1964 Triumph Bonneville - Jay Leno's Garage
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- Jay gives us an in-depth look at one of the most classically beautiful motorcycles of all time, his 1964 Triumph Bonneville.
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1964 Triumph Bonneville - Jay Leno's Garage
• 1964 Triumph Bonnevill...
Jay Leno's Garage
/ jaylenosgarage
I’m 82 years old and I’ve always loved the Triumph Bonneville. Thanks for your channel.
I graduated from high school in 1969. I had a Honda 305 Super Hawk, but the ultimate bike to have at that time was the Triumph Bonneville. Pure classic motorcycle. I have a Triumph today ... finally! lol
. . . l also had a 305 Scrambler, and I wanted a Bonneville so bad. . .
Same here to you and the guys above .... I had a 305cc black Super Hawk in high school ( grad '68 ). I loved it but I salivated over my older brother's Bonnie .. with it's Burgundy and Grey tank w the parcel rack and the big wide and flat two toned black sided and grey top seat. WOW .... what a bike ... I really should get one from back then before it is too late to enjoy it. I have to add ... the Honda 450 Black Bomber which came out just as I got into owning cars ... was a beautiful machine as well ... to me classic level design and workmanship !
Hi Jay. This is my first comment on your channel so I can I start be saying how privileged we are that you share your unique experience and insights of your collection so freely with us. Your restoration standards are inspiring.
I have several bikes, but none with more than two cylinders. I like simple machines. In Europe we believe that the US design mantra is “if enough is just right then too much must be even better”. My equivalent run about is a 2006 (Chennai) Enfield Bullet 500 restyled to be a more exact replica of the 1955 design. For me, it is just as engaging as your Triumph and satisfying to ride and maintain, but only for local journeys. I think nostalgia comes into play when you say that long distances could be covered with ease on the bikes of the ‘60s. Are you sure the Bonnie could do an honest 120mph? I bet you would not want to do it on yours! If you do I hope you will consider wearing gloves.
Your comment about the Bonneville being your favorite for when you just want to go for a ride made me think of my 2004 Bonneville. I think I enjoyed just going for a ride on it more than any other bike I ever had. Sadly, I got rid of it a few years ago when foot and leg problems made me think my riding days were over. Now things have improved to where I could ride again.
The shoe. The other day I was riding down the road and saw a guy walking and wearing only one shoe. It looked exactly like that shoe in the video. I said hey buddy, did you lose a shoe. He said "no, I found one".
Lmao
Thats awaome
@Hal Herrington That's a great Jeff Dunham and Peanut joke. He told that in his early days with Peanut.
Lol
That may be the same guy who argued with me saying the glass was half full and I told him " no fool it's half empty, stop being so optimistic!"
I would love to see Jay do a side by side with the Yamaha XS650's, and the Triumph Bonneville Yamaha's XS650's was their first 4 stroke, Was designed in England and built by Yamaha in Japan. Hitachi electrics still running perfectly on my 79 Special II 2F... 40 years and I still love it!
I have a '77 xs650 and it tops out at 100 mph. I want to see Jay go 120 on that Bonny!
A very good comparison to make, Decker. I am a fan of both the Bonneville and XS. The XS engine is a beauty, and perhaps by the late 60's, when production began, it is the design Triumph should have moved on to, with its overhead cam. However, the XS frames up to 74 could not hold a csndle to the Bonnie, but with the intrduction of the sturdier frame ( thanks to Percy Tait's rcommendations) my personal opinion is that the Yamaha 650 was an excellent bike, equal to the oil in frame T140, and possibly easier to live with and more reliable... just not a Triumph tho ...
I've watched this video so many times. It's a beautiful motorcycle that was built in a beautiful time. I've been riding Motorcycles for over 56 years. I wish I could go back to the '60's and live it all over again. The very best of times. Sadly, I didn't realize it then.
Best bike I ever road on the street and off road. I had a T110. Loved that bike. So light and easy to ride. Also enjoyed my Triumph Cub scrambler one lunger. I now have a 1980 HD Sportster XLH-1000. It feels so heavy. It feels dangerous. Loved your thoughts on the Triumph. Totally agree!!
Hi jay I had a Bonniville in the early 60’s it had upswept exhaust pipes and sounded like no other. Great bike and went on to own several Triumphs like the Thunderbird & Tiger 100 all great bikes and fabulous memories.
Interesting question, in that it's difficult to distance one's fond memories with cold detachment. The perennial struggle between subjectivity and objectivity. I had a 1972 Triumph 650 "Tiger", not all that much different than this earlier "Bonneville", except mine was blue and white. Nice. She took me everywhere around Chicago (combat experience), including round trips --- big loops, actually --- down to Evansville, Indiana and across to Lebanon, Ohio, all the way to New York, across Long Island, then coming back home on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, skimming through the northern stretches of Ohio and Indiana back into Chi-Town. No problems. I held that "Tiger" for eight years, later driving a Moto-Guzi, Norton and Yamaha 650, which I used in my suicidal job as a courier for "Deadline Express" (believe it or not), delivering everything from skyscraper blueprints to corporate espionage reports. Much earlier, a Honda 90-S was my first bike, back in mid-1960s' teenage years. I remember tall these mounts with affection, even rather horrible 2-stroke Kawasaki that nearly killed me. But hearing that old Bonneville purr recalls a special thrill. Once, returning from the North Side off Lake Shore Drive passing McCormick Place, one very early Sunday morning, with nobody else on I-55, some demonic impulse suddenly seized me, and I cranked her up to 110 mph. Smooth ride, no strain; all very natural. Would have been a hefty ticket, but the gods were kind, and I flew, minus police interference, from the lake shore to exit at Kedzie Avenue under five minutes; usually, more like half an hour. Well, all that was very long ago. I since learned that getting on an attractive motorcycle is like mounting a beautiful woman with AIDS, but, having somehow survived all that, the Triumph Tiger contributed so much to my quality of life, I'll never stop loving her. And missing her. Yes, these old Triumphs were beautiful. They always will be.
