Honda-SOHC

SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB500/550 => Topic started by: florence on June 10, 2019, 03:44:44 PM

Title: Part exchange
Post by: florence on June 10, 2019, 03:44:44 PM: I am going to look at a 1970 Triumph Trophy TR6R with a view to a possible part exchange for my CB500. Just wanted to canvass opinion about how much I should hold out for for the Honda. My bike is untidy but in good order and well maintained with MOTs going back to 1995 and lowish mileage. I know it won't be top dollar but at the same time I'm not really up to date with bike prices.
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: Woodside on June 10, 2019, 05:44:16 PM: Any pics of the bike...original pipes?
You don't get much sohc honda for 2000 any more....especially if it's running ok
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: Moorey on June 10, 2019, 07:00:06 PM: You don't get much Triumph Trophy either for £2000. :)
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: Bryanj on June 10, 2019, 09:10:14 PM: You dont get any Triumph for 2000!
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: florence on June 11, 2019, 09:31:14 AM: The Triumph is 5900.

My bike does not have original pipes, it has a 1980's Laser pipe. I have the tank badges and original handlebars somewhere.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1970-TRIUMPH-TROPHY-TR6R-VERY-ORIGINAL-MATCHING-NUMBERS-DELIVERY-AVAILABLE/254196605628?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908103841%26meid%3Deae6936ffa9743fa9f62743a5b21b524%26pid%3D100227%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D4%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D113266727496%26itm%3D254196605628&_trksid=p2054502.c100227.m3827
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: Trigger on June 11, 2019, 09:44:53 AM: Why would you want a Triumph when, you have a Honda. You know your Honda and you know it is reliable. So, why take the risk on a unreliable British bike :o
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: florence on June 11, 2019, 09:57:46 AM: It's a fair point, heart ruling head I think. I've always wanted a Triumph and I can't afford both.
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: K2-K6 on June 11, 2019, 10:43:10 AM: The description is funny, "runs with no unexpected rattles or smoke" which coukd mean it has all of those going on ;D

Artiistic use of "unexpected " there. ;D
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: philward on June 11, 2019, 01:32:38 PM: Quote from: florence on June 11, 2019, 09:57:46 AM
It's a fair point, heart ruling head I think. I've always wanted a Triumph and I can't afford both.

Its a funny thing this 'heart ruling head' thing - but its a 70's (which means 40's!) Triumph so I fear 'you'll be sorrrrrrrry!'
Seriously though good luck
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: taysidedragon on June 11, 2019, 04:23:01 PM: Quote from: philward on June 11, 2019, 01:32:38 PM
Quote from: florence on June 11, 2019, 09:57:46 AM
It's a fair point, heart ruling head I think. I've always wanted a Triumph and I can't afford both.

Its a funny thing this 'heart ruling head' thing - but its a 70's (which means 40's!) Triumph so I fear 'you'll be sorrrrrrrry!'
Seriously though good luck

Hondas are definitely better engineered than old Triumphs from that time, but they're not that bad. I'll have another one when I get the chance.
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: Rob62 on June 11, 2019, 08:08:03 PM: I quite like Triumphs too, but not the old ones.... i suspect you will need to be a spanner enthusiast to keep it running (or get it running) properly. If I was spending that amount I would have one of these instead.... very nice!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Street-Twin-Low-Mileage/352410276345?hash=item520d4a11f9:g:p84AAOSw5XhbUgKL (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Street-Twin-Low-Mileage/352410276345?hash=item520d4a11f9:g:p84AAOSw5XhbUgKL)
Can vouch for this dealer too, i once bought a nice Honda off him for a great price! Good luck either way!!
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: K2-K6 on June 11, 2019, 08:28:57 PM: That one above appears a better proposition if you are not intending to get mechanically into an older example.

The originals are quite a simple bike really, but like anything of age, they can make strong demands on skill and knowledge to look after.

A friend along with his two brothers are all deeply into original Triumph bikes, undoubtedly very nice bikes, but they've been built like many of the SOHC bikes on here. They run and sound really sweet but that's backed by almost molecular level of knowledge and skill in putting them together. That's never going to come at low cost.

It's mostly about what you are prepared to take on over a longer ownership I guess.
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: Bryanj on June 11, 2019, 08:30:55 PM: OK, you will need a completely new set of tools both af and whitworth plus specials you cannot do without.
Unless its been done will need rebore and valve guides plus cronk out and sludge trap cleaned. Electrics are by St Joseph Lucas prince of darkness and brakes will stop you eventually.
Need regular maintainance every 1500 miles and if you get the points gap wrong by approx 4 thou you will hole a piston.

In the 70's worked for a dealer who sold lots of Meriden T140 and spent lots of time on them, a lot less time spent on the japanese stuff!
Nice to have as a toy and use occaisionaly but NOT as a daily driver in todays world!!

This is all just MY opinion built up from too many years in the trade.
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: Moorey on June 11, 2019, 08:35:44 PM: I had a 650 Saint back in the 70s . When I got it I thought great this is the job. 3 weeks later I sold it and went back to my trusty CD175 because the Triumph was just shite. Don't do it. It might not be so bad if you knew the bike and owner.
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: Nurse Julie on June 11, 2019, 08:50:41 PM: I love a 1960/70's Brit bike and have owned many. I won't hear a word said against them....you go for it Florence 👍👍👍
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: SumpMagnet on June 11, 2019, 10:32:01 PM: 6K for that....er..... I wouldn't.

