This blog is becoming redundant. I am shifting everything over to Smoke and Throttle

Two blogs about the same thing, basically. Starting now, I am posting all my updates on my bike projects on my primary blog, Smoke And Throttle. Make sure you check that site, and link up with us on facebook for regular update notices, plus additional thoughts and comments: Facebook.com/smokeandthrottle.

My other blog also has interesting articles on other bikes, shops, events and other vintage motorcycle news. Please add us!

Wheel building

Got the rear wheel laced up and ready for the truing stand, I'll let you know how that goes. Being stainless steel, which has a lower tensile strength than regular steel, the nipples and spokes must be greased for proper seating and preloaded with a much higher torque to allow for stretching. The end result is a nice clean wheel that won't rust. The 66 Bonnie is slowly coming together though!



Finding the drive side of the wheel involves measuring the nipples in place. The largest gap between the indicates the drive side.


Greasing the spokes so that they don't bind up.


First set of outer spikes go anti-clockwise.


Next set goes in clockwise.


Drive side done, next is the right side (shift side)



All laced and ready to true! More to come as I fumble my way through this.

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Location:S High St,West Chester,United States

New motorcycle in the shop, 1966 Triumph t120 Bonneville

Not to be confused with the T120r, this is the UK spec bike with different paint, fender, tail light and tag holder, bars tank (though I don't have the original larger tank yet) etc... Heres what it could look like.

cleaned up a few parts with the bead blaster

they call em basket cases for a reason.

not sure what these are for, they looked ground...

Engine in good shape with compression

coming apart for powder coating

66 tr6r tank, us market, not correct, but will do for now

1958 BSA b33 tins stripped and sent off for paint

I finally collected ALL the correct trim for the B33. Front and rear fenders, new tool box and oil tank, Nacelle etc... I stripped them all and sent them off to my friend Brent Combs, who will do his magic with banging out the dents and laying down the paint. All the brackets will be powder coated in my shop and the bike will get a thorough cleaning and polishing before rewiring. I hope to have this on the road sometime this summer!

BSA B33 bits getting a chemical peel.

paint-less, ready for bead blasting

Rear fender. Correct front fender came last week and is already stripped .

51 Triumph Bobber coming together

Now that I've moved a few bikes out of the shop, I finally have time to get tom my 51 speed twin. A quick mock up shows a few issues I'll have to deal with. Pillion pad a little high, saddle a little low etc... Once together, I'll ride it, tune it, work out the kinks - then tear it down this winter for boring, valves, pro paint job etc....

1951 Triumph Speed Twin Bobber

BSA stripped of non b33 parts and carefully examined

The rougher looking of the two bikes turns out to have the better motor and frame. Once I removed the Harley rear mudguard and the honda front mudguard, I the bike started to look less of a mess and more of a classic. I swapped the ape hangers for a set of triumph bars - not correct but more inspiring while I wheel it around to work on. The motor still has compression, and theres still oil in the tank so it turns over pretty nicely. I just need to figure out the wiring of the alternator contact breaker set up so I can see if she'll start. Wouldn't that be a change - A running motorcycle!

Looks better already!

Wiring nightmare. 

1958 BSA B33 project

Picked up two 1958 barn fresh BSA B33's, pretty complete, albeit not all original or pretty.  The 1st bike I plan on getting running, then do a full restoration when I get time. I'll ride her ugly I don't care. The second is for sale, a little rougher, or if no one wants it, it'll be parted out.

Seat is from an older b33, not sure if it's correct or not.

bars look like old italians, not original, kinda cool, but not very functional .

black and white pipes, haha.

This ones for sale, ignore the ape hangers and sportster tail.