The Triumph Thunderbird

The Triumph Thunderbird was first built in 1949. It had a ridged frame with an optional sprung hub. Capacity was 649 cc, and it was intended for the North American market. Marlon Brando rode one in the "classic film" "The Wild One". The barrel and head were of cast iron, and it put out about 34 HP. In 1954 the Thunderbird got an alternator, and in 55 a rear swing arm. The headlight nacelle and tank parcel rack stayed with the bike model until it's demise in the late sixties.

OK... So it's not quite the wild one. I bought the bike because I couldn't afford a Super Hawk. It cost me $175 back in 1965. I think it was a 1950 model. When it ran well, it ran very well, but most of the time it just leaked oil all over the place.

When I left collage in 1968 I sold it and bought a real bike. A 350cc Jap two-stroke. One I could ride instead of wrench. And the oil went out the exhaust instead of on the ground.

Ridged Thunderbirds were polly-chromatic blue. Much like this page background.

This is getting closer to "the look". Note the Harley bags and the brush cut. I purposely didn't want to show the oil stain on my parents driveway. So the picture is cropped.

So you think it is easy to do a high speed corner on a sprung hub machine? You should try it!

This was taken in Jasper park Canada in about 1966, on tires with rubber as hard and flexible as cast iron, and a rear end that flexed like a pogo stick.

And so we come to today. A few years ago I bought a 1954 Thunderbird. The last of the sprung hub ridged frame type, but the first with the alternator. If you ever had a generator fly off a bike at highway speed you will appreciate the difference. This photo was taken at the Bigger British Bike Meet in 1995. The event is a Jim-canna, and the girl is suppose to pick up potatoes on a stick as I slowly ride by. Note the sprung hub. This bike needs restoration. For one thing it is the wrong color. But it runs. And the question is asked, "Why restore a running bike?"

It is now 2001 and all good things come to an end. The bike needed restoration and I didn't have the time or money, so I sold it, to an Albertan, who has done one of the nicest restorations I have ever seen. Everything is correct, and best of all, he rides the bike. Here is a picture.