I had a Triumph Tiger 100 in 1965. It was a 500cc and would do 95 plus and was not too bad for some off road riding. I was in the Army stationed at Ft Bliss in El Paso, Tx. Plenty of open roads and space. I was coming home for Easter on a 2 week leave and made it to Johnson City, Tx. before a rod broke and knocked a hole in the crankcase. My Dad and a friend came and picked me and the pieces up, and finished the trip to Houston. After a trip to Vietnam I made it back home and one of my first projects was to get the crank case welded up and have the crank turned. Went back together and rode it off and on for about 2 years. Let a co-worker talk me into selling it to him and have been kicking myself ever since. If I had it I could still ride it comfortably. My son has a 750 Suzuki and it is miserable to ride. Has plenty of power and love the engineering, but it and most of the Harleys and other bikes are too heavy for me with my worn out knees. Like you say they are real motorcycles and still look good today.
Lloyd Prunier A
In 1971 I went to England and bought a Bonneville and toured for about a year. Soon after getting the bike I had a mechanical problem, so I called the factory and was told to bring it in. So I spent a couple of days wondering around the factory. What a joy. When I asked someone why their bikes leaked oil and the recently popular Japanese bikes didn't, I was told "If a Triumph isn't leaking oil, then it doesn't have oil in it!"
Have 8 bikes in the garage and house , none made in the 21st century. 1982 is newest bike owned.
Beautiful Bonnie !
That size cc motorcycle is really that fun to ride. Manufacturers and riders are rediscovering the joys of 650ish cc bikes. It is the hottest class of bikes right now. Just look at what Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha (698cc) are producing. Several styles of 650s offered by each.
I have a 2012 Bonneville T100.I think it's the best bike to ride ever.Fun,fun,fun...
i absolutely love your videos, especially the motorcycles ones. this is a gorgeous bike. i idolize your collection. you have excellent taste. thanks, mr. leno!!!
We used to call that the ‘6 Pack Rack’...and a few times I did tie down a 6 pack of beer on it.
That Bonny is a beautiful example, but for me the 1956 Triumph Tiger T110 was their nicest looking motorcycle, in the beautiful silver trim.
Also, parallel twins of that era sound like a motorcycle should.
Well j I am 44 years old and I finally got my first bike part of a bike kind of. I have a frame from a 1960 triumph TR61 20 and a friend of mine who is a British mechanic to help me build a bike so I'm pretty excited and the fun part's going to begin finding in the parts. Also love your UA-cam channel!
I'm 36 and have been riding modern bikes for 12 years but my taste in motorcycles has changed dramatically in the last 2 years. Now I find modern bikes uninteresting with their sharp edges and menacing front looks. I have just bought a 1982 Honda CB250 Superdream beautifully converted into cafe racer. What a gorgeous looking motorcycle full of soul and passion.
That bike looks awesome
I prefer the simplicity of the Bonneville etc ,the modern bikes which I,ve had a few & enjoyed , but being honest with myself Jay I wish I had looked after it as I would enjoy myself more on the Bonnie ,its plenty fast enough ,especially at 66 ,all the best
Ok, At 75 I am back to Biking On a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Being converted to 856 cc for those extra horses, at Half the price of a Bonny before conversion.
Back in 1963 my choice was between a Triumph Bonneville at £2005 and a Vespa GS 160 scooter, similar money. Influenced by my Mod. peers I made the 'wrong' choice, I had a lot of fun, then and since, but always wondered about that other decision that would have ostracized me from my cool friends by confirming allegiance to the Rockers of the day.
I'm a sportster guy. And as such I am biased a bit. But yes that bike there is one of the sweetest bikes ever made and far superior to the sportster of the day. It's not just you.
I was 20 when I graduated directly from a 1964 150cc Lambretta scooter to a brand new 1968 Triumph Bonneville. It cost me £485 at the time. I was blown away with the power and style. Above all else I was impressed how much safer it was to ride than was the scooter, power, stability, braking. It was about that year Bonnevilles adopted twin leading shoe front brakes, a vast improvement in stopping power.
I rode that bike all over England, Scotland and as far off as Italy on one trip before parting with it to get married. It turned heads everywhere it went, especially in Italy. Like you, Jay, I am nostalgic for that bike. I went on to become a London speed cop riding Triumph Saints, the police version of the Triumph 650cc Trophy, itself the single carb version of the Bonneville. Those were great times, great motorcycles.
Your love of the Bonneville must surely be half nostalgia, half knowing it's a real motorcycle. Those mufflers were, to me, the epitome of what a motorcycle muffler should look like, something that could be said for the look of the whole machine. The size, lines, power, overall impression were ideal. For the time they were around, they were the absolute best. Thanks for taking me for a ride with you.
Agreed. I still own mine however I've begun "thinning the herd" and it's going to be listed soon for sale. Too many bikes in the stable and only so much riding time!
That's genuinely one of the most beautiful bikes ever, without a doubt. Nostalgia is just icing on the cake.
I HATE CAKE , DUMMY!
Yep... that's what a 'motorcycle' looks like... no plastic... 2020 version of my 1997 Intruder still has that look (they call it "naked" now):
img.letgo.com/images/7f/51/9d/dd/7f519ddd160fcfd2137f2386b9cb199e.jpg
There is episode of Gas Monkey Garage I think where when business is slow he gives his guys some different motorcycles to clean up and then take to auction. One was a nice stock Triumph like this and it went for the most money. More than the Harley’s.
Absolutely.
Muchas gracias por hacernos recordar los tiempos gloriosos de las motocicletas inglesas y de Triumph en particular. Para los fanáticos de ello hoy día Triumph sigue vigente con su magnífica Bonneville....pero oohhh sorpresa: sí existe una versión moderna de su T100, con todos los adelantos modernos pero fiel a su esencia, me refiero a la W800.
En lo personal, cada vez que la uso, vuelvo con una gran sonrisa.
I am 24 years young and that is the most beautiful bike I've ever seen - so it's not just the nostalgia!
24 years "young"? You mean 24 years old.
@@konjino78 why subject yourself to the term “old”?
I hope your generation finds the same pleasure I've enjoyed the last fifty years.
"You're not going to get Leno by offering him any money. You gotta give him something he would really want" American media needs more Jay Leno's. Glad he's still producing quality material! What a guy
Yeah, genuine *good* guy, one of few I'd really like to meet some day
+Joseph Lemenager He didn't go with NBC though lol Basically got his mate to play them for a new bike and then went to CBS anyway haha
+One 1 Wrong.
+Joseph Lemenager I wonder if he named it, "Dave."
Joseph Lemenager. right!? im sure money had nothing to do with that deal. What a guy...
A wise man once said:
None of that matters now coz i have the motorcycle.
