If you’re looking for a Bonneville to ride, the second generation (T140) can be very appealing as they’re typically cheaper than the T120 and they have some quality upgrades: 100 more cubic centimeters of displacement, a front disc brake, and an additional gear in the transmission. This was Triumph’s way of combating the onslaught of advancements from Japan – but it turns out that Triumph was arguably a bigger obstacle to their own success than Honda, Suzuki, et al. In ’73, Triumph was only able to survive (as Norton-Villiers-Triumph) because of a government loan, but at the end of the year workers at the Meriden factory held a sit-in to protest the announced closure of their plant.
The sit-in obviously got in the way of production numbers, and even once it had been squared away the ’74 bikes still had a couple of quality control issues. The 49 horsepower twin was good for a top speed of approximately 110 miles per hour, and the curb weight was about 420 pounds. For more on the 140V, check out this Buyer’s Guide from Sump Publishing..
This example has been “rebuilt from the ground up” and it looks to be in good shape. The main thing to note is that at one point the frame had cracked and been repaired – this is extra important when the frame holds the oil! In addition to the frame repair, this bike has new fork seals, new brake pads/shoes, new luggage rack, new seat, new mirrors, and a whole bunch more. LED running lights have been added and the bike also has reverse cone mufflers. The paint isn’t perfect but overall it looks commensurate with age. The motor received plenty of attention as well – per the seller, the crankshaft was dynamically balanced to 74% so that vibration has been minimized. The motor has been bored +50 over and it got new main bearings and piston rings. The main shaft bearing in the transmission was replaced, Boyer electronic ignition was installed, and a Tympanium solid state regulator has also been added. There’s a lot more work that’s gone on with this bike that you can investigate in the listing as well. The seller says he’s put approximately 700 miles on this Bonnie since the rebuilt and that the bike starts the first time and runs great. Tick over is “steady as a rock” thanks to some modifications to the Amal carbs.
If your preference is to ride rather than show (not that this is an ugly bike), this seems like a great way to get into classic Brit bike ownership for a reasonable price. Find this Bonnie for sale in Wimberley, Texas here on BritCycle for $5,500.