Motorcycle Accident Today

[BUFF]

There's been a lot of motorcycle threads lately, so I thought I'd start another one.

I was sitting at a stop sign today on my 2010 Triumph Bonneville T-100, waiting for traffic to pass, and I got hit from behind by another Triumph Bonneville T-100.

What's the odds of that?

Low speed, knocked us both down, but we both rode away, scraped chrome and busted tail light assembly notwithstanding.

The first scrapes on a new bike are painful.

[LH2]

I love the new Triumphs! Sorry to hear yours has a little damage. What was that guy doing that kept him from stopping in time? Strange...

Be glad it wasn't an F-250 instead of another Bonnie, right?

[E Z MUNNY]

In 1973 my then wife and I were on a motorcycle at a stoplight in Denver, Colorado when a big ol' Ford pickup did hit us from behind. Believe me when I say it makes me shudder to even think about it. We both would have been dead had it not been for the helmets. I had a broken shoulder, concussion and all exposed fingertips were ground down pretty thin. She had a pelvis that was broken on both sides, cracked tailbone and a few ribs along with a concussion. Anybody ever try changing a diaper on a 6 month old baby one-handed? I had to! Motorcycle was also demolished along with the exhaust system and driver's seat mounts on the VW Beetle that we were slammed into.

Sorry for hijacking the thread but I think the odds for getting hit from behind are very good, by another bike just like yours - extremely rare..

We aren't safe from anybody, are we.

[Armyphotog]

The Brits are still building the Triumph? I thought they went bankrupt about 40 years ago! Did they ever break down and put an electric starter on them, or do they still have the kick starter?

[Indiana George]

Glad to hear that you were able to walk (ride) away from the collision, Buff.

[G-Mac]

Originally Posted by Armyphotog

The Brits are still building the Triumph?

Triumph in name only.

The last one I looked at had a frame that said "Made in Thailand".

Buff, glad you're OK.

[27145]

Kind of like the rehashed Indian, which went out of business in 1953.

[feralmerril]

I once owned a 1958 700cc royal enfield that had the indian logo on the tank and was indian on the title. I belive it was the very last of the imports that indian put their name on. Prior to that I owned a 1965 750 cc royal enfield intercepter that was almost identical. The intercepter had dual carbs but the "indian" had a single carb. Later I also bought another basket case 750, forgot what year.

[BUFF]

"The Brits are still building the Triumph? I thought they went bankrupt about 40 years ago! Did they ever break down and put an electric starter on them, or do they still have the kick starter?"

The old Triumph was part of a larger company called Norton Villiers Triumph. The folks that owned BSA had bought Triumph in 1951 but basically operated them as separate companies with separate factories. The BSA portion folded in 1972. The Triumph plant workers at Meriden, Coventry established a workers co-op and separated from what was left of Norton Villiers in 1975 and continued to buid variations of the Bonneville until 1983, when they closed down. A former Triumph employee named Les Harris bought a bunch of parts and continued to make Bonnevilles for a short time, until 1988.

The intellectual and trademark stuff was purchased by an industrialist named John Bloor. He planned to make new Triumphs, using only some of the names, that would be comparable to and competitive with the newest Japanese and European bikes. He built a new factory in Hinckley, 15 miles from Meriden, and began selling new 3 and 4 cylinder bikes beginning about 1991. Bloor built several other factories and the Bonneville is assembled with major parts mostly made in England, but like just about everything else, has content from Japan and other places.

The new Bonnevilles began in 2001. They don't have any parts common with the old ones, but are styled to mimic the 1968-1970 Bonnies. They are still air cooled verticle twins and currently are 865cc. They have overhead cams and balance shafts and run really smoothly. Mine is the first English bike I have had on which I can use the rear view mirrors. There are several variants and levels of trim, including a Thruxton that is sort of a cafe racer and a Scrambler with high mounted side pipes that is pretty hopeless off of the pavement.

Triumph added electric start to their last Tridents (3 cylinder 750) in 1975 and Bonnevilles in 1980.

The current Bonneville was designed as electric start and doesn't have a kick start mechanism. It's a pretty good all-purpose street bike and I am quite happy with it.

I am glad it wasn't a Pontiac Bonneville that hit me.

[mkk41]

Good thing yer OK.

Two new Triumphs in 1 accident proves that they are statictically UNSAFE.

Do they still use Lucas 'Prince of Darkness' electrics. Perhaps your brake light didn't work?

[BUFF]

As the numbers crunchers say, the data base is small enough that it is statistically insignificant.

Also, it occurred during a British motorcycle club ride, so the odds were kinda stacked.

About 50 bikes, Triumphs, Nortons and BSA's. Plus a sprinkling of BMWs, a Moto Guzzi and some Japanese bikes. One was a 1953 Thunderbird that looked like it was bult yesterday. Oldest was a pre-war Speed Twin. One fellow rode a late 1970's Bonnie he bought new that now has 160,000 miles on it. Those old twins sure sound nice howling down the road.

I don't think Lucas is still in business. My tail light worked even after it got smacked and broke loose.

