Lindsay Brooke, noted Triumph historian and author, offers some insight into why Triumph machines were often used as the basis for constructing a competitive drag racing motorcycle. Although Triumph built its first unit-construction powerplant with the 350cc 3T/A in 1958 followed by the unit 500cc 5T/A in 1959, it didn’t convert its 650cc line to unit-construction until 1963. It consists of several different Triumph models but is essentially based on a 650cc 1957 Triumph TR6 Trophy engine and separate Triumph 4-speed gearbox, in a format commonly known as “pre unit” construction. What Jeff had purchased was a drag bike he thinks was built circa 1968. “It was cool, but I wasn’t going to leave it like that because it wasn’t good enough,” Jeff says. Cosmetically, it was rather challenged, too. It really was as simple as that.”Īs delivered, the Triumph was complete, but it appeared somewhat cobbled together in some aspects of its construction. “I asked him what he wanted for it, agreed to the price and asked him to crate it up and drop it off at a Roadway terminal and had it shipped to Canada. “I was able to reach the seller, though,” Jeff says. I emailed it to Jeff, but by the time he’d found it the auction had ended, without reaching the seller’s reserve. In 2007, while scanning eBay I came across a listing for a Triumph drag bike. I’ve known Jeff for years, and he’d mentioned to me his interest in locating a period-built Triumph drag bike. Here’s where I play a small role in this story. Not having much success in locating an original example, he was getting set to build his own machine based on a 1/8 scale 1964 Revell plastic model kit of a Triumph drag motorcycle. A flat tracker, road racer and drag bike.” Two out of threeīy the mid-2000s, Jeff had a period-modified Triumph flat tracker and a road racer in his stable but was without the drag bike. But it was my relationship with that 1970 Bonneville that set me on a quest to collect race bikes based upon the Triumph 650 twin platform. “I love that bike and think 1967 to 1970 Triumph Bonnevilles represent the very best in motorcycle style. I’ve owned that bike for 25-plus years, and it gets ridden at least weekly. “During Triumph’s glory years, their 500 and 650 twins were the ultimate multipurpose bikes,” Jeff explains, and continues, “One of my favorite motorcycles in my garage is a 1970 Triumph T120R. Jeff Thompson of British Columbia, Canada, owner of the drag bike featured here, considers Triumphs built between 19 to be the most versatile motorcycles ever constructed. With some mechanical ingenuity and parts from aftermarket retailers such as Webco and Harman & Collins, the Triumph 650cc parallel twin engines could be hopped up to offer tremendous power in a lightweight package. But surely, back in the 1950s and 1960s when backyard builds were common at tracks across North America, one would be wondering if all the components of their machine would remain together at maximum velocity while hurtling 440 yards to the finish line.ĭecades ago, many ambitious drag bike builders based their racing machines on commonly available motorcycles, such as Triumphs. Seat height: 24in at the lowest, 28in in at the highest (609.5mm – 711mm)Ī competitor needs to focus solely on making it to the end of the run, everything else is just a distraction.Tires: 3.00 x 21in ribbed Avon front, 4.00 x 18in rear M&H drag slick.Brakes: Front N/A, Rear 7in (178mm) drum.Suspension: Triumph telescopic fork front, rigid rear.
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