Please don't hate me!

Please don't hate me, but I am a motorcycle junkie and I bought a Triumph. I found a deal on a 67 Tiger T100c that I could not pass up. The bike has not been started in at least 8 years, but the previous holder started it and ran it for a short time. It was probably sleeping for several years before that. Since the process would probably be much the same with a Norton, after I change the fluids and clean the gas tank and carb, what is the peferred method of waking the beast. Mystery oil in the cylinders? Dry? Pray?

There is nuthin wrong with a Triumph! Has the bike ever been overhauled? One of the issues with old Triumphs is that the crankshaft can plug with old congealed cottage cheesy oil residue that can kill the bottom end when resurrecting one after a long sit. That is why my own will come apart for inspection before it runs. I see you are in Anaheim, I'm in Fullerton. We happen to have one of the best Triumph guys close to us. Keith Moore at Moore's Cycle knows & loves these motorbikes. He is off Orangethorpe east of Lemon.

Vintage Paul

I am familiar with Keith and will be talking to him sometime this week. Any suggestions on cleaning the gunk out of the tank?

I brought my tank up to Continental Radiator on Beach. The boiled it out somehow. That was 20 years ago.

I would love to see your Commando. Care to come out to Bike Night at Scotties on BBQ in Orange some Thursday night? I'll be there this week. Its just a group of bike mad locals who like to meet and swap lies. Sadly, we rarely have a British bike unless Norton Glenn comes.

Scotties Smokehouse
220 E. Katella Ave.Orange, CA
714-997-3804

Vintage Paul

I'm familiar with Scotties. I'll try to get by one Thursday soon. Norton is parked right now due to another lay shaft bearing issue. Hopefully I can get it sorted out soon.
Thought a picture might be appropriate



1967 Tiger 100 (T100C) It came with an extra engine and the corrrect high sidepipes.

What a sweet little bike! I have always liked the 500s. What are those pipes on it? they look almost like 2 stroke pipes. The stock Triumph system is one of the best sounding of all time, too bad they have so often been replaced with inferior sounding and loader mufflers. My own Bonnie had the nasty little Bates pipes when it came to me. The mellow melodic Triumph note had been swapped for a raspy loud unmusical noise. I now have a new Triumph system for it when it is ready to go.

Vintage Paul

This bike came with a box-o-stuff. In the box are the original side pipes and mufflers with a broken bracket. They are straight, but will need to be chromed. Also, under the seat is the original tool kit, complete I think. The bag is shot but all the tools seem to be there. I am going to have to buy some books and see what I am suppose to have.

Thank goodness for the ole box-of-stuff. Many treasures have been saved in those boxes. I'll be over at Scotties this evening probably about 7 but will probably miss next week. Come on over if you want, the Hondapotomous would be welcomed. I'm thinking of giving the GB500 an outing after its recent new battery & oil & filter change.

Vintage Paul

Is it appropriate to say "Variety is the spice of life" or more appropriate to say "misery loves company" with regard to owning two disparate British bikes?

Actually, I own a Triumph too. I bought a 66 TR6R several years ago and love it. When I was a kid I remember the Triumph's as the coolest things on two wheels. I didn't know about Commando's till the late 70's. I will continually associate the Triumph with Marlon Brando, James Dean, Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood types. Besides, it's just always been the quintessential motorcycle in my mind. Clean, lean design that looks agile and capable.

Anyway, your bike looks great. Just the kind of bike to pick up to restore. I'm a bit of a purist, so would begin putting back to just what it looked like when Mr. McQueen rode them. However, The things that catch my eye on your bike are the forks - the shredded gaiters probably mean corrosion in the tubes, the handlebars - waaay to tall for me and a strange bend, and the exhaust - looks like a competition pipe (similar to the BSA RGS) but the muffler is a very strange looking device. I'd be tempted to retain the 2-1 pipes, but with a stock muffler.

If I can help in any way, drop me a PM.

Steve

Thanks all. My plan is to take this as close as I can to stock. After I get it mechanically sound, I will begin on the appearance. Probably first order will be to get the stock exhaust re-chromed and put back on the bike. The tank is good enough that I will probably not do anything to it. After all, it is only original once. I'll post as things move along. First, get it running and hope I don't have to rebuild it first. Odometer says 7,300 miles. How bad could it be???

Nice little bike, I had a 64 500 that belonged to a friend for a while. Fun bikes to ride. If you do come down to Scotties remember he has moved to a new much bigger place. It's on Kattela now just East of Glassel.

SteveMinning said:

Is it appropriate to say "Variety is the spice of life" or more appropriate to say "misery loves company" with regard to owning two disparate British bikes?

Actually, I own a Triumph too. I bought a 66 TR6R several years ago and love it. When I was a kid I remember the Triumph's as the coolest things on two wheels. I didn't know about Commando's till the late 70's. I will continually associate the Triumph with Marlon Brando, James Dean, Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood types. Besides, it's just always been the quintessential motorcycle in my mind. Clean, lean design that looks agile and capable.

Click to expand...

I'm with you on loving more than one motorcycle. They each seem to have their own "personality" and appeal in different ways.

I can't imagine not having a Triumph. For me they are the quintessential motorcycle, the standard by which all others are judged even now. Last night I rode the GB500 to a local Bike Nite at a BBQ shack a few towns away. As I heard the other riders waxing eloquent about their various mounts, I couldn't help thinking that "this one weighs more than a Triumph" or "that one has a shorter wheelbase than a Triumph."

In Orange County CA when I grew up in the 1960s, we never saw Nortons. There plenty of clunky old BSAs ,but all the cool guys rode Triumphs. Such is the power of media images. Gee, we could sure use more Steve McQueen movies now . . .

Vintage Paul