LesTension

By LesTension

IT'S A CLASSIC!

It's Motorhead Sunday and today's submission is a 1950 Triumph Thunderbird.
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Here's everything you want to know about the 1950 model:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_Thunderbird
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My father-in-law had one of these...and he encouraged me to get one as well.  I opted for a 1960s model instead.  It was my introduction to the parallel-twin engine and the inherent vibrations associated with pistons both moving in the same direction at the same time.  Best handling bike I ever had...fast, nimble 650cc power......but it was like riding a jack-hammer after a while.  But one gets used to it.  
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As I likely mentioned before, I traded it off on a Norton Atlas 750.  Same configuration but a bit more power.  I was in my 20s and rather power hungry. Despite the power of the Atlas it, too, was like riding a jack-hammer after a while.  And it wasn't as nimble as the T-Bird.  But Yamaha came out in 1973 with the TX-750 with Omni-phase balance.  It consisted of counter-rotating weights on the crank shaft which canceled out the inherent vibrations of the parallel twin, which it also was. 
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Rode like a dream...smooth, powerful and nimble and shake-free.  It took a whole year of riding before I was comfortable on it, though, as I was totally used to bloke-cycles with shifting on the right and braking on the left.  The exact opposite of the Yamaha.  I can't tell you how many times I downshifted when I intended to brake...especially alarming in a dangerous situation. But I did get used to right foot braking.
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The TX-750 also had electric start in addition to a kick pedal.  I was tired of kicking the T-Bird and the Atlas so this got my attention.  Unfortunately, it was poorly designed and the solenoid kept sticking wedging the starting gear into the flywheel.  Very disappointing and I wound up kicking the bike more often than using the electric starter.
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Then I bumped into a friend who gets a new cycle every 2 years just because he can....and he had a 1976 BMW R90/6 for sale with only 12,000 miles (19,300 km) on it.  Barely broken in and all highway miles.  I bought it...first time in my life I actually enjoyed getting the shaft.  No more chain oil streaks up my pants leg.  I rode him for 34 years and 240,000 miles (383,200km).  Never any major work on it and it only left me stranded one time when the alternator quit alternating and the battery went dead.  Easy fix.
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BEST IN LARGE.

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