Probably going to soak up another 4K by the time you have overhauled the motor and fixed all the worn out stuff.

My Dad is hte Triumph expert, and he has no love for the 70's and later stuff. The build quality was slumping, and the engines were overstretched. In it's favour, this looks like the final year before the oil in frame abomination came along in 71. Having ridden these things, the brakes were scary. The earlier SLS drums were weedy...but the TLS setup was snatchy as hell and seemed to be either full on ...or not on. I prefered the SLS, as at least it had some feel to it!

The forks probably need a rebuild, as the oil needs regular changing...and never gets it.

Going to need a lot of love...and for the money... I reckon there are better options out there
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: taysidedragon on June 12, 2019, 12:05:51 AM: Quote from: Nurse Julie on June 11, 2019, 08:50:41 PM
I love a 1960/70's Brit bike and have owned many. I won't hear a word said against them....you go for it Florence 👍👍👍

That's my girl! 😁
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: royhall on June 12, 2019, 07:44:33 AM: A lot of Triumph scare stories on here? As with any bike (Honda's included), if you buy a poorly maintained sack of shite what you get is an unreliable poor running sack of shite. Most (all) Triumph issues have been resolved over the past 50 years, and spares availability is fantastic. As with any make just make sure it runs spot on before you buy it, unless it's a project for rebuild. The TLS front brake requires very careful setup for which there is a procedure, get it wrong and it snatches badly. Contact MCTID on here he's the Triumph man, he could probably sell you a full bike in parts.

The dealer in question I don't know but I would question what he says. He is also selling a Triumph Tiger 100SS that clearly has a 5TA engine fitted. The only mention of this is "non matching numbers", 65 bike with a 59 to 62 engine? The 650 would have to be running fantastic to be worth 6k as it's a Tiger not a Bonneville, and it's not cosmetically good. Be careful and good luck with the purchase.
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: paulbaker1954 on June 12, 2019, 10:30:20 AM: Why not go really daft HA HA

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1972-Norton-Commando-750-Classic-Vintage-Not-Used-Since-2007-Clean-Tidy-Bike/133079075659?hash=item1efc218b4b:g:b6wAAOSwFKdc~PKQ (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1972-Norton-Commando-750-Classic-Vintage-Not-Used-Since-2007-Clean-Tidy-Bike/133079075659?hash=item1efc218b4b:g:b6wAAOSwFKdc~PKQ)
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: adespin on June 12, 2019, 10:37:01 AM: For that money why not go for something new, you can have one of these for £5500 and comes with a three year warranty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-rpySNs6m4&t=20s
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: royhall on June 12, 2019, 10:38:19 AM: Have you seen the Enfield in the flesh? Horrible.

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Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: adespin on June 12, 2019, 11:11:21 AM: That's a sweeping statement, can you elaborate ?
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: royhall on June 12, 2019, 11:30:31 AM: Big fat round bulbous thing. Probably appeals to quite a few due to the price. Not me I'm afraid, the thing is way too ugly.

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Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: adespin on June 12, 2019, 12:42:01 PM: As they say, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", or "one man's meat is another man's poison" ;), the looks of the Interceptor is right up my street.
I wonder what florence thinks.
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: Rob62 on June 12, 2019, 01:25:50 PM: I don't have anything against the RE but I think a nearly new low mileage Triumph twin is a better buy... a quality machine, better value for money. Each to his or her own though, life would be boring if we all owned the same bike..
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: matthewmosse on June 12, 2019, 03:02:03 PM: I have never owned a triumph so wont pretend to know a lot about them, but put it this way, the Honda sohc bikes and fellow rivals from Japan all but wiped out the British bike industry with their arrival. Classic British bikes, used cost more than equivalent Honda for equivalent age and condition. Theres probably a reason why that happend - my own theory is that as a Sunday toy to nip out to the pub an old brit bikes a fine thing, but to use more often the old CB is going to be better and cheaper. I have the 4x4 equivalent of a triumph, a series 2 landrover from 1960, it replaced a Daihasu fortrack that was a right dog of a machine, much abused in the past, the s2 may be older but had a much easier life - the ideal barn find with low milage and 2 previous keepers. Even so I reacon the Daihatsu had the edge as a reliable every day commuter or workhorse. Depends on what you want from the vehicle. There are definite benefits to Hondas advanced desighn for its day, yet it's a credible classic too. My ultimate workhorse bike would probably be the ntv 650 though, still old enough for classic insurance but can withstand epic neglect and cheap to buy, also a really competent, fun machine. Ideally I would have one of each, including the Triumph but value for money wise I am afraid it loses out to a cb500/4 every time.
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: SteveD CB500K0 on June 12, 2019, 03:37:31 PM: Quote from: Rob62 on June 12, 2019, 01:25:50 PM
life would be boring if we all owned the same bike..

Most of us on here do own the same bike

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Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: Rob62 on June 12, 2019, 09:40:35 PM: Same make... ;)
Title: Re: Part exchange
Post by: florence on June 13, 2019, 10:51:38 AM: Quote from: adespin on June 12, 2019, 12:42:01 PM
As they say, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", or "one man's meat is another man's poison" ;), the looks of the Interceptor is right up my street.
I wonder what florence thinks.

I think they look very good and interesting. Not for me though, the newest bike I've ever ridden was made in 1978! I have also heard of some build issues with RE.

I think I will go and look at the overpriced Triumph and then look at others for comparison.

It is definitely not sensible to buy an old British bike but then having a motorcycle at all is not particularly sensible but great fun.