Need more Tritons

ashman · May 26, 2018

Not much happening on the Triton side of things, I should see my old mate Don as he got me into Nortons and Featherbed frames at the early age of 17 he has build a few Tritons over the 45 years I have known him and his first Triton race bike lives in his kitchen.
He lives out at Granfton where they had the floods years ago lucky he lived up on the hill and a big shed full of bikes and in his house, in fact bikes everywhere its a real bikers house, no wonder he is not married but has a few boys who are bike crazy as well.

Ashley

madass140 · Jun 3, 2018

madass140 · Jun 3, 2018

this was the first one I built, this was about 1987. Morgo 750, MK2 Amals. Quaife 5 speed, belt primary. About 2 years ago I saw it on Facebook and now I'm in constant contact with its current owner.

ashman · Jun 4, 2018

Don thats a classic looking Triton, also good being able to make contact with the current owner, is it still looking the same as when you built it or has it had a few changes.

Ashley

madass140 · Jun 4, 2018

still looks much the same but I'm sure there has been many changes in 30 years or so. I'll find a pic of its current state.

Fast Eddie · Jun 4, 2018

I bought my first Triton off a mate when I was 18. It was a rough but a nice base, slimline frame, CR box, Robinson front brake, it had clearly been raced in the past.

It kinda became a very long term project though, until the VMCC / BHR invented a new race class for ‘pre 68 specials’ and I finished it off PDQ and started racing it. I won at my first meeting. Crashed at the second!

This led to me getting to know Dave Degens of Dresda very well and I graduated through a few more Tritons / Dresdas and rode for them for a little while.

Happy days indeed. But racing is far to ‘all consuming’ for my personality type and I can’t imagine doing it now I have a family etc.

I’ll try and dig out some more pics, but this was pre Apple days !

Triton Thrasher · Jun 4, 2018

Something of a roadster.

ashman · Jun 4, 2018

Triton Thrasher said:
Something of a roadster.

I just love them when they look old and well ridden, just because they look rough don't mean they are unreliable, my 850 Featherbed Norton is showing its age after 37 years since I built it but its still oil tight, very reliable, paint work is showing wear and tear but I wouldn't have it any other way, anyway great pics.

Ashley

Fast Eddie · Jun 4, 2018

My first Triton as bought. Initial plans to put it on the road kinda slipped and it became a long term project whilst I played around with GSXRs etc. Then I decided to race it:

I won at my first meeting and crashed at my second! I high sided, cartwheeled and the yokes snapped!
At least I entertained the marshals.
Adrenaline is an interesting thing, I’d sprained both ankles and broken my right wrist, but I didn’t know at the time as I load up the detritus...

My injuries forced me to have some time off work ‘on the sick’. So I spent it all at Dresda’s workshops getting the bike ready for the next meeting:

My arm plaster cast was removed the day before the next meeting:

Fast Eddie · Jun 4, 2018

The pre unit 650 was fun. But not seriously competitive. So I built a replacement with Dave’s help. 840cc, 5 speed, squished head. A very nice bike.
I designed a lot of the frame myself with Dave, it looks like a featherbed but its shorter and lower.
Here it is almost ready to race for the first time:

madass140 · Jun 4, 2018

a pic from the current owner

ashman · Jun 4, 2018

Don it still looks good, Eddie that was one major crash and you were very lucky in the injury side of things, but thats all part of racing so many risks, some great pics, I was never a fan of Tritons, my mate Don who got me into Nortons at 17 and Featherbed frames went the Triton way and I kept with full Norton with my build, Don still have a few Tritons in his collection and brough a lot of Featherbed framed bikes back with him from the USA when he lived over there for 12 months, Don is a bit of a wheeler dealer sort of person and brought back two container full of bikes and bits that he sourced all over the US, but that was a few years ago now.

Ashley

grandpaul · Jun 4, 2018

Very nice stuff, Don. You're a "plus" to the Norton and motorcycling community with your offerings; the back stories are icing.

Fast Eddie · Jun 5, 2018

The 840 racer shown above ended up as a pretty nice road bike:

Fast Eddie · Jun 5, 2018

Almost a Triton, Manx rep frame, 500cc Nourish motor:

Fast Eddie · Jun 5, 2018

Not really a Triton, but part of the Triton family tree.
906cc Nourish / Triumph in a Dresda chassis (that was originally a Dresda Daytona). This was a very nice bike:

zilo31 · Jun 18, 2018

Fast Eddie said:
Not really a Triton, but part of the Triton family tree.
906cc Nourish / Triumph in a Dresda chassis (that was originally a Dresda Daytona). This was a very nice bike:
View attachment 5369 View attachment 5370

And now for sale again .

Matt Spencer · Jun 22, 2018

81 Pukekohe Classic meet . Did Quite Well . 55 T100 R . 130 @ 7.600 & more to come . 8.000 on the short circuit .
Bout as quick ( Accelerating ) as a good Manx .
But Light & I was 10 1/2 stone .
68 Tri Swing Arm , Solid Axle in conical , 68 Bonnie rear shocks & progessive springs . ditto in fancy short Roadholders.
Did I mention it was light ? .
Built from Comando Vs Mercedes Frame ( tubes ) so scatching ( sorry ) was to ascertain geometry ,
tho I still have a Frame Layout side view from it , on oiled silk drawing paper ! .
Handled Superbly , Slide OR Drift , as Required , and intended . KR 76 & K 81 R .

acotrel · Jul 4, 2018

madass140 said:
View attachment 5333

The motor in this bike is in the wrong position. If you rode it really fast through a high speed bend, it would scare you and destroy your confidence. The motor needs to be as far forward and down as possible in the featherbed frame. The position of the motor is the reason that a 500cc Manx is better for racing than any Triton.

acotrel · Jul 4, 2018

Need more Tritons

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