72' 750 vs 75' 850. Normal?

Cookie said:

Thanks Andy,

If one of those triples ever came my way at a deal I'd be very tempted.

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I'd love a T160 in my garage, but if I was going any distance.....I think I'd be getting the Norton out

JimC said:

I had a new 1969 Trident. Pretty sweet bike. I didn't much care for the "bread box" tank. Now a X75 Hurricane is something I'd really go for.

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Agreed! I replaced the tank on mine for a brand new US spec number - turned it into a quite attractive bike

I knew a guy with an X-75...it sounded absolutely fantastic! Unfortunately the tank range is only good for a 30-40 mile round trip :shock:
Those triples are seriously thirsty!
There was a Hurricane on e-bay in the UK recently needing some work...I was sorely tempted, but as the 850 was on the horizon I had to put it back on the 'nice to have, but...' pile

This is a Hurricane.

Only made in 1973, about 1200 or so were made. I believe the Hurricane used the BSA Rocket III engine cases, as the cylinders are canted forward, like the BSA, not vertical like the T150. The head is also unique to the Hurricane, in that the fins are tapered to match the rounded shape of the tank. When Triumph came out with the T160 in '75, it also had the cylinders canted forward.

JimC said:

I didn't much care for the "bread box" tank

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So what happened to all the bread box tanks :?: those US tanks are a bit like a roadster tank, always empty, and personaly I think they give the bike a very distinct look,or is that extinct :?:

That Hurricane sure had style. I've never actually seem one in person, not even at a show. I could forgive it the short range.
With seven bikes now I have to quit buying for awhile, cash is not as available as it was.

BillT said:

Only made in 1973, about 1200 or so were made. I believe the Hurricane used the BSA Rocket III engine cases, as the cylinders are canted forward, like the BSA, not vertical like the T150.

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Well...of course, the 'Triumph' Hurricane was originally going to be a BSA model": http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/Motorc ... intro.html

Ka Ching!

Cookie said:

No one I knew ever had a Triumph or BSA triple. I think they may have cost just enough to price it away from kids. How do they compare to a Combat Commando for power? I have read that they were very quick.
As to your Manx what a lovely machine they are. All I can compare the handling to might be my current featherbed, and I imagine the Manx is better still.

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I remember meeting a couple of buddies riding a 650 triumph and a 500 BSA just after buying my 750 Norton in the early 70's. They introduced me to Albert who turned out to be the guru of all things Norton (for me anyway). He rode a Norvil style yellow cafe racer. I enjoyed instant camaraderie since not many people rode Nortons back then. I rode his Norton once and when I got back my comment to him was "it feels so light" which is how I interpret the feel of a finely tuned cafe racer ever since. It didn't feel as heavy or as torquey as my stock combat commando roadster but it really came alive on a mountain hi-way. I was dismayed one day when he told me he sold his Norton and bought a wrecked Rocket 3. It didn't make any sense at the time, I mean it had 3 cylinders, one in between the other 2. People had 2 lungs just as we have 2 arms and 2 legs and why would anyone want a 3 cylinder motorcycle? It was 1/2 way to being a Japanese 4 cylinder in my 70's mindset. Over the next months I watched as he rebuilt the engine, transmission, made a gas tank from scratch, etc., until he had a wild looking orange cafe racer out of it. I was at his place after he got back from his 1st ride and he seemed almost scared. Apparently he dropped it down a gear at 80mph, dropped the clutch and did a massive wheelie. There was no question in his mind and in his words "it'd blow the drawers off a Norton" and I believed him as he wasn't one to BS that kind of thing.

I don't know how a stock Rocket 3 compares to a stock Norton but they certainly have the potential to go fast.

Thanks,

That was a really interesting read!

David,
no personal attack on the state of the union you chose to reside.
Just not a big fan of being over regulated by big brother.
Bigger issues in our nation than smog and gun control.
I like to ride my bike semi-loud, carry a gun, and have a choice.
I remember when i was a mustang guy they had a special California model.
The company had to meet strict emissions to enter state. Seems like you got cheated out of the
power plant the rest of us had in the day.
Just my usless opinion :lol:

Mr. Fastback,
please contact me for shipping instruction for one of them hurricanes.
They will undoubtly rot if not used by Brit rider.
I will gladly exercise one of them for you.
It good to be rich?
Marshal

MarshalNorton said:

Mr. Fastback,
please contact me for shipping instruction for one of them hurricanes.
They will undoubtly rot if not used by Brit rider.
I will gladly exercise one of them for you.
It good to be rich?
Marshal

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WTF? :?

Aren't those all your hurricanes in the pic?
I figured the stable must be swelling so I'll
relieve you of one. Just my I'll fated humor.
Marshal

MarshalNorton said:

Aren't those all your hurricanes in the pic?
I figured the stable must be swelling so I'll
relieve you of one. Just my I'll fated humor.
Marshal

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Yeah, right :roll: :lol:
I just wish I had 1 of them.
That's an old photo I Goggled of Craig Vetter standing in front of an early batch of Hurricanes he was processing out.
I figured we'd all enjoy marveling at them.

I've only seen one. I was 15 then, 1977. My neighbor had one here in Penna.
I had no idea what he had but we were not allowed near it. It sure looked neat!
He started it up about once a summer. Kinda wish I'd bought it when I was a little bit older. He wasn't really the rider type.
I think he bought it as a mid life crisis thing. Oh well the one that got away. I'm sure somebody talked him out of it sooner or later as he got divorced from my friends mom and down sized homes.
Marshal

I can't count how many Hurricanes are in that photo, but I can count the number of effective front brakes :lol:

Still the cutest Brit ever, but not necessarily the most handsome, if you know what I mean

Incidentally, looking at the tyres and the jacket, I was guessing it was a more recent Owner's Club rally photo?

MarshalNorton said:

Oh well the one that got away.

Marshal

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Mine was an old Corvair. Oh wait......this is about motorsickles... :wink:

But the stupid ones are the ones you owned and sold...oh for my G15 CSR....

I'm as guilty as anyone here, but.....