i take time around people who love old British bikes, and I feel like Triumph Bonneville The T140 faced a bit of surprise from the Triumph crowd. Having said that, its legendary predecessor, the T120, is a tough act to follow. But while the T140 doesn’t quite have the same appeal, it makes for a great customization in the right hand.
Built by the team at Motos are built with purpose from their Gold Coast workshop in Australia, this 1973 Bonneville T140V has been transformed into a very sleek desert sled. Vintage Triumphs aren’t usually their cup of tea, but the PBM gang is keen to tackle something a little left-hand. And to make things even more interesting, the bike came to them in a state of regret.
“If you have a nice old bike and you want to keep it that way, make sure you use it,” says Tom Gilroy, ‘Escapades Lead’ at Purpose Built Moto.
“This project comes to us because it has been neglected for so long and is no longer active. Things have boiled over, and without serious attention, it will slowly fade away and crumble. “
To start things off, the entire UI has had a birthday. The fork and brakes have been removed and rebuilt, with all new finishes applied. PBM has built a new front fender and rack in-house, whose serial design isn’t too different from a classic motorcycle, albeit slightly shorter.
The wheel set is one of my favorite parts on this build. It includes a new set of frills for an extra bit of vintage flair, which is attached to the stock hubs. The experimental style rubber comes from Pirelli and certainly looks like the part.
The original low Bonneville handlebars are retained, but equipped with classic switches and new grips. PBM removed the tachometer, then deftly Bite the factory speedometer into the Lucas-style headlight box, along with a set of warning lights. The factory headlight frame has also been moved, with the PBM chrome LED indicator also acting as the headlight latch.
Going back to the fuel tank, it was decided that a factory design would match the vehicle’s structure. Introduced by Justin at Popbang Classics, a fellow Gold Coast guy, the silver and white color scheme exudes classic Triumph but has a modern twist.
With the progress of construction, attention has turned to the engine. The carburetor has been reworked, the top end has been re-tuned and fitted with a new Boyer igniter.
“According to the owner, it used to be great — and he’s really making money,” explains Tom. “The engine is in excellent condition inside, so we polished the outside to match, replaced the leaky gaskets, and started working on the second pedal.”
All of rival their salt worth has a nice exhaust, and this one is no exception. Running high down the left side of the engine is a custom-built stainless steel system. A little bit of pressure from the back never hurt anyone, so PBM used oversized piping so they could finally hide some of the bulkhead.
As someone who regularly experiences the sound of 744cc Bonnevilles with their lightweight baffled mufflers screaming through tunnels, I bet this sounds spectacular on wide throttle.
Moving up, a new seat pad has been cut to perfectly reflect the frame rails, and then covered with a uniquely shaped foam pad. The new chair was then sent down the street to Jamason at Timeless Auto Trimming, who stitched back a vintage leather upholstery.
Behind are some other PBM parts. Their new rear fender cleans the rear end very nicely; it is adorned with their own ‘Orbit’ taillights and flanked by a pair of LED turn signals. The old shock absorber was getting better and better, so it was promptly replaced with a new one 20mm longer.
What do Tom and the PBM team think about the end result? It’s not exactly a surprising end note.
“As our first classic Triumph, I’ve never actually ridden any of the old twins,” says Tom. “About 3.5 seconds into the test ride, I completely understand why these bikes are so popular. The sound of the exhaust and the clatter of the engine is what draws you in — then you turn the throttle back on and realize this dinosaur can move! “
“It’s surprisingly fast and with the suspension upgrades, it’s a killer bike for commuting. Seeing that I must deliver it back to our customers to enjoy for years to come, I may have to add an old Triumph to my growing list. “
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