Bill's 1964 Triton

A few days ago i ask my friend Bill to tell more about his fab Triton and here is the story. Enjoy
Frank

My name is Bill and I’m a café racer at heart. I live at the base of the cascade mountains, twenty miles north of the Oregon/California border.
I bought the triton about a year ago as an unfinished project and as is often the case, it was a lot more unfinished than I first thought. Many times I stood alone in my garage scratching my head and saying out loud “why the Hell did they do that!” In the end though, I’m quite happy with the result. I wanted a period correct British café racer, and I think there is nothing more iconic to the genre than a pre-unit triton.



The bike is a ‘64 Norton slimline featherbed, with a 650 built from‘58 speedtwin cases, and the original AMC gearbox mounted with converta engine plates. I especially enjoy some of the small details that you don’t notice at first glance, like the NOS wassel grips and the John Tickle headlight brackets.


Follow the full story here : http://themotart.blogspot.com/2010/07/bills-triton.html

Nice bike. Recently added to the illustrious "BikExif" website.

I want a tank just like that one, for my Triton...

Those photos were shot in NW Portland, in one of the industrial areas.

Pretty close to a perfect Triton.

A "perfect" Triton is only perfect for it's owner.

No two are alike, and most of them are "perfect".

There have been plenty of disagreements and debates on what constitutes a "real", "true", or "perfect" Triton.

In my opinion, there are several types of Tritons:

"Classic": Pre-unit Triumph engine, drum brakes, bum-stop seat, clip-ons & rearsets

"High End": 4LS front brake, Hot-Rodded engine, trick suspension, alloy tank

"Basic/Budget": Unit Triumph engine, clubman bars, max-n-match cycle parts

Some like the Thruxton style angled pipes, I dislike them (they get in the way of service)

Some like disc brakes up front, Others say they have no place on a Triton. I don't particularly care one way or the other.

Some say a Triton shouldn't have a fairing, I'm not the judge of that argument.

I've seen Tritons with standard seats, doesn't bother me as long as the overall package looks "right".

Oil tanks are probably more varied than any other part on a Triton with the possible exception of pipes.

I still think it's a waste of a Featherbed to dump a Triumph motor in it. Now a Vincent...at least it's an upgrade.

Danno said:

I still think it's a waste of a Featherbed to dump a Triumph motor in it. Now a Vincent...at least it's an upgrade.

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It's not always a great upgrade. The engine looks awfully high in the frame in some Norvins.

Gday All,
One would have to think that a Featherbed/Vincent combination would make the ultimate cafe racer, well to some that have tried out such a beast were disapointed! Awsome power in a straight line but being extremely top heavy killed the handling benefits of the featherbed frame. However, Ive read an article lately where some one built their special cutting out the bottom rails and dropping the Vincent motor down lower to improve handling.

Bills effort in building his Triton is a credit to him, a nice bike.
FOXY

Triton Thrasher said:

Danno said:

I still think it's a waste of a Featherbed to dump a Triumph motor in it.

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To me this is a laughable statement after seeing the pictures of Bill's bike of course it's all a matter of opinion. I happen to love the trumpy's as much as the norton's and the mix to me is perfect if done right.

They're LIGHTER.
an ALLOY 500 is more so.Built a dual loop from a Commando frame that had had a disagreement with a mercedes
I was given.and a few bits of ' Exhaust ' tube ( seemed rolled mild steel ), this was also lighter, never weighed it
but figure 200 - 220 Lb, unless the 41/2 Gallon tank was full. There fairly nippy to ,and the 650 can be got to 60 Hp.
This is factory D.N.E. limit .