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I've been holding off on starting this thread for quite a while, but since I finally started assembling the bike in an attempt to foil the mid winter blues, I thought I would share.
The whole thing started last summer when a friend was cleaning up his shop and called to ask if I wanted a T100 engine for free. Of course I said yes, expecting to never hear another thing about it, but true to his word he showed up in my driveway about a week later with the engine on the back of the truck. I haven't gone too deeply into the little beast yet, but everything seems to be there at least and as the saying goes 'don't look a gift horse in the mouth'.
Over the past six months I have been collecting bits and pieces...most of them free or at least at very little expense all with the idea of keeping costs as low as reasonably possible. What I am trying to build is a nice looking period Cafe job that will handle well on the local twisty roads, be 'reasonably' comfortable while retaining the reliability and friendliness of the stock T100...without breaking the bank.
A metric front end was donated as was the TLS drum brake front wheel. The frame was sourced in Ontario and after selling 3/4 of a T120 frame, it wound up being pretty much an even trade. The rear wheel and oil tank were off an old T120 chopper...the tank survived the years in very good condition, but the 16" rim didn't; it was replaced with a donor 18" rim and laced to the old hub with SS spokes...new rubber front and rear was not free, but the local shop gave me a great deal on four tires (I needed two more for other bikes).
Started with the front wheel, it cleaned up nicely and after some slight mods and a touch of paint I machined up a few new spacers and fitted it to the forks. A new steering stem was fabricated to join the front end to the Triumph frame using tapered roller bearings. I have also taken possession of a very good looking donated fuel tank that ought to really look the part. The biggest expense so far has been the instruments and a great looking TT exhaust system.
Progress will be slow as I do have other 'real' jobs to work on, but I intend to set aside at least one day a week to tinker with it. I usually start with the engine, but I decided to work on the chassis first. This is what I've done so far:
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The whole thing started last summer when a friend was cleaning up his shop and called to ask if I wanted a T100 engine for free. Of course I said yes, expecting to never hear another thing about it, but true to his word he showed up in my driveway about a week later with the engine on the back of the truck. I haven't gone too deeply into the little beast yet, but everything seems to be there at least and as the saying goes 'don't look a gift horse in the mouth'.
Over the past six months I have been collecting bits and pieces...most of them free or at least at very little expense all with the idea of keeping costs as low as reasonably possible. What I am trying to build is a nice looking period Cafe job that will handle well on the local twisty roads, be 'reasonably' comfortable while retaining the reliability and friendliness of the stock T100...without breaking the bank.
A metric front end was donated as was the TLS drum brake front wheel. The frame was sourced in Ontario and after selling 3/4 of a T120 frame, it wound up being pretty much an even trade. The rear wheel and oil tank were off an old T120 chopper...the tank survived the years in very good condition, but the 16" rim didn't; it was replaced with a donor 18" rim and laced to the old hub with SS spokes...new rubber front and rear was not free, but the local shop gave me a great deal on four tires (I needed two more for other bikes).
Started with the front wheel, it cleaned up nicely and after some slight mods and a touch of paint I machined up a few new spacers and fitted it to the forks. A new steering stem was fabricated to join the front end to the Triumph frame using tapered roller bearings. I have also taken possession of a very good looking donated fuel tank that ought to really look the part. The biggest expense so far has been the instruments and a great looking TT exhaust system.
Progress will be slow as I do have other 'real' jobs to work on, but I intend to set aside at least one day a week to tinker with it. I usually start with the engine, but I decided to work on the chassis first. This is what I've done so far:
