New Bitsa....I mean Triton, sorry.

Mark Savage · Oct 31, 2020

TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY TRITON by Icon Motorcycles

First patented in 1952, Norton’s featherbed chassis was originally developed for TT competition and upon its release (and for roughly

www.pipeburn.com

grandpaul · Oct 31, 2020

Nice enough, but I just can't get into it...

Triton Thrasher · Oct 31, 2020

linked article said:
First patented in 1952, Norton’s featherbed chassis...

Really? Why did they wait so long to patent it?

Triton Thrasher · Oct 31, 2020

Poor Tim Huber isn’t very good at writing articles!

jan nelder · Nov 22, 2020

Triton Thrasher said:
Poor Tim Huber isn’t very good at writing articles!
Roadholder forks... don’t think so. Dunstall silencers?? Dealers selling them back in the day.. Degens only!

Fast Eddie · Nov 22, 2020

In some ways it’s a good idea, air cooled Hinckley lumps are cheap and plentiful, so there could easily be a new Triton home brewed trend, especially if parts supply was catered for.

A Triton like in the pics should be a lot lighter than the donor Hinckley bike, so should be nice and peppy.

But... the bike in the article is too high in the front end (or low on the rear)... Some of the detailing is a bit off IMHO... The focus on exclusivity is clearly gonna make it stupidly expensive vs the original ‘home brewed’ theme... And at the end of all that it’ll still get blown into the weeds by a 1200 Thruxton !

trident sam · Nov 22, 2020

Fast Eddie said:
In some ways it’s a good idea, air cooled Hinckley lumps are cheap and plentiful, so there could easily be a new Triton home brewed trend, especially if parts supply was catered for.

A Triton like in the pics should be a lot lighter than the donor Hinckley bike, so should be nice and peppy.

But... the bike in the article is too high in the front end (or low on the rear)... Some of the detailing is a bit off IMHO... The focus on exclusivity is clearly gonna make it stupidly expensive vs the original ‘home brewed’ theme... And at the end of all that it’ll still get blown into the weeds by a 1200 Thruxton !

Yes, and probably ignored by owners of real Tritons

Fast Eddie · Nov 22, 2020

trident sam said:
Yes, and probably ignored by owners of real Tritons

That’s normal.
Triton riders aren’t actually as socially inept as some people think though.
They’re not ignoring folk intentionally... they’re just deafened by megaphones.
And they’re not huddled in the corner menacingly... they’re just trying to get some blood flowing into their numb hands...

Or maybe that was just me...!

grandpaul · Nov 22, 2020

Fast Eddie said:
In some ways it’s a good idea, air cooled Hinckley lumps are cheap and plentiful, so there could easily be a new Triton home brewed trend, especially if parts supply was catered for.

A Triton like in the pics should be a lot lighter than the donor Hinckley bike, so should be nice and peppy.

But... the bike in the article is too high in the front end (or low on the rear)... Some of the detailing is a bit off IMHO... The focus on exclusivity is clearly gonna make it stupidly expensive vs the original ‘home brewed’ theme... And at the end of all that it’ll still get blown into the weeds by a 1200 Thruxton !

Actually I don't see the point. Why not figure out a great modern chassis that already has excellent modern suspension and wheel options, that will take various modern Bonnie and even triple engines with simple alloy adapter mount plates and start a whole new trend. FORGET the "Norton" / classic aspects, it's not worth it, when reasonably modern stuff is so exponentially superior.

Maybe one of the late 80s or early 90s chassis before head-to-toe plastic bodywork became the norm? It shouldn't take a ton of research to figure out which ones are readily available in reasonable numbers to popularize them for the new genre...

Fast Eddie · Nov 22, 2020

grandpaul said:
Actually I don't see the point. Why not figure out a great modern chassis that already has excellent modern suspension and wheel options, that will take various modern Bonnie and even triple engines with simple alloy adapter mount plates and start a whole new trend. FORGET the "Norton" / classic aspects, it's not worth it, when reasonably modern stuff is so exponentially superior.

Maybe one of the late 80s or early 90s chassis before head-to-toe plastic bodywork became the norm? It shouldn't take a ton of research to figure out which ones are readily available in reasonable numbers to popularize them for the new genre...

Actually, Hyde / Harris already did that:

But where’s the point in any of that either? Just buy a 1200 Thruxton. Triumph have already sorted a good frame, brakes, suspension!

You could even take the argument right back to the 60s to for that matter. Norton 650SS was plenty fast enough and the Doug Hele tweaked Bonnies handle fine...

grandpaul · Nov 22, 2020

Fast Eddie said:
Actually, Hyde / Harris already did that...

Ever priced one?

Fast Eddie said:
But where’s the point in any of that either?

See above! Plus, some people want to build stuff.

Fast Eddie · Nov 22, 2020

grandpaul said:
Ever priced one?

See above! Plus, some people want to build stuff.

I had one, but with an old triple engine...cos I like to build stuff !

Which was my point really GP. There is no practical justification for any of the shit we do with these old bikes.

We do it cos it’s fun. And if someone thinks it's fun to nail a Hinckley Bonnie lump into a featherbed, don a silk scarf and piss pot, and go hooliganing around on it, then more power to ‘em I say !!

grandpaul · Nov 23, 2020

I'd just like to see a thoroughly new Tri-something that catches on long-term. Of course, no two would ever be alike; but if someone could figure out the "golden" modern chassis, it would take off...

ashman · Nov 30, 2020

I am a big fan of Featherbeds and own 2, I also own 2 Triumph Thruxtons 900 and 1200, it be a waste of time to convert a 1200 Thruxton to a Featherbed frame as they handle pretty good and they feel as light as a Featherbed when riding it, as for putting a 900 Triumph motor in a Featherbed frame it will fit but the top frame rails would have to be mod so you can get the valve covers off or remove the motor to do valve adjustments, Don Pender has done this many years ago.
I am not a fan of Tritons, a Featherbed should be kept all Norton, when I brought my Featherbed frame back in 79 my friend Don who got me into Norton's and Featherbeds at 17 Don who sold me the Featherbed frame got into building Tritons but I kept with all Norton, I am still good friends with Don and he is still amazed in how reliable my hot rod Commando/Featherbed has been.

Ashley