1965 T100SC

With the purchace of our third bike, we graduated from 'hobbyists' to 'enthusiasts'. Syd's latest cycle, the '59 T120 is now going through it's shake-down miles after being recently completed. The bike was a rolling project when we got it, missing the tank, fenders, stock oil tank, etc., but did come with aftermarket alloy oil tank, extended forks with disk brake, and big 'n little alloy wheels. Don't fear, no stock Bonneville parts were harmed in the making of this bike. Syd found a peanut tank and had it painted black, and added a saddle seat for comfort.

Being a 1959 model, it has the pre-unit engine with seperate primary drive and transmission. The engine was rebuilt by Bill over at Rabers with mostly stock spec parts. The T120 twin carb head was rebuilt with nitrided valves with unleaded-friendly valve guides, and uses concentric Amals with K&N filters. For electrical, it uses the stock magneto for spark, and (surprise) a Mity Max black box driven off the alternator for lights. Cool bits include a tach drive timing cover (no tach yet), oil pressure gauge, and shiny chrome swingarm and engine plates. Also has a 'dogs bollocks' taillight with blue dot for that period look.

This bike is definately different to ride than the 1970 650. It is a little fussy about how it is started, and quite a bit louder and more 'raw' than the later unit motor, but pulls very hard through all four gears. Next for this bike is to pinpoint an oiling problem, and to find a brace for the front forks.