Triumph T140 TSX
Encyclopedia
The Triumph TSX was a British motorcycle
credited by the factory as being designed in 1981–1982 by Triumph Motorcycles America (TMA), the factory's American arm. Steve Wilson's British Motorcycles Since 1950 and Lindsay Brooke and David Gaylin's Triumph Motorcycles In America specifically credit Wayne Moulton
, TMA's president, as the designer as he was responsible for the earlier, successful and similarly styled 'LTD' series of motorcycles for his previous employers, Kawasaki. That said, factory correspondence shows Brenda Price, Moulton's predecessor, had earlier persuaded Brian Jones
, Meriden's engineering director, to come up with a low rider-styled Triumph for the USA market, her having observed their US dealers' success at independently marketing such models. John Barclay of the factory had earlier designed a prototype low rider, the Phoenix, exhibited on the factory stand at the 1980 London Earls Court motorcycle show. This model with its rectangular headlamp and unusual instrument console was not produced. According to Triumph's records held by the Vintage Motor Cycle Club
(VMCC), the first TSX was made for the north American market on 18 June 1981.
, the TSX was distinguished by its lowered chassis and 16 inches (406.4 mm) rear wheel with the engine off-set in the frame to accommodate this. Other changes, whilst unique to the model, were cosmetic including stepped seat, black-coated engine casings, black finished engine with polished fins, re-styled passenger grabrail, shortened front and rear painted mudguards, the latter having a black plastic mount for the vehicle numberplate, mirror-polished alloy, short megaphone exhausts, Morris alloy wheels (then made by Performance Machine) and 'retro' stick on graphics. Paioli
rear suspension units, with plastic top shrouds, were sited at a more acute angle further back on the swinging arm to lower the seat height. Chromed Lucas turn indicators returned in place of the black plastic ULO
items that had replaced them on other Triumph models from 1981. A Brembo
rear brake was fitted in place of the usual Automotive Products
(AP) Lockheed
item which remained at the front. Dual front discs were an option. Whilst the 1982–1983 brochure showed Goodyear
Eagle tyres fitted, an Avon
Roadrunner rear and Speedmaster front tyre went on production models, the tyres' lettering picked out in white. Although the German magazine Motorad road-tested a kick start-only version, the kickstart pedal was only an optional extra on the production TSX. The standard TSX engine was a T140ES (electric start) 748 cc with two 32-mm Bing carburettors and electronic ignition. The engine was offset to accommodate the fatter rear tyre within the frame which also necessitated a unique swingarm and abbreviated chainguard. The TSX fuel tank was a unique design for the model having only one Paioli petrol tap situated ahead to accommodate the larger Bing carburettors. This tank also had a centralised filler hole with optional locking cap and a balance pipe situated on the front of the tank's underside.
Fewer than 300 were produced and production ended with the demise of Triumph at Meriden in 1983. The factory, upon request, produced TSX with a pre-1975 right foot gear change/ left foot rear brake assembly and an example of this can be seen at the London Motorcycle Museum
. The TSX illustrated is from the UK National Motorcycle Museum
.
alongside. Side panel badges added a '4' or '8' to reflect the new designations.
Nearly all of the TSX cycle parts were used to re-style the 1984 prototype USA versions of the T140 Bonneville and the new TR6 Thunderbird 600, both models only distinguished from the TSX4 by instead retaining wire wheels and adopting the drum rear brake from the deleted Triumph TR65 Thunderbird
and TR7T Tiger Trail
models. Although not fitted to the 1982–1983 production models, Goodyear tyres, of their 'Qualifier' design this time, were again shown on all USA -styled brochure models, the tyres' lettering again picked out in white. The TSX4 and TSX8 both retained the Avon tyres as before. The TSX rear mudguard, albeit finished in stainless steel finish, and retaining the plastic numberplate mounting extension, was also to have been fitted on all UK–Rest Of World models as standard.
From the records as held by the VMCC, the last TSX was made on 21 December 1982.
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...
credited by the factory as being designed in 1981–1982 by Triumph Motorcycles America (TMA), the factory's American arm. Steve Wilson's British Motorcycles Since 1950 and Lindsay Brooke and David Gaylin's Triumph Motorcycles In America specifically credit 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...
, TMA's president, as the designer as he was responsible for the earlier, successful and similarly styled 'LTD' series of motorcycles for his previous employers, Kawasaki. That said, factory correspondence shows Brenda Price, Moulton's predecessor, had earlier persuaded 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:...
