Triumph T120 Bonneville

Make Model	Triumph T120R Bonneville 650
Year	1969
Engine	Four stroke, parallel twin, OHV
Capacity	649 cc / 39.6 cu in
Bore x Stroke	71 x 82 mm
Compression Ratio	8.5:1
Cooling System	Air cooled
Induction	2 x Amal 1 - 1/6" carburetors
Ignition	Lucas MA6 alternator with 2 coils
Starting	Kick
Max Power	34 kW / 46 hp @ 6500 rpm
Clutch	Wet, multiplate
Transmission	4 Speed, constant mesh
Final Drive	Chain, 106 links
Gear Ratios	1st 11.80 / 2nd 8.17 / 3rd 6.76 / 4th 5.84:1
Frame	Single front downtube, second bracing member running under tank
Steering Angle	65^o
Front Suspension	Telescopic forks, hydraulic damping
Rear Suspension	Swingarm, twin Girling dampers
Front Brakes	8" SLS drum
Rear Brakes	7" SLS drum
Front Tyre	3.25 x 19, Dunlop Universal
Rear Tyre	4.00 x 18, Dunlop Universal
Dimensions	Length 2020 mm / 85.5 in Width 720 mm / 28.5 in
Wheelbase	1403 mm / 55.2 in
Seat Height	775 mm / 30.5 in
Ground Clearance	127 mm / 5.0 in
Dry Weight	165 kg / 363 lbs
Fuel Capacity	US: 13.6 Litres / 3.6 US gal other Export: 18 Litres / 4.8 US gal

In 1937 Triumph announced a new bike that took the world by storm. Designed by the famed Edward Turner, the 500cc vertical-twinTriumph Speed Twin was so successful that it set a fashion that was quickly followed by all the other major British manufacturers.

Grand Prix Victory
In 1940 during World War 11, the Triumph factory in Coventry was blitzed. Production shifted to a new factory at Meriden, the geographical center of England, where military engines with silicon-aluminum cylinder and head based on the Speed Twin were built Postwar, a Tiger 100 vertical twin with this design won the 1946 Manx Grand Prix. By 1949, British bikes were becoming popular in the United States, and a special American-market Triumph twin, the 650cc Thunderbird, went into production. Triumph became part of the BSA group in 1951.

World Speed Record Breaker
The Triumph twin enjoyed remarkable sport in success and set world speed records on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. In 1955, Triumph power set a speed record of 193 mph and in 1962 raised the record to almost 225-mph. Though the record-breaker was a cigar-shaped projectile on two wheels, from then on Triumph named all of its twin-carburetor sports bikes "Bonneville" to commemorate the event. The BSA group collapsed in 1973 and Triumph merged with Norton-Villiers.

Source bikerenews.com