I'm an old guy (age 70), a former journalist who came out of retirement a couple of years ago to sell motorcycles -- specifically, BMWs. Now I love the new Beemers. They are marvels of advanced mechanical (and electronic) technology. They're terrific to ride -- smooth, powerful, ultra-reliable. I cannot deny their excellence. In fact, it's difficult to deny the excellence of nearly every modern motorcycle. It's difficult, if not impossible, to buy a bad one these days.
Yet, my daily rider is a 1970 Triumph T100R Daytona; a 500cc parallel twin closely related to the pre oil-in-frame Bonnies, like Jay's. The little Daytona is an absolute joy -- spry, nimble, quick (but not beastly) and, for whatever reason, more fun than my 193 hp 2010 BMW S1000RR, the superbike of superbikes. So, is it nostalgia that moves me to enjoy the little Triumph so much? Probably -- in part. But, it's also the purity of the motorcycling experience the Daytona offers. It's just rider and machine without electronic intervention, without taming, without sanitation. Riding the old girl is a visceral thing that simply cannot be replicated by modern machinery. Are the new bikes better? Of course they are -- technologically. But, for pure, raw, unmolested enjoyment, Jay's Bonnie and my Daytona cannot be bettered. So say I!
i had a t100 c high pipes c meaning compatition for off road single carb i was followed 1 day by a biker he cauht up an says u got any cilinder heads we got frendly and he wanted me to follow him to his home shed an he had a stack of heads on the bench all were cracked between the valve seats he had the daytona 500 twin carb so i would go 1 carb if i was u it dont lose much power and stays in tune easyer no balacing to go out maybe my bike had lower compression pistons too wich helps alot lastly i crashed into a car the forks were bent as far as posible the wheel was totally strait an true lol them heavy spokes on the c models over kill strong
Older bikes embody soul and spirit.. not soulless dendability! BTW.. old age is a state of mind.. MCs keep you young.
There is a lot to be said for a simple, good handling light weight bike that looks great machinewise. Not plastic coverwise. Classic English bikes like this are the two wheeled version of the classic English sportscar like the MGB or Austin Healy and the ilk.
Loved my 500 trophy😁
Amen!
I’m 65 yrs old from England but have lived most of my life in the USA , always love the Bonnie’s but never owned one until now , and I’m thrilled to bits , thanks Jay for that video , very inspiring indeed
Which ones have you owned?
I always remember taking my friend's 1966 Triumph Bonneville 650 for a ride. Lots of fun. I kept the 1970 Norton 750 Commando that I bought in 1973. Still ride it to this day. Great bike. Sounds great, and a real love affair.
As a teen-ager, the Norton Commando was my dream bike, never to come true.
Even the name was cool.
And that teacher was so wrong. Happy to see the kind of motivation and enthusiasm Jay has towards bikes and cars. Very cool!
.
CCC y. El z. vx
6 minutos x55zz x en el segundo 5 días en f en. El y CD con mf
un. h
Jay, during the 60's and 70's in the UK we had a motorcycle club called The Toddington & District MCC. I had a BSA 250 C11G, a 350 single Matchless and ended up with a 650 Bonneville the best bike ever. To this day we still meet three times a week after 51 years some still riding bikes and talk about the old times when we went racing, trialing, and marshalling at various events around the UK. We cry in our beers at the bikes we had and sold for a song knowing what they would be worth now. Even today on 21 Aug 2019 some of the lads went on a club run riding flashy foreign things but it's not the same as the old un's. We might all be in our late 60's and early 70's but are still friends and it's all down to the humble motorcycle.
Wow... I am impressed, 51 years of riding and still together sharing memories of all these years ❤️
I know exactly what you mean about the crazy prices bikes are going for today. I had a BSA C11 which I bought for £2.
A Triumph speed twin I bought from Kings for £20. A Triumph T110 I bought for £20. The list goes on and on.
I have to say though it’s looking at them through rose tinted glasses. None of them you could say were reliable, they left a
Pool of oil wherever you stopped but people of our age now have the cash and that’s driven the prices sky high.
I’ve got a Hayabusa which I’ve had from new. 44000 miles never let me down beautiful condition and worth less than a 125 bantam..
Crazy times.
I’m 68 years old, I bought a 69 Triumph Tiger 650. It was sitting for decades near the San Diego area. It’s all original to all the bolts and Philips head case screws. It’s a nice original Red Orange paint with sun bleached tank and fenders, I cleaned it up, waxed it and it looks beautiful. No rust in the tank, but I had the gators and shocks rebuilt, and new brakes and tires. Runs just fine. I hadn’t ridden a motorcycle since I was 24 years old. So I’m starting all over. I took a motorcycle class and I have been enjoying riding on quiet streets and parking lots. The handling is just amazing, so easy to ride. To the Englishman in the original comment. It’s never to late to buy a nice 60’s English bike. I got this one for as much as a new Triumph “Street Twin”, which is a super nice modern retro bike. Cheers mate!
I've watched a lot of these videos. Jay sounds happiest in this one.
+Patrick Boyle I agree on this Bonnie video too, The Vincent Black Shadow he is also right up there- I know that feeling personally. Also the happiest moment when he was featuring the 32 Pursang Monza which belongs to my friend and neighbor
He does seem that.. Those old British marques will do that to you..
In his blood i spose..his mother was british
Perfect! Thanks for the ride down memory lane! I had two Bonnies, a '67 and a '70; both were the epitome of British motorcycles. My old snortin' Norton was a cool bike but didn't compare to the Bonnies. I'm 72 and still riding, but I look at old Triumphs on the internet every night after Momma goes to bed. They STILL do it for me! Long live the Bonneville...
This!
Like you old man (I’m 71) Triumph, Norton, BSA and even an Ariel square four. I consider myself very lucky 🍀
I’m 70 and I owned 5 Triumphs and 1 Norton Commando.😊
On my third Triumph, just picked up a 2023 Bonneville T120 two days ago. Had a 650 Bonneville in the 70s, and a Thunderbird 900 in the early 2000s.
I'm sixty seven this year and still building and working on Triumphs, they are a joy to build and ride.
I'm 21 years old and love motorcycling with a passion. I've thankfully been blessed to have ridden lots of different bikes at a young age, rockets, harleys, and elegant british twins/thumpers. And I would take a vintage bonneville or vincent or etc. over the nicest, most expensive ducati or harley from this era any day. And I speak for a lot of young people
IMO, the british bikes that were pre unit construction were more reliable mechanically. Reason, well gearboxes give less trouble when they have clean thicker gearbox oil as it was in pre-unit engines and gearboxes. When they changed to unit construction, engine and gearbox ran in the same oil 20/50 multigrade oil available in those days and of course it being engine oil, it got dirty. Also the british bikes leaked oil and the electrics were unreliable. Clutches were poor as well.