, Meriden's engineering director, to come up with a low rider-styled Triumph for the USA market, her having observed their US dealers' success at independently marketing such models. John Barclay of the factory had earlier designed a prototype low rider, the Phoenix, exhibited on the factory stand at the 1980 London Earls Court motorcycle show. This model with its rectangular headlamp and unusual instrument console was not produced. According to Triumph's records 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:...
(VMCC), the first TSX was made for the north American market on 18 June 1981.
Specification
Essentially a re-styled Triumph BonnevilleTriumph Bonneville
The Bonneville is a range of British motorcycles, made in three different production runs from 1959 to 1983, and 1985 to 1988, by the now-defunct Triumph Engineering in Meriden; and since 2001, by Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley. It is named after the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, where Triumph and...
, the TSX was distinguished by its lowered chassis and 16 inches (406.4 mm) rear wheel with the engine off-set in the frame to accommodate this. Other changes, whilst unique to the model, were cosmetic including stepped seat, black-coated engine casings, black finished engine with polished fins, re-styled passenger grabrail, shortened front and rear painted mudguards, the latter having a black plastic mount for the vehicle numberplate, mirror-polished alloy, short megaphone exhausts, Morris alloy wheels (then made by Performance Machine) and 'retro' stick on graphics. Paioli
Paioli
Paioli is an Italian motorcycle parts company. Parts include suspension units for both front and rear ends as well as minor components such as petrol taps....
rear suspension units, with plastic top shrouds, were sited at a more acute angle further back on the swinging arm to lower the seat height. Chromed Lucas turn indicators returned in place of the black plastic ULO
Ülo
Ülo is an Estonian masculine given name.People named Ülo include:*Ülo Altermann , soldier and forest brother*Ülo Jõgi , war historian, nationalist and activist*Ülo Kaevats , statesman, academic, and philosopher...
items that had replaced them on other Triumph models from 1981. A Brembo
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is a manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. It was established in Bergamo, Italy in 1961. Soon after the company was formed, it specialised in disc brakes, which were exclusively imported from the United Kingdom at the time...
rear brake was fitted in place of the usual Automotive Products
Automotive 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,...
(AP) 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:...
item which remained at the front. Dual front discs were an option. Whilst the 1982–1983 brochure showed Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
Eagle tyres fitted, an 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 rear and Speedmaster front tyre went on production models, the tyres' lettering picked out in white. Although the German magazine Motorad road-tested a kick start-only version, the kickstart pedal was only an optional extra on the production TSX. The standard TSX engine was a T140ES (electric start) 748 cc with two 32-mm Bing carburettors and electronic ignition. The engine was offset to accommodate the fatter rear tyre within the frame which also necessitated a unique swingarm and abbreviated chainguard. The TSX fuel tank was a unique design for the model having only one Paioli petrol tap situated ahead to accommodate the larger Bing carburettors. This tank also had a centralised filler hole with optional locking cap and a balance pipe situated on the front of the tank's underside.
Fewer than 300 were produced and production ended with the demise of Triumph at Meriden in 1983. The factory, upon request, produced TSX with a pre-1975 right foot gear change/ left foot rear brake assembly and an example of this can be seen at the London Motorcycle Museum
London 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 TSX illustrated is from the UK National Motorcycle Museum
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...
.
Epilogue
From Triumph's brochures, the TSX, unchanged, was to have been included in the factory's unrealised 1983–1984 range as the TSX4 with a similarly styled TSX8 with the eight valve engine from the Triumph T140W TSSTriumph T140W TSS
The T140W TSS was the last motorcycle model made by Triumph Engineering at their Meriden 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...
alongside. Side panel badges added a '4' or '8' to reflect the new designations.
Nearly all of the TSX cycle parts were used to re-style the 1984 prototype USA versions of the T140 Bonneville and the new TR6 Thunderbird 600, both models only distinguished from the TSX4 by instead retaining wire wheels and adopting the drum rear brake from the deleted 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:...
and TR7T Tiger Trail
Triumph Tiger Trail
The Triumph Tiger Trail was a motorcycle model manufactured by Triumph Motorcycles at the Meriden factory. The Tiger Trail was made from 1981 to 1982 in both 750 cc and 650 cc capacities, and under 180 models were built...
models. Although not fitted to the 1982–1983 production models, Goodyear tyres, of their 'Qualifier' design this time, were again shown on all USA -styled brochure models, the tyres' lettering again picked out in white. The TSX4 and TSX8 both retained the Avon tyres as before. The TSX rear mudguard, albeit finished in stainless steel finish, and retaining the plastic numberplate mounting extension, was also to have been fitted on all UK–Rest Of World models as standard.
From the records as held by the VMCC, the last TSX was made on 21 December 1982.