Topic: Triumph Daytona/cb750 trade proposal?

[Don R]

 I have a 750 K2 that has a big bore kit on a 71 engine and a not stamped or tagged replacement frame, It's a decent bike but one of several in my shop. I think I have about a thousand dollars in it.
   I got a proposed even trade for a 65 (I think) Triumph Daytona. It has wrong handlebars (correct ones included) and extended forks and comes with spare trans parts, spare cylinders and head that the seller who is my brothers friend says it doesn't need, he just collected them because he got them cheap. It does have twin carbs if that means anything.
  He also wants a windjammer fairing on the 750 which I have in multiples so that's just some labor. 
  What do you think? 
 
 

[Steve_K]

I have rode several British bikes from the 60's and 70's and they are fun to ride.  The one's with extended forks were scary.  Some of the extended forks had short tubes threaded into the stock tubes to make them longer.  It makes a weird ride. When  turning you could see the forks move and then the wheel would turn.  Of course, maybe I never rode a good extended fork bike.  Put stock tubes and you will have a sweet handling bike. 
Steve

PS I think the Bonnies had twin carbs  Did the Daytona were with 2 carbs the 500cc?

[Gene]

I'd do it just to have one if I had spares as you do. Could be fun for the collection!

Full disclosure - the first bike I ever fell in love with was a triumph chopper with straight bars.

[Don R]

 I admit to knowing little about them. This guy has had the bike for a loooong time. He keeps mentioning what it's worth restored but neglects to mention what that costs.
  I might do it just for kicks, I do have a history with the 750, I knew two former owners and a late friend told me he remembered building the big bore motor. He just couldn't remember how big it is, 836 kits were sold out at times.
  I'll look for parts before I do the deal.
  I read the Daytona is a high performance version of the trophy 500 twin with two Amal Monobloc carbs, Bonneville style.

[754]

I would do it if it's a 650, if it is a 500 then maybe still as it has the dual carb head.
 Way more Hondas out there than Triumphs.

[low-side]

Just to clarify, is the Daytona a runner with spares or a project?  Personally, I wouldn't do it.  Whatever you have in it, you could probably sell the K2 and get a relatively straight Bonnie 750.  They stop and go a lot better than the 500s and don't weigh much more (not when your benchmarks are Honda 750s and GLs anyway).  Whatever you decide, it'll be a good deal.  Good luck with it.

[seanbarney41]

+1...I would hold out for a 650 or 750

[Don R]

 The Daytona is a long time parked bike that I honestly don't know if it has ran since this guy owned it. It's totally possible that it's junk. I'll need to see it again with a battery IV bottle and a compression tester before deciding.

[bill440cars]

The Daytona is a long time parked bike that I honestly don't know if it has ran since this guy owned it. It's totally possible that it's junk. I'll need to see it again with a battery IV bottle and a compression tester before deciding.

          Sounds like you have a good plan Don. As it stands right now, there are too many unknowns, in my honest opinion. Good
  luck to you. 

[Bodi]

They were fun bikes to ride. Not sure about extended forks, not a fan personally and I would want the stock ones. The 650s (single and dual crab) were definitely preferable and still are. The BSA twin bikes were pretty much equivalent to the Triumphs as far as reliability and durability went.
The Brit bikes were about as reliable as a Vega (ie not), feature Lucas electrics with all that implies, and had prehistoric brakes.
The 500s were good for country blasts, and featured sweet handling (with stock forks) but were not so good for long rides. Several mates went on cross country trips on summer break in the 70s on Triumph 500s ... and most of them fried the engine trying to do day long highway rides through the prairies on hot days, or passing and climbing the hills through Northern Ontario.
They were made for English conditions - cool temperatures, mostly "back road" riding (there were not so may superhighways in England then) and they did not much take to Canadian and USA riding habits with hot summers and a lot of 70mph+ highway riding.
The CB750 introduction really changed the face of motorcycling beyond being the "first superbike". You could ride one coast to coast and back without any worries about the engine failing or the electrics dying on a dark deserted highway.

[Don R]

  The interesting thing is that you never see one around here. It's 50 miles to the nearest non Harley new bike shop in either of two directions. There is a mom and pop shop 25 or so miles away with a barn filled up with brit and Italian bikes. Nothing for sale ever. I was allowed to wander a few years ago. There are even rumors of a Vincent that he took apart and disguised so people wouldn't ask about it. A friend said many of the bikes are customer bikes that the owners gave up on ever getting back during a repair. In earlier years the bill often exceeded the value of the bike. I remember being told never take a bike there, they never get finished. I'd estimate an easy 150 bikes in there, maybe more. He has said some day when he's gone, there will be an amazing auction.

[Bankerdanny]

I'd probably make the deal. I've wanted a real Brit bike (my Royal Enfield was the Indian version) for a while now. I've always figured I would end up with a BSA Lightning as they seem to be plentiful and relatively inexpensive.

I had a chance to get a basket case Norton 750 Commando for free from a family friend when I was a young teenager, but passed. I think my dad, a long-time Brit bike guy, was very disappointed that I wasn't interested.

[BenelliSEI]

Don.....many years ago, I rode British bikes and had  a very nice 1970 Triumph Tiger 500 (single carb version of the Daytona, no tach). I bought my wife her first Honda CM250 at the time. Next, I bought her a ‘77 cb400F. I was always working on the Triumph, never touched her bikes. Finally bought my first, almost new Honda (1978 cb750K). Still have it, never looked at  another British bike.

Fun of you are looking for a simple project, useless if you want to ride regularly! Cheers, John D.

[754]

 I think it would be fun around town and short hops..
 I never  get to feel like Steve McQueen riding a 4 cylinder bike..

[BPellerine]

rode and restored many brit bikes,never had the problems everyone describes,it is largely down to how they are taken care of and who works on them,bill

[Don R]

 I got a set of Per Sol sunglasses may as well get a matching bike right? I've seen some pretty decent British riders in the price range of a nice 750. This 750 with it's chipped fins, no frame numbers and lined gas tank might not get that money though. It does have a sweet Hooker 4-2 though.

[Just John]

I am not much of a Brit MC guy. I've had Triumphs, BSAs and a couple of Royal Enfields. All led me to believe that I needed to shy away from them in the future. However, there is one exception and that is the 500 Triumph twin. I've never owned one or even rode one but for some reason they call to me. I'd make the trade!

[low-side]

I've ridden and worked on a few Triumphs from the 60s and 70s.   Magical when all sorted.  That wasp waist and vertical twin just look like a bike should.  Riding one feels great - light, flickable, almost bicycle like stepping off of a CB750.  Not real powerful if your used to Japanese machinery.  A well sorted CB350 twin could keep up with a single carb Triumph 500 so I imagine that the twin carb version would edge it out.   Mixed bag mechanically.  Triumph wiring leaves a lot to be desired.  Drum brakes work about the same.  T140s used a Lockheed caliper and cast iron disc so they stop with authority and great feel.  The port work in the heads is really top notch, but the rest of the engine is at least 30 years behind a Honda 750.  If a Triumph shows any kind of neglect or abuse, you really want to clean the sludge tube out before it does so on it's own and ruins every bearing in the engine.  All that said, one of my projects is a T150 and I'm really looking forward to completing it, despite how damn frustrating it can be at times.  Good luck with whatever you decide, but I think that you can make a better deal.

[Don R]

 Thanks for the info, This guy has owned the bike for a few decades. When I saw it last it was sitting in a shop with broken windows. Hopefully it's dry and at least preserved. I may take a plan B trade when I go, there's a bike my brother and I assembled with him in mind.