@@lovemetuoil is separate from engine in the unit bikes takes 90 weight and lower ends were pretty bullet proof.
Simply gorgeous machine....and I love your detailed walk-through and explanation. This was a joy to watch! Thank you for this episode.
No, it really is one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever.
@@johnzenkin1344 - First time I saw a white 805cc Intruder I fell in love with them... but then I saw the candy apple red one... it was all over... I immediately bought one... doesn't hurt that, despite being just a 'cruiser', it's effortlessly faster than a Bonneville, not too heavy, no chains/belts, and infinitely more reliable, as well...
Jay I enjoyed your story on your Bonneville
I came across my 66 Bonny in pieces.3 big boxes of parts.The owner gave up.I went got the shop manual and checked over all the wore out parts.Went to the dealer and got all the parts and made this great bike a trail bike/Hill climb bike.Little did i know 66 was a race engine 11-1 pistons.This thing would climb a telephone pole if i could hang on.Set the timing @ 38 degrees and this thing could rip tree stumps out of the ground.
Sorry i never had it street legal.
It's cool because it IS cool ;)
I prefer 4 wheels, roof and doors :)
+cigarobsession Fancy meeting you here!
+ilcool90 get out
+ilcool90 Caged
I owned a '70 Bonneville. Second bike. Design was spot on. Beautiful bike. It had a combination of the right shape coupled with the right amount of open space in the right proportions.
Ran all over the eastern US.
I'm from Coventry - born and bred. The Triumph factory was just outside the city in Meriden. My Mums still near the old Browns Lane Jaguar plant wheres some of my family worked.. The 60's really were the pinnacle - theres a hill that runs from the Meriden works down in to Meriden village - Test riders and drivers used to race each other up the hill - Bonneville against E-Types' etc. Our glory days of engineering at its best.
There's nostalgia, and then there's standing the test of time. The mid 60s Bonny is the latter.
Yes Jay they were a beautiful bike I had a 1969 Bonneville which was a ex cop bike I brought in 1971 at an auction I think I paid $500 dollars for it and yes you always had to go over it with a spanner quiet often. Don't forget Harley's in the sixties and seventies were junk as well and had all sorts of problems. To have one now I would have to take out a second mortgage to buy one.
I have had so many bikes over the years Japanese and Harley's and I think as you get older you want to go back to something more simple and relaxing today's bikes are so fast out of the box they are scary. My brother had an R1 Yamaha and with a little tricking and a pipe got around 230 HP at the wheel where can you use that except on the track
So may be it's an age thing where you just want to see and smell the roses and enjoy the ride.
Cheers Dave
+David Cashin
Take out that mortgage immediately. These bikes have an oil scent of their own, mark their territory in a most dignified manner, and is sure to add 5 to ten years to your life in order to make those payments. -gilpin 5-2-16
+David Cashin take out a?..... ur making me curious now lol
Maybe take out a... gun and rob a bank?
or Take out a mask and cover ur face and go steal one?
or take out a tiger to eat the owner of a harley so u can say ur his friend and take it for urself?
All the possibilities
Hello Jay, I love your videos. I've been riding bikes all my life. I now ride a Triumph Rocket Roadster. I only have one comment and that is would you please start wearing leather gloves when you ride. I've gone down a few times in my life and the hands are usually the first thing to hit the pavement. Thanks and please keep entertaining us.
I stopped wearing them after a guy at work hid them on the coldest day of the year! i find them restrictive, worste injury is grave embeded scraps! i managed to avoid.
I dont really think it's nostalgia at all Jay. Old bikes are just more visceral and allow for a deeper connection to the riding experience. I'm a motorcycle mechanic in Austin TX and i've ridden everything from an HP4 to a black shadow and in all the turbo 'busas and desmosedicis the best ride i ever took was after giving a tune up to an old CB200. Like you said theres something about the feel of the lightness. Cable brakes, carburetors and just effortlessly clicking through gears like a swiss watch gives you so much more connection to the journey than wheelie control and 1547 different riding modes with "Rider Assistance (Interference). Thats why i roadrace a buell blast. its the closest thing to an old bike i can get and still get parts for down the street. i like its 500cc aircooled single heaving and sighing through the corners. But even then if I could ride any bike again it would be that bicycle light cb200.
+Garret Seesing I should also let you know i am what you might call a "Young Guy"
I am new to the motorcycle world but I remember the Triumphs, the Norton's, the BSA's from high school (I am 60 yrs old). They were what appealed to me. I finally bought a motorcycle 4 years ago. A Royal Enfield 500 ( sorry, made in India) It had that fun, simple, very mechanical look to it. I have had so much fun with it.. I threw a sidecar on it and love riding the country roads here in Oregon. I am looking to a larger bike, and to be honest, the only one that appeals to me is the Triumph T -100 for the same reason the Enfield appealed. The colour scheme on your Bonnie is wonderful.
I'm retired now but this reminds me of the time my best friend in High School begged his brother who was in college to let him take Triumph 500 for a ride one freezing cold November afternoon in Denver Colorado. Ron stopped by my house to get me as a witness and we headed for the interstate hwy. We headed down the highway with no crash helmets. I was hanging on for dear life and the tears streaming from our eyes were freezing on our cheeks. I happened to look down at the ground and I saw the rear axle nut was completely loose and vibrating back and forth. We took the next exit very slowly and eased our way back home. What an exciting ride. I will never forget it. Thanks for taking us along Jay.
TheEZGZ awesome story.
I am 33 now I've heard very similar stories from my old man also in Denver Colorado I have been on a triumph since I was 12
@@Dixiedad11 舉發回覆提交非法與投資經營外移海外理賠處分委託國際性國家掌管理賠辦理
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My father has owned 3 different motorcycles since I was a kid. He had a 40' crocker, 70' Harley Sportster and a 64' Bonneville. He sold the Crocker when I was around 8 the Harley my uncle wrecked, and the Bonneville my dad kept and kept well. He got it after he originally got out of the military and got the Harley and the Bonneville with the help of my grandfather.
When I turned the age of reason (18) my dad helped me get my license and showed me what he knew about bikes. Everything and anything until he felt confident that I could go on a long ride without having issues doing emergency repairs. I own a 2017 Triumph Bonneville and have ridden my fathers as well.
