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Triumph T140 TSX
The Triumph TSX was a British motorcycle credited by the factory as being designed in 1981–1982 by Wayne Moulton, president of Triumph Motorcycles America(TMA), the factory's American arm. This is the only instance of Triumph's signature twin cylinder models being designed by an American.
Brenda Price, Moulton's predecessor, had earlier persuaded Brian Jones, Meriden's engineering director, to come up with a low rider-styled Triumph Bonneville for the USA market, her having observed their US dealers' success at independently marketing such models. Jim Barclay of the factory designed a prototype low rider, the Phoenix, exhibited on the factory stand at the 1980 London Earls Court motorcycle show. This model with its rectangular headlamp and unusual instrument console was not produced. Triumph had already experienced poor sales stateside with their 1979 T140D Bonneville Special model which Moulton identified to the factory as having failed in its execution to capture the American imagination. Upon this basis, Moulton set to work designing a Triumph Bonneville that would appeal to his countrymen albeit having only a limited budget to do so of only £3000GBP.
Essentially a Triumph Bonneville with "West Coast" American styling, the TSX was distinguished by many details. The outstanding feature was its lowered chassis and 16-inch-diameter (410 mm) rear wheel (instead of the usual 18 inch rim) with the engine offset in the frame, a unique swingarm and a suitably abbreviated chromed chainguard all to accommodate this.
The TSX engine was a standard American specification T140ES (electric start Bonneville) 748 cc (45.6 cu in) with two 32-mm Bing carburettors (made under licence by Amal) and Lucas electronic ignition. Although the German importer offered electric start as an option for their TSX, in all other markets, it was the kickstart that was the optional extra. Whilst retaining the polished outer covers, the rest of the TSX engine differed cosmetically being black painted with the cooling fin edges bright polished. The engine's chromed exhaust pipes were of a larger bore than the standard Bonneville with a balance pipe between the short megaphone silencers hidden under the frame.
The TSX frame differed from the standard Bonneville frame in having the mounting points for the Paioli rear shock absorbers set at a lower angle for the lower seat height emulating a 'low rider' look and a bracket to enable the exterior mounting of the Brembo rear brake master cylinder. The TSX seat unique to the model had a pronounced step so that the rider sat in rather than upon it. The passenger grabrail was also unique to the TSX being raised to take account of the higher step of the passenger seating and rubber-mounted the rear turn indicators. The TSX side panels were new too and of a more abbreviated form than those of other Triumph models. Both the front and rear mudguards were shorter than the standard Bonneville, the former being from the failed T140D Bonneville Special albeit now with a painted finish. The rear mudguard had a black plastic extension for the large vehicle registration plate mandatory in the United Kingdom.
The TSX fuel tank was a unique design made in Italy for the model having only one angled Paioli left hand petrol tap situated ahead to accommodate the larger Bing carburettors and off-set engine. This tank also had Moulton's specified centralised filler hole with an optional locking cap (mandatory for America) and a balance pipe situated on the front of the tank's underside. For the first time on a Bonneville model, decals were used to decorate the tank and side panels, these being of the gold-lined red/orange/yellow stripe type. The underlying TSX paint scheme was initially Burgundy with a Midnight Black version later offered alongside it from August 1982. Midnight Blue was proposed as a further alternative for the unrealised 1983/4 version of the TSX.
A slightly lower rise and wider USA style handlebar was fitted and chromed Lucas turn indicators returned in place of the black plastic ULO items that had replaced them on other Triumph models from 1981. A chromed Lucas H4 headlamp was mounted on a thick chromed wire surround.
A Brembo rear brake master cylinder was fitted in place of the usual Automotive Products (AP) Lockheed item which remained for the front, as well as supplying both front and rear calipers. Dual front discs were an option.
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Triumph T140 TSX
The Triumph TSX was a British motorcycle credited by the factory as being designed in 1981–1982 by Wayne Moulton, president of Triumph Motorcycles America(TMA), the factory's American arm. This is the only instance of Triumph's signature twin cylinder models being designed by an American.
Brenda Price, Moulton's predecessor, had earlier persuaded Brian Jones, Meriden's engineering director, to come up with a low rider-styled Triumph Bonneville for the USA market, her having observed their US dealers' success at independently marketing such models. Jim Barclay of the factory designed a prototype low rider, the Phoenix, exhibited on the factory stand at the 1980 London Earls Court motorcycle show. This model with its rectangular headlamp and unusual instrument console was not produced. Triumph had already experienced poor sales stateside with their 1979 T140D Bonneville Special model which Moulton identified to the factory as having failed in its execution to capture the American imagination. Upon this basis, Moulton set to work designing a Triumph Bonneville that would appeal to his countrymen albeit having only a limited budget to do so of only £3000GBP.
Essentially a Triumph Bonneville with "West Coast" American styling, the TSX was distinguished by many details. The outstanding feature was its lowered chassis and 16-inch-diameter (410 mm) rear wheel (instead of the usual 18 inch rim) with the engine offset in the frame, a unique swingarm and a suitably abbreviated chromed chainguard all to accommodate this.
The TSX engine was a standard American specification T140ES (electric start Bonneville) 748 cc (45.6 cu in) with two 32-mm Bing carburettors (made under licence by Amal) and Lucas electronic ignition. Although the German importer offered electric start as an option for their TSX, in all other markets, it was the kickstart that was the optional extra. Whilst retaining the polished outer covers, the rest of the TSX engine differed cosmetically being black painted with the cooling fin edges bright polished. The engine's chromed exhaust pipes were of a larger bore than the standard Bonneville with a balance pipe between the short megaphone silencers hidden under the frame.
The TSX frame differed from the standard Bonneville frame in having the mounting points for the Paioli rear shock absorbers set at a lower angle for the lower seat height emulating a 'low rider' look and a bracket to enable the exterior mounting of the Brembo rear brake master cylinder. The TSX seat unique to the model had a pronounced step so that the rider sat in rather than upon it. The passenger grabrail was also unique to the TSX being raised to take account of the higher step of the passenger seating and rubber-mounted the rear turn indicators. The TSX side panels were new too and of a more abbreviated form than those of other Triumph models. Both the front and rear mudguards were shorter than the standard Bonneville, the former being from the failed T140D Bonneville Special albeit now with a painted finish. The rear mudguard had a black plastic extension for the large vehicle registration plate mandatory in the United Kingdom.
The TSX fuel tank was a unique design made in Italy for the model having only one angled Paioli left hand petrol tap situated ahead to accommodate the larger Bing carburettors and off-set engine. This tank also had Moulton's specified centralised filler hole with an optional locking cap (mandatory for America) and a balance pipe situated on the front of the tank's underside. For the first time on a Bonneville model, decals were used to decorate the tank and side panels, these being of the gold-lined red/orange/yellow stripe type. The underlying TSX paint scheme was initially Burgundy with a Midnight Black version later offered alongside it from August 1982. Midnight Blue was proposed as a further alternative for the unrealised 1983/4 version of the TSX.
A slightly lower rise and wider USA style handlebar was fitted and chromed Lucas turn indicators returned in place of the black plastic ULO items that had replaced them on other Triumph models from 1981. A chromed Lucas H4 headlamp was mounted on a thick chromed wire surround.
A Brembo rear brake master cylinder was fitted in place of the usual Automotive Products (AP) Lockheed item which remained for the front, as well as supplying both front and rear calipers. Dual front discs were an option.