[Tom W.]

There's one for sale for $2500 with 24K miles. I love the way they look but am nervous about the reliability of a British bike. My first car was a Austin Healey Sprite so I know about Lucas electricals.

I've resurrected 2 older Hondas, so that's the extent of my bike experience. Do '72 Triumphs still use Whitworth fasteners? Do you need special tools? '72 still have "non-reverese" shifters (right side)? Does 24K miles mean the engine & tranny will need a rebuild soon?

Tom W.
'70 CL350

 

[magnetoczar]

All English bikes can be made reliable these days. There are a host of solid state electrics made for them now and actually the newer Lucas stuff wasn't bad. 24k is high mileage and while it may go a bit further, it's suspect. You can buy a cheap set of Whitworth sockets and open ends that will work fine, and a lot of metric/US stuff will cross over. Triumphs are simple as tractors, still there's a learning curve to them, but I find them very gratifying own, ride, and work on. Right side shifting is an individual thing. Personally, I have no problem with shifting on either side, gp pattern or standard, and had 2 race bikes and a sidecar at the track at the same time that all had different sides and different patterns, but once I did the warmup lap I never thought about it again. But I have friends that are lefties, standard pattern, period, whatever. I don't see what the big deal is about learning, though. The clutch and front brake are still in the same place, so you can stop in an emergency.

Now an old Indian with a left side throttle, that might take some getting used to.

Dgy

 

[joe c]

dgys pretty much on. ive found getting on the bonneville automatically puts me into the right side shift mode.

jc

 

[Chikor]

i think 1974 was the year they switched over the shifter, early sportsters were shifting on the same side as the brits...

Ride Fast and Take Chances

 

[Tom W.]

Thanks for the info. I think I'm going to pass. I guess the mileage (need for rebuild) is of greatest concern.




Tom W.
'70 CL350

 

[magnetoczar]

$2500 would be a good price for a Daytona in very good condition, but probably that bike is worth like $1700 if it's all there and not too bad. There's $1500 in rebuild parts alone, then there's boring charges, etc, and labor.

Dgy