I like MY Triumph more than my dads but that's just because it's mine. In terms of appearance the Bonneville is an all time fave.
To answer your question it's not just nostalgia. Their minimalist approach to design, the sleek shape, a lot of modern bikes lack that special touch that the true vintage classics have.
That being said though, my dad still has his bike and we ride every once and awhile and his bike is still a beast lol
Well, Jay can't help much with your question. However, I have ridden thousands upon thousands of miles on 4 different Japanese made bikes and 2 American made bikes but the best handling and most satisfying to me were my 2 Triumph motorcycles.
One was a 250,it was okay, but not enough power for me. The other was a 650 Bonneville and oh man. What a sweet running and handling bike.
Course,to the punchline, I am 72 and both Triumphs were late 60's and both were bought new.
I still ride and I still say,nothing today was like those TRIUMPHS I had .
Nostalgia, maybe, but still they were SWEET.
Loved your tour of your 64 Bonneville. It brings back great memories. I had a 68 & 69 Bonneville that I purchased new from the factory in Coventry, England in their “overseas delivery plan” which included purchase, registration for the summer and shipping home. I saved up for a year working two jobs and planked down the $864.00 in a check to the company in the spring of “68” then flew over on a charter plane with Simmons, Wheelock and Emanuel Colleges to pick her up at a dealer in Brixton Hill. I drove her all through Europe that summer then flew home. The bike was shipped buy boat that fall under the same $864.00 & arrived in Boston that winter. In the following spring of “69” I sold her as a used bike for $1000.00 and did it all over again and bought the “69”. The ride is definitely great but it’s the memories that go with it that make all the difference. It’s funny, but I still have dreams every once in a while about my “68 Bonneville” , that I still have it and it’s parked somewhere in the neighborhood but I can’t find it.
Weird, no just great memories.
cheque
I HAD A PAIR KEDS IN 64'
@john thonig I DREAM BOUT JULIE NEWMA
@@howiegreene8018 AW YES YES GOLDFINGER MOVIE WIT SEAN CONNERY
Jay, this maybe one of your best from Jay Leno's Garage. Your passion for the English motorcycles shines and honestly after watching this episode, I wanted one. I'm 63 and have own a Norton Commando 750 "S" since I was 17, I've always kept it running. Never wanted to do anything w/ it except keep it as it came from the factory more or less ( well ok I changed it over to a Boyer electronic ignition and put on a later model 's front disc break but a friend made a wooden case a gave it to as a even swap . The tinker w/ it with a old friend and switching them was just something we did one afternoon. That's what came through in this episode but the one you did on your Norton 650 SS delivered the same vibe. My son who is 26 has a beautiful 2014 Honda 700 something or other. Loves my Norton but has never really asked to drive it. I told him when he was a teenager, when you can kick it over just let me know when you want to take out. There is just something about those bikes.
I enjoyed the video Jay Leno explained the Bike very well easy to ride simple to maintain nothing complicated . Take the tank off 4 bolts and every thing was accessible. Thanks Jay.
It's cool not complicated, my mother had a Tiger 1955 thats how she met my father who rode an Indian Chief.
That sentence is pretty strange if you know nothing about bikes.
+BullrockMcHammergeil I am still laughing on that one. I'm not sure about the Tiger but the Indian Chief, Oh Wow. I remember going to some real hole in the wall places to look at new Harley's 35 years ago.
+Rickugg Tiger was another Triumph model.
Jay, I am a young old guy at 44. The first bike I ever touched was my fathers 1949 Triumph Chopper. I was bitten by the bug and now I own 11 Old Triumphs from 1951 to 1970. These old bikes hold a dear place in my heart and I totally agree as they are such a joy to ride.
Are the vintage triumphs relatively reliable? I’m thinking of when they went to left foot shifting, sometime in the 70’s. I just can’t stand how big and heavy modern motorcycles are. Which year would you recommend?
In 19'69 I bought a 1964 650 BSA Thunderbolt. My buddy had a 1959 Triumph 650. I've been riding bikes for 50 years now and I can honestly say that my Brit-bike era was the most memorial. England put the 'motor' in motorcycle.
I have had many motorcycles Harley, Norton, Triumph, BSA, Honda, ETC... But, my favorites are the Norton 850 commando and the Triumph t100c scrambler because they each had their own unique enjoyable character traits unlike the honda cb750 that seemed like riding a washing machine on spin cycle. however a great motorcycle was rather boring. I also enjoyed the kawasaki h2 two stroke triple it was a wild thing back in the day. however not very comfortable, but fun and exciting.
+Steve Kovach Thanks Jay, keep the videos coming
Jay it is a beautiful bike , brings back wonderful memories. You’re a very lucky fella, from 🇬🇧 😉
I have had a number of motorcycles...
I found that I always go back to a classic British Bike.
Some days they don't want to run..
Some days they run so very well..
They shake...
They vibrate...
But they are real...
Real soul..
Real character..
Real beauty..
Every part, has shape....
The shape of Art....
my last British bike was a b. s. a. gold flash 650cc vertical twin before that i had trumph tiger110 both beautiful bikes both burgess silencers straight through what a great sound wish i had them now memories will never forget.
I think the appeal is that its simple Jay. I was born the year before this was made and, like the Bonny, in England.
I think we remember the simpler times with vehicles. As a lad I used to work on my uncles vintage cars all the time.
These things could be fixed with the minimum of tools and it was actually a point of pride in being able to service your bike or car on the weekend back then.
Likewise the more sophisticated vehicles have become, the safer, quieter and easier to use for me the life and soul have gone.
I appreciate new vehicles but I would rather have an older vehicle even if it means less comfort or convenience and the chance it might break down as it becomes a relationship between me and the machine.
New vehicles to me remove me so far from that. I really care not for modern sports cars. I would rather have a Frog Eyed Sprite that can barely break the speed limit than the modern equivalent that can easily do that.
The most fun to be had is when a vehicle is near its limits and so a Frog Eyed Sprite or 2CV gives you as many thrills without ever chancing to break the law! Keep up the good work Jay and please, if your not wearing that Seiko anymore I would be a very willing recipient of it. I love watches! :)
All the best to you.
Ian.
A rider of over 50 years and I think my '66 Triumph T100s gives me the biggest smile. It may sound cliche, but it really does have a soul that my other bikes never came close to having. I like to think it's some kind of ancient spirit that got tangled up in the motorcycle industry there.
