This really nice looking 1977 Triumph Bonneville hasn’t been restored. In fact, it is brand new and is a Silver Jubilee edition 750 with only two miles on the odometer (which the seller describes as “push miles”). It spent its life at a dealership in the Northeast and is now located in a private collection in South Carolina. It can be found for sale here on eBay with a current bid of over $10,000. Aside from one small ding on the gas tank, this is an amazing survivor! Have a look at this brand new 43-year-old bike.
According to classic-british-motorcycles.com, the “Silver Jubilee” edition of the Bonneville 750 was created to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. The bikes were officially called the T140LE Bonneville Silver Jubilee Edition but were essentially T140’s that had cosmetic differences. As you can see, this one says “One of a Thousand” which means it was part of the initial 1,000-unit run. The bike was so popular that Triumph ended up making an additional 1,400 which were mostly made for the U.S. market and were marked as “Limited Edition.” If you have any questions about the authenticity, the seller also has the original Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin documentation.
The power plant for the Jubilee edition was the same as the standard 750 Bonneville but it featured chromed primary, timing, and gearbox covers. It is an air-cooled over-head-valve vertical twin measuring 744cc with a 5-speed constant-mesh clutch with a left-foot shifter. According to Classic-British-Motorcycles.com, the only real mechanical enhancement to the bike was the addition of Girling’s new “Upside-Down Shocks” with exposed springs.
As part of the cosmetic enhancements, the Silver Jubilee was given a special blue over silver paint job with red stripes and yellow pinstriping. The seat was upholstered in dark blue vinyl with red piping and the color combination was meant to pay homage to the British flag. As you can see, the only blemish on this bike is a small ding on the gas tank.
One of these bikes sold at Mecum Las Vegas 2019 and brought a winning bid of $11,000 with the buyer’s premium included. I’m guessing that one was probably restored so I don’t know how that would impact the value compared to this one. Overall, it seems like a nice collector to hold on to. What do you think?
Fantastic find. Looking at it, no doubt the real deal. They only looked like this once. No blue pipes, no oil leaks, it’s new alright. Sorry ladies ( or girly men) this a mans bike. You better know what a “tickler” is, or it will never start and not THAT kind of tickler either. They switched to left shift/right rear brake, which is a plus, but make no mistake, these are a handful. Not the fastest 750 (Kawasaki has those honors) but a better handling, fun bike, I doubt you’ll find. Up to $12g’s, IDK, something like this sitting that long must have motor issues. Why didn’t I buy one in the 80’s when nobody wanted them. Some cool people rode Triumphs. Marlon Brando, The Fonz, and Bob Dylan, to name a few. Very cool find.
If they handle well and have about as much power as a modern city bike, what made them a handful?
Weak brakes and frame flex
I’m not being a wise guy but you had to ride them and own for several years before you realized what a handful they were. You paid for that power and superb handling with constant and meticulous maintenance.
I had a 64 650, and have enjoyed Triumph’s since the early seventies. They truly handle better than most are prepared to deal with, and will get one in trouble if pushed beyond one’s experience. I do find them most forgiving, especially with the double disc brakes that replaced my good, but no where near as powerful drum brakes. I am currently looking at a very similar bike to this, hoping to buy. I really enjoyed my sixty four, it took me everywhere I wanted to go, well, easily. Good tires will keep most people out of trouble, and in real pleasure. Thanks for showcasing this one.
And the King of them all, Steve McQueen.
Darn! A real “Mans Bike” with a tickler no less. Have always heard about them. Now I know. Thanks for the info..
These were great bikes? For the first time Triumph actually got serious and took the shake out of their bikes. I took a friend’s bike for a ride and couldn’t believe the difference between a ‘69 Bonnie and a ‘79 model. Power was good and the handling as good as ever. Loved it.
Guy across the alley from my folks always had bikes. Started with a Honda 65, a Honda 305 Scrambler ( yep, it was yellow), then got a 650 BSA Lightning ( single carb) That was my 1st introduction to “Limey’s”. That bike leaked and shook but was so modern compared to my Honda 50. That guy traded the Beezer for a Kawasaki 500 Triple. Talk about an about face.
Had a 1956 650 Lighting in the late 60s, had dual carbs, that was a super powerhouse used to drag race at Orangeburg & Blaney now Elgin SC tracks.
Honda never made a yellow 305 Scrambler so if it was yellow it was painted. And the Lightning was twin carburetors. Thunderbolt was the single carb BSA 650.
Yeah, trading a BSA for a Kamakazi would definitely give you a rude awakening. I know a couple of guys who got those 500 Triples. One guy got showing off and shotgunned his bike right into the side of the local judge’s new Cadillac. His bike stopped but the guy kept on going for another 20 yards or so. The 500’s frame was bent and caved in completely flat; the engine cases were busted–a total write-off. The other guy didn’t keep his very long. He was soon riding a Norton Commando R which he rode for the next 20 years or so.
A Lightning with a single carb? I’m not going to argue with you because I met a guy riding a BSA Royal Star with a twin carb setup, and until then the only 500 I saw with twin carbs was the Wasp. There was a lot of interchanging going on with BSA because it seemed more standardized…
My friend had a 750 Bonneville, I think it was a 77.
Sometime around 88′ we came across one if those Honda frames that had been modified into a chopper
He bought it for a$100 and 2 days later we transplanted everything off the Bonny onto that frame. 3 of us started at 6pm and finished around 4am
A cool looking bike with the stacked rectangle headlights and the 2 level seat with a gothic sissy bar and best of all , that 750 Triumph motor.
