1972 Triumph 649cc T120V Bonneville
Registration no. YOD 145K
Frame no. T120V DG53915
Engine no. T120V DG53915

Along with BSA-Triumph's other 650cc twins, the Bonneville was re-launched for 1971 with the new oil-carrying frame. Despite its fine handling qualities, the chassis ran into immediate criticism because of its tall seat height and was revised three times before a lower version was standardised for 1972 along with a thinner seat. The costs of the new models' botched introduction placed the entire BSA-Triumph Group in severe financial difficulty, and the proposed closure of Triumph's Meriden factory led to a workers' occupation of the plant in September 1973. By this time the arrival of the 750cc T140 Bonneville had signalled that the 650's days were numbered, and the workers' occupation effectively sealed its fate. One of the final improvements made to the 650 Bonnie prior to its deletion was the introduction of a five-speed gearbox, which this example has. Sold new abroad, the machine was first registered in the UK in September 1989 and was acquired by the vendor the following month. Kept in dry storage for several years, it will require re-commissioning before further use. The machine comes with an old-style V5 registration document and is sold strictly as viewed. No reserve.