Bonnie with an identify crisis

Hello everyone,

I just had the good fortune of purchasing a numbers matching '72 Bonneville for a song. The problem is that it consists of a mishmash of parts and I'm unsure which direction I should take the bike. I'm hoping you, dear members, can help me with this decision.

The PO and PPO put a lot of money into new parts for the bike. Professionally painted frame, new stainless wheels and spokes, Avon tires, shocks, exhaust header and pipes, Amal carbs, rubber, gaskets, Boyer ignition, control cables, braided fuel lines, and the list goes on.

The electrical is a mess, the tank is bubbling badly in places, and the loop for the seat has been shorted by several inches such that the seat hangs over the edge and would not support a second rider. The front end belongs to a Norton. (Luckily, I have a '74 Commando!). The speedo has was refurbished, but reset back to zero. Records indicate the actual mileage somewhere around 27,000 miles. The top end was removed and serviced at some point in its life.

Other crazy items on the bike include the rear LED tail lights, LED strip lighting (bling!), tiny headlight and the questionably tasteful mirrors.

My intention when I purchased the bike was to repair and paint the tank, replace the (newly reupholstered) seat with a gun fighter seat and straighten out the electrical bird's nest that is going on. I would also have to address the front end, possibly replacing it with the original Triumph drum brakes.

I appreciate what advice you all may have on this motorcycle with an identity crisis!

I think it's the basis of a real good looking bike. I'd put a flat tracker style seat unit on, or just a single seat, so you can leave the short loop.Decent tipped up mufflers, sort the tank paint out and bits and pieces, but please move the clutch cable above the header pipes. :shock:
sam

I like this one a lot, saw it a couple of years ago at the BSAOCNC all British ride...

I would steal the front end and find a Triumph one.

Fix the tank.

Straighten up the wiring.

Trash the mirrors.

Sell it for more than you have into it, which, dear God, I hope isn't a lot.

Re: Bonnie with an itentify crisis

Can anyone identify the master cylinder on this? I assume it's been stolen off an older Norton, along with the caliper. There's a nice crack in the aluminum where some goofball overtightened the screws.

Re: Bonnie with an itentify crisis

They've used a clutch perch with the root sawed off and profiled, as a backside to the master cylinder bar clamping half (no switches).

So many other, more significant, things to address...

Nice bike. Try some of the custom hardtail forums as they cut off the rear loops all the time to convert them.

Re: Bonnie with an itentify crisis

FreeRadical said:

Can anyone identify the master cylinder on this? I assume it's been stolen off an older Norton, along with the caliper. There's a nice crack in the aluminum where some goofball overtightened the screws.

Click to expand...

Clearly an old Commando part, crack is an instant MOT failure in the UK

Re: Bonnie with an itentify crisis

Bernhard said:

Clearly an old Commando part, crack is an instant MOT failure in the UK

Click to expand...

I suspect that only about 10% of motorcycles in the US could pass MOT...

Started a pre unit Oil Toob project once , you need to lengthen the cradle 1 3/4 - 1 7/8 , If youve some Pre unit Cases !

That tank matches the P.U. T110 / T120 etc . and Trident . Sectioed its the slimline ! .

Pommy Motorcyclist Illustrated Mag. Had Ray Knights 750 THRUXTON Bonneville in it , looked like a Thruxton T 140 , as it was ! .

Cutting two dinged breadbox tanks , and puttingem together say 8 in. longer gets a similar look , one maniac had one on his commando . poor mand P.R. tank . :wink:

Yr Mufflers arnt to bad . You Could buy a Commando to fit the Front end to . :twisted:

Er UM . NOT a CHOPPER . anyway , but Customs a built to be Triumphs , or is That Triumphs are built to be customised .
Period trash is likely beter looking than sci fi elctro tecno trash , but the whole hog ( oops 0 there might come out o.k. .
MAYBE ,
Its all a mater of impecable taste , understaement , and refinement . Particularly the refinement . and Lightness .

Horses for Corses . Hillclimbing ? Build a Hill Climber !