The Bitsa Thunderbird Build - Swingarm Pre-unit Ripper

[vorhese]

I'm loving all the Triumph builds going on, so time to start my next one.

The goal of this bike is have something to rip around on the street, and also on the trails with. Instead of a full on custom (and yet another hardtail), I'm wanting to do a stripped down stocker. I'm going to aim for a 3 year completion time, motor first this time. I learned my lesson on the last one.

I started with this: 1953 Thunderbird motor cases, and barrel, and gearbox and a 1955 frame. Also included an oil tank, a rigid oil tank, and a rear wheel.


Angry Monkey Dan sold me a front end and side mount Bates


Small City Cycles Todd gave me a front wheel for a drawing trade


I collected a few more parts at Clubman's Swap last year


some ebay purchases



mock up
I plan on getting an iron head




My plans are something along these lines. My boy will be 5 years old I'm hoping when it's done, so we will be riding together at the park.



ALL DONATIONS WELCOME!!!

[Haynuzband]

I AM a fan of the gas tank luggage rack!

[Apehanger Hank]

Subscribed!

[whittiger650]

Nice score on that rear fender but I don't know why yet but it just doesn't look right mounted tot he bike. It shouldn't have so much of a gap unless you just have it resting on the top of the shock bolts. Otherwise, it looks great....use of stock gas tank, fenders and oil tank, etc. etc. and I look forward to seeing this completed 6T !!

[vorhese]

Yeh a few things are odd about the fender. Sides are trimmed, rear mounting spot seems odd. I didn't have much to compare it to when I found it and I was too eager to not have to pay shipping on ebay. I'll either make it work or find another.

[need louvers ?]

Cool man! I'll be keeping a close eye on this one.

[ricksta56]

Looks like a challenging undertaking. Is your goal something like the last shot of the "roadrunner". What is going on with the motor, a complete clean out? When up and running that should be a great off road runner.

[SwedeBobb]

Last Triumph turned out great and the goal you have with this one seems nice, Ill follow this for sure

[MANGOLD]

What happened to taking a break from building bikes for a little while?

Really looking forward to seeing the build up on this one.

[vorhese]

I like to make things harder and more expensive than they need to be. I've got to start saving for motor bits so it will be a while, so technically it is a break! Plus I have 2 non-JJ-style builds to finish. I plang on picking up a small unicorn I've been chasing for years at Christmas time, so that will also distract me...

[dhallilama]

Originally Posted by vorhese

I like to make things harder and more expensive than they need to be.

man, that's the story of my life!!!!!!!

i like where the build is going... really like swingarm triumphs.

[vorhese]

Here's a little update on this project. I managed to get a different rear fender for $15 that had already been cut where I wanted. Craig at Front St sent me some Webco style bars. And I managed to pick up a BT&E tail light for cheap. I have my motor cases at Wes' shop to get some machine work done soonish. I have a lead on a very nice '55 T100 tank. And a buddy is compiling a package for me with an ironhead, unit crank, and other motor goodies.

[Mike Britton]

Subscribed!!

[4444Design]

also subscribed

like the way you wanna go with that little scoot

Keep the updates comin'

[Okie Pete]

Looks great.

[jhays79]

glad this build is still going! subscribed!

[speedyjones]

Subscribed! Great project!

[vorhese]

Just a quicky update. At long last I picked up a T100 pre-unit tank and an ironhead. Getting close to having all my bits to start the motor build.

[JAWS]

The head and tank are rare?

[vorhese]

Not too common... they pop up on ebay for $300-$500 or so, but I'm cheap so I had to wait until I could snipe one for much less. The ironhead isnt particularly rare, but ebay is littered with damaged ones $75-200. I did some bartering for this nice one.