Triumph T140W TSS
Encyclopedia
The T140W TSS was the last motorcycle
model made by Triumph Engineering at their Meriden
factory.
in the 1970s.
The crank was a fully machined single forging with increased big end diameter making it much stiffer and better-balanced, and producing one of the smoothest running motorcycles in the Triumph range. The new eight-valve cylinder head had smaller valves set at a steeper angle and recesses in the pistons allowed a 10:1 compression ratio.
UK models had a pair of 34 mm Amal
MkII carburettors while the export models had Bing constant velocity carburettors. Other changes from the standard T140E included offset connecting rods, steel-linered alloy barrels, a strengthened swinging arm, and a high output three-phase alternator.
A TSS raced by Jon Minonno for Texan Jack Wilson's Big D Triumph dealership achieved outstanding results in the Battle Of The Twins races for 1981–1982.
According to the Triumph build books, held by the Vintage Motor Cycle Club
, the first TSS was built on 27 October 1981 for the North American export market.
Lockheed
disc upfront as standard. The fins of the black painted engine were polished although, like the Triumph TR65 Thunderbird
, many alloy cycle parts that had in the past been bright polished or chromed were now painted satin black. Mudguards were stainless steel as were the Italian Radaelli
rims for the wire-spoked wheel option.
Unlike most of Triumph's models, no USA style with high handlebars and two-gallon tank was produced, all models coming with the Italian-sourced four-gallon tank and low handlebars as well as the newly introduced alloy 'dog leg' clutch and front brake levers. The USA did receive a black paint scheme with gold-lined red 'wings' along with Italian-sourced mufflers and the Bing carburettors. A one-off variant in line with the Triumph Bonneville T140EX Executive was produced for a London dealer, albeit again in gold-lined black, but with the Executive's standard Brearley-Smith 'Sabre' fairing and luggage by Sigma. All TSS were shod with Avon
Roadrunner tyres.
Only 112 TSS bikes were actually exported by Triumph, as on 26 August 1983 the factory at Meriden went into voluntary liquidation. Over 400 TSS models were made in total.
The model was generally well-received by the press although a long term test by Motor Cycle Weekly revealed the porous cylinder head problem and an unusual occurrence of wet weather braking failure. In an interview in US magazine, Motorcyclist
, Meriden's Director of Engineering, Brian Jones
revealed that the epoxy coating on the cylinder head disguised the porosity problem from their factory testers.
, the TS8-1 had plastic bodywork by Ian Dyson of contracted stylists, Plastic Fantastic.
For the unrealised 1983–1984 range, the TSS was to have had Meriden's 'Enforcer' frame as standard where the engine was rubber-mounted in this special anti-vibration frame. Styling changes included the adoption of the Triumph T140 TSX
rear mudguard, in stainless steel, and side panels from the same model with a similarly styled TSS badge affixed. These replaced the original side panels which had been extended to cover the Bing carburettor linkages on the USA export models. A plastic 'ducktail' seat unit was mounted above the shortened rear mudguard of the projected 1983–1984 civilian model and rear set footrests, brake and gear shift mechanisms fitted. Police TSS AV retained the standard footrest/control arrangement as well as conventional cycle parts over the ducktail and TSX parts. Due to the height clearance limitations caused by the engine jogging about its rubber mounts within the AV frame, the shorter Amal Mk2 carburretors instead of Bings were fitted.
Only three examples of the TSS AV in police and civilian specification were ever made (and one bare frame) including one made for the late Chris Buckle, proprietor of former Triumph dealers, Roebucks Motorcycles of Rayners Lane, North London, UK. Not quite to the envisaged 1984 specification, his was made on 27 June 1983 and is, according to the factory production records held by the Vintage Motor Cycle Club, the last complete Triumph ever made by Meriden. This is now on display at the National Motorcycle Museum
in Solihull
, West Midlands
close by to where the Meriden factory was.
cycle parts was to be marketed as the TSX8, the original four-valve version renamed as the TSX4. Wayne Moulton
who designed the TSX had originally done so with the 8-valve TSS engine in mind.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
model made by Triumph Engineering at their Meriden
Meriden, West Midlands
-External links:*****...
factory.
Development history
Designed to appeal to the US market, the TSS had an eight valve Weslake Engineering cylinder head developed by American racer Jack Wilson from a design originally commissioned by the Rickman BrothersRickman Motorcycles
Rickman Motorcycles was established by Derek and Don Rickman and manufactured motorcycles from 1960 through to 1975.Initially the frame designs were for scrambles, and then for road racing. Later, in 1966, road bikes were produced as well. The first street legal bike used a Triumph Bonneville engine...
in the 1970s.
The crank was a fully machined single forging with increased big end diameter making it much stiffer and better-balanced, and producing one of the smoothest running motorcycles in the Triumph range. The new eight-valve cylinder head had smaller valves set at a steeper angle and recesses in the pistons allowed a 10:1 compression ratio.
UK models had a pair of 34 mm Amal
Amal (motorcycle)
AMAL is a British carburettor trademark. AMAL were the suppliers of carburettors to the British motorcycle industry and their products were present on the products of the largest British motorcycle manufacturers such as BSA and AMC...
MkII carburettors while the export models had Bing constant velocity carburettors. Other changes from the standard T140E included offset connecting rods, steel-linered alloy barrels, a strengthened swinging arm, and a high output three-phase alternator.
A TSS raced by Jon Minonno for Texan Jack Wilson's Big D Triumph dealership achieved outstanding results in the Battle Of The Twins races for 1981–1982.
According to the Triumph build books, held by the Vintage Motor Cycle Club
Vintage Motor Cycle Club
The Vintage Motor Cycle Club is a UK-based vintage motorcycle club with over 16,000 members, which aims to promote and preserve all makes of motorcycles over 25 years old.-History:...
