“THE ILLUSTRATED TRIUMPH MOTORCYLE BUYER’S GUIDE”
By: Roy Bacon
Book Review by: Steve Murrin, The Biker Lawyer

Somewhere between the fanaticism of Harley ownership and the quest for maintenance-free Japanese bikes, there exists a brand that to me straddles both worlds.  In my mind, the Triumph marquis is as steeped in history as Harley and engineered to run with precision and reliability like the Big 3 from Japan.  ‘Lucas’ electrics on these bikes are excepted from the foregoing and must be replaced post haste; they stink.  Triumphs have always been near and dear to me second only to HD.  The company has survived the ages through thick and thin, learned from it’s mistakes, and adapted rather than sank like so many brands--Norton, Indian, BSA, and Ariel come immediately to mind.  This makes Triumph very similar to their bigger cousin from across the pond at Harley.  For this and many other reasons, I have always had several old Bonnevilles and Tigers lying around the garage.  Partly because they are cheap to get in, cheap to fix up, cheap to maintain and do not need a brain surgeon to keep running.  They are mechanically simple machines.  My friend and Triumph aficionado/guru Brian Holzigal of “British American” Motorcycles in Doraville has staked his retirement on such a theory.  He must have 200 of these classic pieces of history at his shop.  He’s my expert in making purchase/sale/resto decisions, but when he’s back in his native Australia on what he oddly calls “holiday”, this book is my bible reference guide.  It is 176 pages long, can be found on line, costs less than a new headlight, and is packed with pics.

Those amongst us who have the ‘Softail’ or ‘Wing” or ‘Gixxer’ in the garage and are looking for something to tinker with in the basement, an old Triumph Bonneville, or T-100 makes perfect sense.  It may have been a while since you adjusted points or tickled carburetors but trust me, it all comes back to you.  So if you have an extra couple bucks burning a hole in your pocket and are eyeing that 1973 Triumph ‘Bonny’ on Craig’s list, (i.e.):“Must sell, ’73 Bonny basket, 90% restored, wife left, dog died, right leg fell off, need the room for couch, CHEAP”, then this book is for you.  The illustrated Triumph Motorcycle Buyers Guide is a book that will acquaint you with the post war era Triumphs and goes right up to the modern Hinckley triples and fours. It is a relatively complex analysis and the author’s study of the evolution of the brand gets a bit unorganized, but the book is packed with useful details.  Example: You actually intend on riding this bike so disc brakes are important.  It’s easy to find that front and rear discs were first offered in ’76, and just front (with drum rear) in’73, and tidbits like that.  This guide is generally suited for the serious Triumph fan, and unless you hanker for a history lesson or really plan on restoring one of these machines, buyer beware.  Otherwise, get the book, get rid of your metric sockets, and get ready to actually KICK start your ride, like us old farts used to.  Heed this advice: Once complete, if it doesn’t roar to life after 50 kicks, get it over to Brian’s shop, or you’ll have a stroke. 
Signing off for now.  Remember, A bad day to ride, is a good day to read.  Read on. 

P.S. the jacket of the book is shown, but more importantly, my ’76 with clubman bars and rearsets hibernating in my office is also shown on this page.  Real Marlon Brando stuff!