[Bullzaye]

The Triumphs that are currently being built are probably the best that have ever been built, in terms of overall quality and usability. I understand that the older Triumphs certainly have a classic and nostalgic appeal, but for an actual bike that one wants to use for reliable daily transportation, the new Triumphs are clearly superior, and every bit the equal of any bike out there.

I'm still constantly being asked what is the bike that I'm riding, and when I reply that it's a Triumph, the standard reply is, "They still make those?" I am surprised by how many current riders and motorcycle enthusiasts are unaware that they're not only still in business, but thriving.

Tim

[mkk41]

At the AMCA meet I attended back in April , two Vincents were parked next to me. Unfortunately , I forgot my camera , but clicked these with my phone.

[Frank237]

Glad your OK....thankfully not injured.

We have been having a number of fatal bike wrecks all through MT the past few weeks. We are experiencing near record warm weather relatively late in the year for us. It was ninety one yesterday here! Should be high 60's.

More riders...riding later into the season.

FN in MT

[feralmerril]

Back in the late 60s a guy I knew took two triumph engines and somehow welded them together to make a 4 clyinder engine. He had it in his customised triumph and it worked well! He was driveing it to work everyday. It was similar to a aerial 4 square.
I owned a 1957 or 58 T-110 at the time. It was the last year before they went to unit construction. Those bikes had "soul".

[BUFF]

Yes, the old Triumphs did have soul. Their demise was squarely due to the failures of management to re-invest profits in new designs and manufacturing technology. When they went belly-up, pretty well everything they made was, in one form or another, a descendent of Edward Turner's designs from the 1930's. But they always exuded cool.

The unit design was adopted in 1963. Norton continued with pre-unit construction until the Commando died in, what, 1975?

When I went looking at the 'new' Triumphs, the salesman at the local BMW/Triumph dealership said, with a wink, "Yes, these are absolutely the best Triumphs ever made. And, they are also fairly good motorcycles!"

I bought my first one, a left-over 1968 TR-6R, in 1969. Except for a short 2 year hiatus, I have had one or more in the garage since then.

[Frizzman]

That type of accident is why I cringe when I see a rider pull up close to the car in front of them and place themselves right in the center of the car's rear end. That leaves no escape route if the jerk behind you doen't stop. I also see riders who stop at a light behind a car and then put the transmission in neutral and ignore what's coming behind them.

I always place my bike so I can escape if needed and not get crushed between two cars. I leave the bike in first gear with the clutch in and right hand ready on the throttle. I then watch the vehicles coming up behind me. In the years that I have been riding on the street starting in the 70's, I have had to use this to escape being hit from behind twice.

Little things like that can mean life or grave injury or survival in one piece. Those sorts of fine points to riding are the products of experience and good instruction. That is why I urge both new and experienced riders to take the MSF Rider Course. Mistakes are too costly to not take every advantage you can. Also...All The Gear All The Time...My helmet saved my life once...I'm very glad it was just your bike that was injured!

[BUFF]

Good advice. My helmet didn't get touched but my leather jacket and gloves got scuffed pretty badly. Glad it wasn't my skin!

I have 2 busted helmets down in the basement. I keep them as reminders as to why I need to always wear a helmet.

[jag312]

I have a 1999 Triumph Legend, 900cc triple. I can't find any Lucas items on it. Th headlight is Hella (made in Germany), the tail lights/turn signals are just marked "Triumph", the ignition module is made in the Czech Republic, the PVL ignition coils are made in Germany, the brakes, starter, and carburetors are made in Japan, the instruments are made in England. My bike was assembled in England, although now a lot of work is being done in Thailand. I am sure they source parts from whoever gives them a good price. I really like my Triumph.

[Capt Steve]

Many years ago my bride and I were out riding my Honda 350 late one Saturday night. As we approached a light some moron comes flying out of the Liquor store parking lot and nearly hit us. We ended up side by side at the light and I said (nicely), "Man you almost hit us ". He responded, "You want to see something really cute?" Then proceeded to floor it in reverse for about 50' and then floored it smoking his tires right at us. Luckily I caught an opening in traffic cracked it wide open and fled across the red light. I have no doubt this psycho would have run us down. Don't ride anymore but sure fondly remember most of the many days that I did. Be safe.

[soonerfan85]

Originally Posted by Bullzaye

The Triumphs that are currently being built are probably the best that have ever been built, in terms of overall quality and usability. I understand that the older Triumphs certainly have a classic and nostalgic appeal, but for an actual bike that one wants to use for reliable daily transportation, the new Triumphs are clearly superior, and every bit the equal of any bike out there.

I'm still constantly being asked what is the bike that I'm riding, and when I reply that it's a Triumph, the standard reply is, "They still make those?" I am surprised by how many current riders and motorcycle enthusiasts are unaware that they're not only still in business, but thriving.Tim

Glad you're OK. Like previous poster, I never stop directly behind a vehicle unless no other option.

I've had a 1998 Daytona T595, the Gentleman's Sport Bike as Playboy magazine referred to it back in the day, for about 10 years. Love the sound of that big triple. It's amazing how many people will walk up out of the blue and tell you they used to have an old Trumpet.