Talk:Triumph Bonneville

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Anyone have a photo of an early Bonneville?

I am only going by memory but I thought the 'e' in T140e stood for electronic ignition. It certainly coincided with the introduction as I owned a T140v and T140e back in the late 1970s and 1980. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.131.113.243 (talk) 17:02, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

I checked up, as electronic ignition was introduced about the same time, as you say. Checking both the Nelson and Gaylin books it appears that the 'E' was introduced on 1st Jan 78 with MkII carburettors and a crankcase breather recirculation system to comply with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission legislation for new vehicles that came into force on that date. Gaylin says the 'E' stands for 'EPA', Roy Bacon says 'listed as the T140E to signify that it had complied with the regulations on emission control in the USA.' These first bikes still had contact breaker points, the electronic ignition was introduced in 1979 along with a neutral light. You live and learn!

I have a 79 'E' and used to have a 77 'V' with Jubilee chromed engine cases (guess they had some left over). There was the 'Bonneville Electro' later on which was Triumph's name for the T140ES from 1982. The 'ES' all seem to have the word 'Electro' on the side panels from 1980 and in their adverts called it the T140E(S) which to me is saying it was an 'E' (EPA/Emissions) with a starter (S) rather than Electric Start, then to make it more confusing there was the 'Bonneville Executive' (Electro with luggage)!!! Shame they are not still here to ask, I wrote a few letters to Triumph around 1981 and they were very helpful, I was asking about ways to cure problems (exhaust blowing and loose alternator rotor) and they admitted that neither item was a very good design!!!. Wish I still had those letters. Cheers Nimbus227 (talk) 20:22, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] New Category for British Motorcycles

As part of the Motorcycling WikiProject I am working though all the missing articles and stubs for British Bikes. To make things easier to sort out I have created a category for British motorcycles. Please will you add to any British motorcycle pages you find or create. It will also help to keep things organised if you use the Template:Infobox Motorcycle or add it where it is missing. I've linked the Category to the Commons British Motorcycles so you could help with matching pics to articles or adding the missing images to the Commons - take your camera next time you go to a rally! Thanks Tony (talk) 13:16, 4 May 2008 (UTC)