Nice bikes
My friend bought one of these used in the early 80s, for a very fair price. He may still have it.
This was right after he first tried to buy a used Norton Commando, also private sale. A beauty, too but unfortunately, the “owner” couldn’t find the title, or the registration.
“750 with only two miles on the odometer (which the seller describes as “push miles”).”
Ah, the good old British push miles. “For sale: 1979 Triumph with 4,300 miles; 50/50 highway/push.”
@Howard A I know lots of women who ride early motorcycles. Any bike like this that has been sitting has numerous issues. Seals dry, clutch is stuck. Cylinders may be rusted too. I bought a Norton that was new one time. Numerous issues. Note too that the clear coat has crazed and turned a brownish hue.
The seller is probably the same guy I sold my ’83 Triumph TSX to back in the late 1990s to. Don’t recall his name but he was in South Carolina and had a Brit bike museum so I’ll assume it’s the same guy who is selling this Bonney.
Only 371 ’83 TSXs were made; 200 shipped to the US with 100 remaining in the UK and 71 to the rest of the world. Mine was purchased in the UK by a US serviceman and shipped to the US and ridden only once. It had 11 original miles on it. I never rode it so it had the same 11 original miles on it when I sold it. I got good money for it at the time though I’m sure it’s worth more now. It was a beauty; red with yellow striping, mag-style wheels, trumpet exhausts and nice chrome bits. Triumph went under in ’83 as their somewhat dated bikes couldn’t compete with the better offerings from Japan. I trailered mine to shows and won my fair share of trophies with it and lots of Brit bike fans enjoyed seeing it.
@ Kelly g This thing has disc brakes front and rear . Weak? A friend of mine road raced one of these in AHRMA and there was no frame flex.Personal experience?
Yes i have ridden the 750 triumph. Certainly adequate for the time but im comparing to even an el cheapo modern bike. Any race prepped triumph from back in the day would have had vastly improved brakes over stock and a heavily gusseted frame tho.
Sorry to be a touch pedantic ..but it’s new, not brand new. There are not degrees of new.
I’m spoiled for twins; my first big bike was a Laverda 750SF so the 750 Triumphs always seem agricultural an vibratory in comparison. The current one’s a bevel Ducati.
Howard we finally agree, THANKS, I rode a 650 Bonneville…Joe
Nice bike. What gets me is they put new stripes on it,but never attempted to touch up the chipped off paint. If they had took their time . It could have been corrected. Its a nice bike. In 77 I started to buy a new one in Norfolk,but word came down. The navy found a bunch of 45 Harleys still in crates and we were asked if anyone was interested. I put in for 4. Each one for my dad,2 brothers and muself. About 6 months later word came down.They military personal could buy them. Talk about getting mad.Waited all that time and we were denied. Plus they were asking $150 each.
I have heard the “military bikes in cosmolene” story many times and no one I know has ever seen one. There is a supply depot in Columbus, OH, that allegedly had a bunch that were coming up for auction. Never happened. When I lived in Seattle years later, the inventory guy for the company told me a similar story and insisted it was true. Never seen one in real life or even a credible picture.
Push miles- a testament to British engineering.
At least British vehicles get miles per gallon and not gallons per mile.
Hard to believe any Bonneville ever came with apehangers on it. Easily swapped out, of course.
Yes, I know. All a matter of perspective…
I rode my ’67 Tiger from Windsor, Colorado to northern Illinois through some rain and eleven hours of distracting rising/morning sunlight and fourteen hours of noticeable noon/afternoon sunlight. For being a power plant mechanic, I didn’t notice any vibration or unusual amount of heat thrown off of the 650.
Woowee is Nebraska a long west-to-east state!
SOLD for $12,099.
Who is the idiot that put a ding in the gas tank in just two miles.. wow
Just sold for $12,099.00 on fleaBay.
I bought a “lightly used” ’73 Bonneville back in the ’80s and it was a good honest bike: nothing special either in the power or handling department. I had previously owned a ’68 Triumph Daytona and the Bonneville and I will say it was quite an improvement on that. The Bonneville was stolen and I had the chance to buy a brand new Jubilee Bonneville (as pictured) for $3,000 but passed on it in favor of a 750-4 Honda. I can’t say that I loved the ’70s Bonneville. Despite the improvements, they lacked the character of the ’60s models.
Frame flexing and the Triumph wobble belonged to the duplex frame 650 pre unit twins very early ‘60s. I know – I had a couple here in UK – great bikes all the same. More character & feel than the later unit motor ‘66 Bonneville I restored in ‘89. I looked at a’77 Jubilee model in a Manchester dealers when new – didn’t like the lines / look compared to the earlier Bonnies.
@MikeC. My first proper motorcycle was a 1956 Triumph Tiger 110 back in late 1957 when I was 18 years old, and it was like riding a bike with a universal joint in the middle when trying to negotiate fast, tight, corners, however, once I was used to it then it never concerned me. I then bought a much better condition, very low mileage, 1958 Tiger 110 and it was just the same. I loved both of them and later this year I hope to source another 1956/7 Tiger 110 and go out as I started all those years ago.
Yes guys I own # 264 of a 1000 I have 10thousand miles on mine and enjoy every mile. Yes you better know what a tickler is to start one. But guys this bike rides very well. And being an old Texan who mother is a britsh war bride. I am very proud to ride it