isle of Man TT Production Races.
A book for all Triumph and motorcycle racing enthusiasts and especially those who own or race a Bonneville!