I own a 2007 Bonneville, black and silver, and it really is one of the greatest looking bikes of all time. I'm 23.
Thanks for letting us know the history of this bike Jay! It's a beautiful bike - appreciate your knowledge of motorcycles!
My ride is a 2010 Bonneville, which is the "modern classic" fuel injection version. Yes, nostalgia is part of the appeal. So, too, is the idea of mechanical purity. That is to say, design that relies on purely mechanical concepts executed with perfection. These early bikes were designed not by stressed, overtasked engineers sitting in front of a computer screen but by people with dirt under their fingernails and fuel in their veins. The result was a machine that not only worked well, but that made sense to a backyard mechanic, that had lines flowing from function rather than form, and that throbbed with the heritage of decades of improvements. My modern Bonnie has a computer and electronic sensors and controls (some of which have mysteriously disappeared!) but the same intention was there for the designers--simplicity and function influenced the form. So, cool is a relative term defined by time and generation, perhaps, but almost every generation has a group of people for whom elegant mechanical design that makes sense in our dirty hands is most important.
Well written.
I have 2017 Street Twin. May not have the soul of the 70s Bonneville I once had, but looks and sounds as good, and I haven't been stranded waiting for rescue because nuts have shaken off. Good performance, 60-70mpg. And affordable. Beautiful
My father, Edward Turner, used to say that style and beauty was free, so why not make a bike with as much of it as possible.
The Edward Turner? What a legacy.
Yes, and very hard to live up to!
You certainly had a great Dad
The Daimler v8 engine he designed is a work of art. Don't try to live up to him, just be proud of him! ☺
Wow, what history. I didn't know who that was. . .but thankfully now I do! Good stuff my friend, Thank you very much.
I've bought my first Bonneville about 10 days ago and I only started 2 years ago but the Bonneville I fell in love with it at first sight. It oozes class and the mix of modern and old skool for me is perfection.
I don't have the patience for maintaining an old bike. However I do adore the style which is why I purchased one of the new "classic" styled Bonnevilles from the revived Triumph company.
Glad you bought a Triumph Dennis, but sorry,...The new ones are just not the same. : /
Rick Brown true, they are better! And more reliable
Old is nice, new is better. Especially, if you would rather ride than tinker.
Ditto. Just got a 2017 Street Twin
a LOT heavier sadly
I'm 33 years old and that is my all time favorite motorcycle.
I've owned 3 of them.
+goodfella21f I don't know much about Honda motorcycles, all 3 of my Triumphs had Norton 850 engines which had around 60 hp, which maybe fairly close to a Honda Shadow.
bonnie motor was about 40-42 hp
oops, later saw the quote of 46 hp
I've got two words for you: "The Fonz." OK, now name one cool person who's ridden a Honda Shadow... (crickets)
I used to own a Shadow Spirit 750 and loved it, but I eventually sold it, and I wound up with a 2013 Bonneville. The Bonneville is an improvement over the Honda in EVERY way except the seat comfort on long rides (just get the British Customs gel seat and problem solved).
The Bonnie has got more HP for two-up riding, better braking, and MUCH better handling than the Shadow. Both are good bikes, don't get me wrong, but you will be much more satisfied with the Bonneville in the long run.
I will never forget Sunday morning rides on my Triumph.
Get another one! Don't sit there wishing man, go enjoy yourself
My first Triumph was a 64 Tiger 650. Tickle the carb and she would fire on the second kick every time. It was 1971 and I was 17 and rode it to high school as a senior. Man was I cool! Still the best sound from those pea shooters. Priceless experience Jay. Now I ride a 650 scooter as an older guy. I’ve had 56 bikes over the years from 50cc to 2300cc. What a wonderful hobby God has blessed us with.☺️
Hello Jay,
Great ride. I own a 72 T120 White and Gold. I have owned it since 1972. I love the sound that is what gets to me.
Bob
I enjoy watching Jay's video's but this one really connected with me for nostalgia reasons, I had a Norton Dominator 600SS with the featherbed frame and have many fond memories of it. My favourite was driving it on the Isle Of Man, there's something special about a nice riding & good handling British Parallel twin.
How I regret selling my 1961 600ss Dominator.
Was thinking about a bucket list ride on the Isle of Man during last night's country road ride
I started riding in 1961, for the first ten years all of my bikes were made in England. Unfortunately I could never afford a new bike. But bikes were plentiful and cheap. After passing my test my first
"Big" bike was a speed twin. And a fine machine it was , I swapped it for a BSA A7SS. That started a love affair with BSAs
The 1960s was a golden age in England
A truly great time to be young. All of my
Friends had bikes, it was magical
I've been looking for that shoe, where was it. I need it.
I am 24, and I own a 1946 moto guzzi Motoleggera, not the fastest thing on the road but man I love riding it. Not going back to New motorcycles.
Im 25 and ride a 1968 Daytona, love the feel.
Cool! Don't sell it, 500's are getting more rare every day. Top dollar for one is way up now proving what I said. I'm 62 and just finished rebuilding my 1970 Daytona the other day, I've had it since 1981 and it wasn't worth the 100.00 I paid for it! I had good connections then and built it for penny's on the dollar or it wouldn't have been possible, it was that bad! Today it's very near top condition with just a little touch of a flat tracker tossed in tastefully. I just got a 73' Tiger 650 I'm going to rebuild now, it was another great deal and don't need near as much as my 600 did, and it's completely original! It shows you have good taste that you're riding a Triumph for one, and the older it gets, the more you'll be glad you kept it. On any nice day you will see dozens of HD's but you'll be lucky if you spot even one vintage twin Triumph or BSA! I was around your age when I finally found my 500 and bought even though I was looking for a 40"er, but I'm glad I did and finally I've got the 650 , or will have as soon as I build it, nothing feels as good as a Triumph and none of your friend's will be half as cool as you are with your bike, it's great to see a young guy into em', take care.
When I started my working career, it was at a Triumph dealership. 1963 was the year that I began my love for bikes and the Triumph was always the one everyone wanted. I think the styling is the thing that brings everyone to it.
I'm in my 70's now but in high school ...I rode a Triumph 650...so to your feelings about motorcycles I can only say Amen... this IS the Pinnacle of looks and function for bikes to this day...it never got any better before or after
Wear gloves, Jay. Protect your hands
Yeah really... he's got the rest of the gear on .. full face helmet , jacket, long pants, boots. The first instinct when you're about to hit the pavement, is to put yours hands out.