, the first TSS was built on 27 October 1981 for the North American export market.
Specification
Launched in 1982 with an electric starter, the eight valve engine proved unreliable due to engineering problems with Wills sealing rings used instead of a conventional cylinder head gasket. Morris alloy wheels were an option with dual Automotive ProductsAutomotive Products
Automotive Products, commonly abbreviated to AP, was an automotive industry components company set up in 1920 by Edward Boughton, Willie Emmott and Denis Brock, to import and sell American-made components to service the fleet of ex-military trucks left behind in Europe after World War I.In 1928,...
Lockheed
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
disc upfront as standard. The fins of the black painted engine were polished although, like the Triumph TR65 Thunderbird
Triumph TR65 Thunderbird
The Triumph TR65 Thunderbird is a British motorcycle that was made by Triumph Motorcycles at the Triumph worker's co-operative at the Meriden factory, when they re-introduced the Triumph Thunderbird model name to their range in April 1981.-Development:...
, many alloy cycle parts that had in the past been bright polished or chromed were now painted satin black. Mudguards were stainless steel as were the Italian Radaelli
Radaelli
Radaelli may refer to :*Fernando Chemin Radaelli is a Brazilian footballer.*Giuseppe Radaelli, a 19th century Milanese fencer of the Italian school of swordsmanship....
rims for the wire-spoked wheel option.
Unlike most of Triumph's models, no USA style with high handlebars and two-gallon tank was produced, all models coming with the Italian-sourced four-gallon tank and low handlebars as well as the newly introduced alloy 'dog leg' clutch and front brake levers. The USA did receive a black paint scheme with gold-lined red 'wings' along with Italian-sourced mufflers and the Bing carburettors. A one-off variant in line with the Triumph Bonneville T140EX Executive was produced for a London dealer, albeit again in gold-lined black, but with the Executive's standard Brearley-Smith 'Sabre' fairing and luggage by Sigma. All TSS were shod with Avon
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a United States based company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of replacementautomobiles and truck tires, and subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires...
Roadrunner tyres.
Only 112 TSS bikes were actually exported by Triumph, as on 26 August 1983 the factory at Meriden went into voluntary liquidation. Over 400 TSS models were made in total.
The model was generally well-received by the press although a long term test by Motor Cycle Weekly revealed the porous cylinder head problem and an unusual occurrence of wet weather braking failure. In an interview in US magazine, Motorcyclist
Motorcyclist (magazine)
Motorcyclist is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. The magazine is headquartered in Los Angeles, and is published by Source Interlink Media. The current Editor in Chief, Brian Catterson, was formerly Executive Editor at rival Cycle World....
, Meriden's Director of Engineering, Brian Jones
Brian Jones (motorcycle designer)
Brian Jones was a motorcycle designer and engineer born in Gloucester, UK in 1928. Notable for his contribution to the original design of the Triumph Bonneville, he died in Coventry, on 4 March 2001.-Career:...
revealed that the epoxy coating on the cylinder head disguised the porosity problem from their factory testers.
TSSAV
Fitting an eight-valve engine in an anti-vibration frame was first mooted by the factory at the 1981 Earls Court motorcycle show on the prototype super-tourer, TS8-1. Now displayed at the London Motorcycle MuseumLondon Motorcycle Museum
The London Motorcycle Museum opened in May 1999 at Oldfield Lane South, Greenford, Middlesex. A charitable trust, it displays a range of over 150 classic and British motorcycles. Notable exhibits include the last Triumph Bonneville T140 out of the Meriden gates in 1983.-History:Bill Crosby, the...
, the TS8-1 had plastic bodywork by Ian Dyson of contracted stylists, Plastic Fantastic.
For the unrealised 1983–1984 range, the TSS was to have had Meriden's 'Enforcer' frame as standard where the engine was rubber-mounted in this special anti-vibration frame. Styling changes included the adoption of the Triumph T140 TSX
Triumph T140 TSX
The Triumph TSX was a British motorcycle credited by the factory as being designed in 1981–1982 by Triumph Motorcycles America , the factory's American arm...
rear mudguard, in stainless steel, and side panels from the same model with a similarly styled TSS badge affixed. These replaced the original side panels which had been extended to cover the Bing carburettor linkages on the USA export models. A plastic 'ducktail' seat unit was mounted above the shortened rear mudguard of the projected 1983–1984 civilian model and rear set footrests, brake and gear shift mechanisms fitted. Police TSS AV retained the standard footrest/control arrangement as well as conventional cycle parts over the ducktail and TSX parts. Due to the height clearance limitations caused by the engine jogging about its rubber mounts within the AV frame, the shorter Amal Mk2 carburretors instead of Bings were fitted.
National Motorcycle Museum (UK)
The National Motorcycle Museum occupies an site in Bickenhill, Solihull, England and holds the world's largest collection of British motorcycles. In addition to over 850 motorcycles which cover a century of motorcycle manufacture the site has conference facilities...
in Solihull
Solihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
, West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
close by to where the Meriden factory was.
TSX8
Another prototype from the unrealised 1983/1984 range, a TSS engine, with Bings, in Triumph T140 TSXTriumph T140 TSX
The Triumph TSX was a British motorcycle credited by the factory as being designed in 1981–1982 by Triumph Motorcycles America , the factory's American arm...
cycle parts was to be marketed as the TSX8, the original four-valve version renamed as the TSX4. Wayne Moulton
Wayne Moulton
Wayne LaVar Moulton was a motorcycle designer called "the father of the Japanese cruiser." after introducing specific designs for importers to the lucrative US motorcycle market...
who designed the TSX had originally done so with the 8-valve TSS engine in mind.