BUYER’S EYE: BSA /TRIUMPHTRIPLES
It’s impossible to start this article without referencing Editor Westworth’s ultimate wisdom on the subject of BSA-Triumph triples: ‘Everyone should own one. Once.’ It sounds like an ancient Chinese curse, doesn’t it? Something akin to living in interesting times…
Certainly, if you’re looking for your first British classic bike then a Trident or Rocket 3 may not be the best starting point. The triples offer brawny, chest-beating performance, spine-tingling sound effects and a fast-track to a full-on adrenalin rush. This is no cuddly old duffer. This is a proper 750 superbike and, unlike the four-cylinder opposition from the Orient, the Brit triples matched their power with poise. While a CB750 will wallow comfortably along, the stiffer triples slice through the switchbacks, making the most of a decent chassis package and responsive steering. But compared to a traditional single-cylinder thumper, the triples can also be a total can of worms; they’re fussy, fickle, demanding motorcycles that require considerable owner input to keep them in best fettle. If you want a quiet life, do not look here.
The good news for prospective purchasers? Plenty of choice in a thriving market. The Trident and Rocket 3 Owners’ Club is a cornerstone of the triples’ success in the classic world, making this single model one of the most visible and well catered-for old motorcycles in the UK. You’ll find examples which range from repatriated barn-finds coming back from America, through regularly ridden and gradually upgraded roadbikes, to outright fire-breathing track beasts with special frames and big-bore motors. While riders of Douglas motorcycles, for example, might struggle to find a specialist, three-cylinder expertise abounds.
All this activity means that the spares supply is unusually complete. Where some components have disappeared from the shelves, modern technology steps in to provide an upgrade. So if you should destroy the duplex primary drive chain on a T160 then you can convert to triplex or fit a belt drive. If your Hurricane has cracked fork yokes then you can sign up for a new set when the next batch is produced (at a price, inevitably). If you can’t get the new parts to replicate the original electrical arrangements (and frankly, you wouldn’t want to) then a Tri-Spark or Boyer electronic kit will