I also noticed that the headlight isn't working. Geez Louise Jay.. have you heard of a pre-trip inspection? Maybe you're not required to have your headlight on if you made over $20 million a year... lol
@@2thePtBassTuT Headlights didn't go on automatically when you started a bike. You had to turn them on. Also, left side rear brake. I believe it was 1976 that the Feds mandated right side rear brake.
@@jsullivan8953
Well then , that just makes Jay look worse , for not turning his headlight on... :^)
amazing to learn that this bike was one of tne fastest of his time.
my dad (mister caution) got one when he was 17 years old... lol
I know I come to this discussion way late, but I really loved my '72 Bonneville. the center of gravity was so amazing. apparently the '63 had similar handling. it's been 44 years since I totalled that bike out in a bee swarm and I am, still to this day, picking out asphalt from my shoulders, but I would love to have another. there simply hasn't been a better handling bike in my possession since. thanks for the wonderful memories.
It's not just because you're an older guy. There's a tangible difference between riding a high performance machine with all the modern bells and whistles, and riding a simple, honest to God, down to business motorcycle.
There's an honesty to simpler bikes that I find very appealing. It really is motorcycling stripped of all non-essentials down to its purest form.
So I say bless the simple bikes. We need more of them.
+Orion Slaver i recently got a 2015 bonneville and was so relieved to be able to get one before the new 2016 models with all their bells and whistles. you hit the nail on the head.
and that's why i bought a '79 T140D Special Edition for my first bike... I wanted something simple, honest, true natured and a traditional motorcycle all around. And yeah.. she turns heads. And drops panties...
Jr M Royal Enfield makes just that
There are still new bikes like that being built, or rather assembled. Especially in Asia, but also the UK. They tend to be small-displacement.
I quite agree. For me, simpler is better. I actually prefer the 500cc Daytona over the 650's
I owned one in the seventies and still love the look of them, they are a timeless classic
I wasn't even born until 1972 so if I say that's an amazing looking bike then it's not down to nostalgia but purely because the bike is amazing. Obviously Triumph also think so as they are once again pulling styling cues from these original Bonnevilles.
+pipnmaz "I wasn't even born until 1972..." Hahahaha, I got news for you! You are now an old fart! I feel ya though, I was born in '68...
There was a lot of Bonnies around in 1972 so childhood nostalgia can play a big part of it.
Trakker Good point but I wasn't in to bikes until I was in my teens and I wasn't in to this style of bike I was in to 2 stroke Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki bikes so trust me when I tell you it's not down to nostalgia. Guess I should have been more specific.
+pipnmaz Those bikes were all the rage in San Francisco bay area, at least back in 2011. 2 old hippies in Berkeley ran into the intersection and started bowing and praising me while I waited on a red light on Telegraph avenue. I heard all the hipsters were buying up all the 70s Japanese bikes at high prices, I refused to sell.
Jay, I have a '71 Bonnie .... YES it is beautiful....I JUST love the front wheel 'shake' at idle AND the exhaust 'rumble' during acceleration CLASSIC!!!
Jay...I know I'm late to the party as well, (nor having as much experience with as many vehicles as you) but my take is that you're spot on with having a preference for the older stuff.
I have a 2017 Ford hybrid that I love dearly...but it will NEVER be my 1974 Super Beetle. It's a simpler vehicle, from a simpler time. It's also a more "honest" time: the older vehicles are honest with you--there's no computers to make up any shortcomings; also, YOU had to be "honest" with them--adjusting the valves, and doing more FOR the vehicle than just changing the oil and filling it with gas.
As for whether nostalgia is having part in your decisions; probably. I'm almost 50; growing up, the car I really wanted was a Beetle, and the bike was a Kawasaki police bike. (A main course of "Herbie" with a side order of CHiPs"?) Anyway...I know the new stuff is more "dependable" (read: maintenance-free, unless you have a computer science degree), but I'm good with my old stuff; it's got MOJO.
I knew that Jay owned older bikes, but now I'm glad to know that he also knows and likes them as much as I do. I own a 65 and a 70 Triumph Bonneville.
9:00 "Made in U.K." rare written. Nowadays I'm used to "Made in China"...
I have a little triumph Tiger cub. I also have bigger bikes, but the triumph is so lovely to ride here in England. Very light, quick, makes a great sound, corners beautifully always makes me smile and finally, a bicycle with an engine. I would love to try riding a bonneville, fantastic. It's not nostalgia, that clearly is a great bike to ride judging from your enjoyment.
I was born the same year as you Jay and road a lot of countries bikes by the time I was 16. But I finally got the bike I wanted as my second bike, a 72' Bonnie. As you said, a real comfortable ride and yes it had a heartbeat that mimicked mine when we rode together!
Just got my first bike. Age 50. 2013 Bonneville T100. Seeing how much it looks like that great bike you have makes me love mine even more. Glad I saw this video.
Yours will be much more reliable than the 60's era Triumph.
When Triumph was riding by Edward Turner his his motto is 20,000 miles off the line my boy if Triumph had not been bought by TSA we would still have Triumph making the bikes that they always made thanks you're always regretted having to sell Triumph because of the death duties this is what shankster said when he sold it to BSA
Edgewood Turner made his own 350 race bike from his own little motorcycle shop in England before he went to work for the big manufacturer before he made the Triumph twin he made the Ariel Square Four another legendary motorcycle Turner was a real motorcycle enthusiast when he retired the single-minded purpose of building good bikes went down the road
My 65 Triumph TR6 the double leading shoe brakes Burn Rubber stopping you can upgrade the brakes on that bike real easy by just changing the plate drum brakes are so Superior to disc brakes only became on production bikes because of racing regulations Suzuki brakes didn't work worth a crap in the rain and they would give you a sticker saying be careful in the wet
Jay: You and I go way back, to when I launched British Car & Bike Magazine and launched your career as a motorhead (JK...a little). The question you posed was a good one, and I think we all ask ourselves this if we're really in tune with our perceptions and our feelings. I can't speak for you but for me, the appeal of the older bikes like your 1964 Bonnie comes down to our connection with the machine. It's a relatively simple device, with linear responses to our inputs, and never exceeding our confidence to twist the throttle wide open (you do not do that on a modern GSX-WFO1600 without pausing first to assure yourself that your affairs are in order with the executor of your estate). These old British machines were the lathes, the presses, the anvils of the day. Predictable, approachable, and most importantly, an ideal match for the abilities of the average (and slightly above average-you know, the "Expert Rider" referred to in the decal) of the day. The truth is, you and I can wring the neck of a Bonnie or Atlas or Lightning and get the best of the machine. There's a visceral satisfaction there that's hard to articulate. Few of us can say the same of the modern machines that have exceeded our own skills and abilities in the way that modern fighter jets have exceeded their pilots' ability to fly them stick-and-rudder. I've spoken with guys who fly demilitarized jets who tell me that they much prefer their Stearman 75 biplane or Cessna 172 for sheer joy in the simplicity of the flying experience. They become one with the machine. So the answer is, there is a threshold at which we squishy humans can truly conquer our machines and feel in complete control...and beyond that, they control us. Perhaps we reached that perfect balance sometime in the 1960s....or perhaps-just maybe-we're getting old.
