Description
1975 Triumph T100R Daytona 500
With a heavy heart, I have decided to part ways with my trusty Triumph. This was the first "big" bike I bought after passing my test and she's served me very well.
This Triumph is one of the "lock in" bikes from the workers co op days at the Meriden factory. The heritage certificate shows the engine was build on 24th August 1973 and the bike itself was built on 31st August 1973 but did then not leave the factory for its first owner until 2nd June 1975.
The factory records usually state where the bikes were dispatched to when leaving the factory, but in the case of this bike, there is no record of where it went. It is widely acknowledged within the Triumph world that this usually means it went out via the back door "for cash".
The bike went to a motorcycle dealer in Dorchester, Dorset called "The Two Wheeler Dealer" who then advertised it as a "factory clearance bike". The bike then sat in the showroom until its first owner, John - a pilot with the RAF, when on home leave, called in and made a "silly offer" for it. His offer was accepted and he took delivery of the bike (MJT 137P) on 27th February 1976.
Apparently, although being sold as a new bike, MJT137P wasn't in the best condition and needed a fair amount of work doing in order to make it a reliable, usable means of transport. The lock-in bikes were not stored in ideal conditions and many needed full rebuild before leaving the factory. However, John pressed the bike into service and went on to put precisely 10, 003 miles on the clock before it was dismantled.
The reason for it being dismantled at this point was not because there was anything particularly wrong with it, but to help out a friend. John had done his duty as an RAF pilot during the Falklands war, a fellow motorbike enthusiast and close fire of his had been serving on the Sir Galahad when it was hit by a torpedo. He had been suffering from PTSD since the event. In order to help with this condition, John had invited him to strip the Daytona and "put it back to what it should have been when it was new". To this end, the bike was stripped in the 1980s but was never attended to beyond that, it sat in boxes for the proceeding 30 plus years.
In 2015, the Triumph was then bought by a Mr S Heath, from John, in box/ kit form. After appraising what he had, it seemed that the bike was in fact complete, a few fasteners were reported to have been lost over the years but apart from that it was all there, although EVERYTHING needed refurbishing. The chrome work was gathered together and sent to Marque Restore in Coventry for refurbishing and replacing. The petrol tank and tinware were stripped to bare metal, anti rust treated, primed and repainted in two pack, the original colours being matched by Colour Right Paints in Dorset. The frame and swing arm were powder coated by Perryfields in Portland, Dorset.
The wheels were rebuilt with new top quality British made rims and stainless steel spokes after having the hubs refurbished and powder coated. The steering head was converted to take tapered roller bearings, these being far superior to the standard type setup. The swingers received new bushes spacers and rubber boots and has been correctly shimmed to the original tolerances. New rear shock absorbers have been fitted and the front forks have been rebuilt with new stanchions, bushes and seal holders. The internals were ultrasonically cleaned before being reassembled.
After a thorough inspection, the engine was deemed to be in good order internally, however, after soda blasting it back to its original finish, the bores were honed, replaced the piston rings replaced, the oil ways cleaned out, pistons and combustion chambers polished, valves reground and all gaskets and seals replaced. The twin Amal carburettors were ultrasonically cleaned and gaskets and O-rings replaced before being properly set up. Tyres and brakes were changed and clutch plates replaced.
This resulted in a perfectly running and riding machine that was in pristine condition. After some fun and a few mile with the bike it was then sold on via a dealer, also in Dorset, to a Mr D Hill from whom I then purchased the bike in May 2020.
The bike had covered a mere 10, 593 miles when I bought it (so 590 since restoration). I have only myself covered a few hundred miles on it and the odo now reads 10, 811. In that time, I had the Triumph serviced by Toshi AKA Bell 45 in Queens Park. I wasn't entirely happy with the clutch despite it having had new plates just 5 years prior. So I asked Toshi to fit an entire new unit, springs, plates et al. We also decided to fit electronic ignition at this time too.
I have enjoyed many round town jaunts on the bike and have always been impressed by its speed and also handling especially when two up with my partner. Toshi finished my 1942 Harley 45 in December last year and I have since bought 8 other bikes and frankly the Triumph just isn't getting ridden much anymore. It still starts first or second kick, even after a month or so, after a good tickle of the carbs. I will be very sad to see the Daytona go but it really deserved to be adored by someone who will give it the use it deserves, and not just leave it on display in the living room like me!
The Triumph can be seen by appointment at my West London classic car showroom, Duke of London. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