You are a amazing writer. Someone needed too put those words together. I wish it was me but, Im glad it was you. I, not in a million years could have written what you have, in the way you have. Very well done.
Thank you
Ill tell you something else. I jist learned that its not possible to copy and paste from you tube video comments. Lol
@@whatyoumakeofit6635 "Ill tell you something else. I jist learned that its not possible to copy and paste from you tube video comments." What like this?
I used to love myZ10. But I went for a ride on a friends RZ250. Immediately, you like the fact that you can get the most out of the package, which was only possible on the Zx10 twice in the years I owned it. People asked, 'how fast is that?' My reply was invariably the same: 'Very fast! But what goes through your mind all the time is not how fast you can go, but how much braking distance do I have'. Because you felt like any speed was possible and in most situations, top performance of that machine, is simply unattainable,
On further consideration, which is better though? The Zx10 by a long way. Better handling similar economy, better, reliability, comfort, brakes chassis and the list goes on. If the old stuff is so much better, we never would have replaced it. Even the retro styled bikes, are not pure to the older technology. The pilots enjoying the pure flying experience of their cesna's etc, would not choose them over a phantom jet, if they had to fly to keep a business appointment in Europe. So whilst the older bikes are cool, it's mostly just nostalgia.
Hi Jay,
I love your Triumph. It looks and sounds like an actual motorcycle should look. These bikes today are being built for people of the "transformer generation" and are simply hideous.
+Jerry Burns check out the new 2001-215 retro bonnies a good mix of new and old and staying in the epa / dot regs to sell but after the sale it all can come off and the power return's .and the 2016 went to water cooling ..
+Jerry Burns That is my first thought when I see bikes like the Ducati XDiavel. Most new bikes are just painful to look at, but there are some really nice retro bikes being built today.
+Jerry Burns For me the design of classic Triumph Bonneville is something I imagine if someone says a "motorcycle".
I was a fool to let my beloved ‘70 bonneville slip away in my youth,,,😔
The Bonneville was my favorite bike when I was in the AF in the 60's. Recently I have been considering getting a new one. After all I'll be 76 this year and time is running out for me to get one. It will fit nicely with my 450sl my sl500 and my 96 corvette roadster.
The fastest Brit bike I ever road was my brother Tom's Norton 750 short stroke...that thing was spooky fast.
Love your shows!!! I’ve been restoring a bike for 30 years now. Nearly done, Every Saturday that I get a chance to work on it I ask myself “Am I crazy ? Shouldn’t I be out enjoying myself with the other guys? “ But when I watch your videos it gives me the impetus to keep on going. Keep up the good work!!!
I sold all my newer stuff, no soul and got boring quick.... Went back to my older bikes, and just SO much character and soul and Vibration! I don't care how "fast" someone can go, I'm not riding to race people or impress anyone, I'm riding to ESCAPE everything.
nicely put ; ]'
It was the sound of the engine that i love so much
I feel the same, sold my Honda, got a 72 BMW, bike is a world all its own, its different, its solid, and everyone respects it, I don't need fast.
Two souls moving as one.
@@DanaTheInsane:
But you obviously do crave "respect."
Jay, did yours leave the trademark oil stain on the ground wherever it was parked?Most Brit bikes leaked oil back then. I should know, I live in the UK.
he has a crew they keep them from leaking believe me
The crew consists of a committee of around 450 members.
Their effort goes down in futility.
It is British, if it doesnt leak oil it has no oil. It is just the rate of leak!
A friend of mine has recently aquired two Bonnys, the second one was so good he had to have it. English parralel twins always had a distinct sound, And the Vincent vee twin that real roar!
Check the oil drops under his Velocette in that video... LOL!
Even the bikes in Motorcyclepedia leak. They have piss pads under them.
I'm 17 and I really think it looks amazing. I really want one of those.
My '64 is in pretty much the same shape as Jay's and is going on E-Bay as soon as I can get someone to help me shoot some videos. Tons of pics - no videos yet, and you have to have a video or three nowadays if you want to sell a vehicle online.
Jay thanks so so much for posting old part now still riding but started riding on 68th drive Bonneville stainless steel fenders to me still most beautiful bike ever made
It is the mechanical feel and sound of these bikes that is so appealing. Best enjoyed on a 50 mph twisty country backroad with the occasional jaunt on the highway. I owned a Triumph Bonneville for 25 years and actually it was quite reliable, but keeping the oil inside the engine was almost impossible. Any guy just felt and looked so cool on those old Bonnevilles. Yup, that is a 2010 Triumph Street Triple R in my photo (my last hurrah in my retirement years) with lots of mods; very light, fun, and fast. IMO Triumph has knocked it out of the park with the new Bonneville line and will sell all they can make.
"...keeping the oil inside the engine was almost impossible." No s&%t, Sherlock--it's English (meaning the Lucas wiring was the most likely culprit in a breakdown, too).
I get what you mean Jay. I'm only 25 and I find old bikes and cars more ''interesting'' to ride/drive. The oldest motorcycle I've owned was '88 GPz 550 and although sometimes it took some effort to keep the good times roll, I still found it the most fun motorcycle I've ever owned. Then, I thought I needed more power, so I went to modern bikes, but I was wrong. It's always more fun to ride a slow motorcycle fast, rather than a fast motorcycle slow.
To answer your question, it's got not much to do with the Triumph being a motorcycle of your youth. The fun part is the rarity and novelty of it, in contrast with what you see on the roads today. Most of the recent motorcycles can feel rather generic. Not telling you the Triumph wasn't in the 60's as well, but it definitely feels different today and that's what is so fun about it.
Greetings from Czech republic, and keep the good times roll.
+Philip Cooper I think you hit the nail on the head.