Triumph T140 TSX
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| Manufacturer | Triumph Engineering |
|---|---|
| Production | 1982–1983 |
| Engine | 748 cc (45.6 cu in) air cooled four stroke, parallel twin, two valves per cylinder |
| Power | 48.6 hp (36.2 kW) @ 6,500 rpm |
| Transmission | 5-speed to chain final drive |
| Fuel capacity | 10.5 litres (2.3 imp gal; 2.8 US gal) |
The Triumph TSX was a British motorcycle credited by the factory as being designed in 1981–1982 by Triumph Motorcycles America (TMA), the factory's American arm. Steve Wilson's British Motorcycles Since 1950 and Lindsay Brooke and David Gaylin's Triumph Motorcycles In America specifically credit Wayne Moulton, TMA's president, as the designer as he was responsible for the earlier, successful and similarly styled 'LTD' series of motorcycles for his previous employers, Kawasaki. But factory correspondence shows Brenda Price, Moulton's predecessor, had earlier persuaded Brian Jones, Meriden's engineering director, to come up with a low rider-styled Triumph for the USA market, her having observed their US dealers' success at independently marketing such models. John Barclay of the factory had earlier designed a prototype low rider, the Phoenix, exhibited on the factory stand at the 1980 London Earls Court motorcycle show. This model with its rectangular headlamp and unusual instrument console was not produced.
Essentially a re-styled Triumph Bonneville, the "West Coast" styled TSX was distinguished by its lowered chassis and 16-inch-diameter (410 mm) rear wheel with the engine off-set in the frame to accommodate this. Other changes, whilst unique to the model, were cosmetic including stepped seat, black finished engine with polished fins, re-styled passenger grabrail, shortened front and rear painted mudguards, the latter having a black plastic extension for the larger UK vehicle numberplate, chromed shorty megaphone exhausts with the crossover pipe hidden between them under the bike and flowing thru 1.75" pipes, Morris alloy wheels (then made by Performance Machine) and 'retro' stick on graphics outlined in the usual gold hand pinstriping. Paioli rear suspension units, with plastic top shrouds, were sited at a more acute angle further back on the swinging arm to lower the seat height. A slightly lower rise and wider USA style handlebar was fitted and chromed Lucas turn indicators returned in place of the black plastic ULO items that had replaced them on other Triumph models from 1981. A chromed wire mounted Lucas headlamp with sealed beam was changed to the Lucas H4 early in the production run. A Brembo rear brake master cylinder was fitted in place of the usual Automotive Products (AP) Lockheed item which remained for the front, as well as supplying both calipers. Dual front discs were an option. Whilst the 1982–1983 brochure showed Goodyear Eagle tyres fitted, an Avon Roadrunner rear and Speedmaster front tyre went on production models, the tyres' lettering picked out in white. Although the German magazine Motorad road-tested a kick start-only version, the kickstart was an optional extra on the production TSX. The standard TSX engine was a T140ES (electric start) 748 cc (45.6 cu in) with two 32-mm Bing carburettors and electronic ignition. The engine was offset to accommodate the fatter rear tyre within the frame which also necessitated a unique swingarm and abbreviated chromed chainguard. The engine also benefitted from an updated crank with more careful machining; the result being greatly reduced vibration. The TSX fuel tank was a unique design for the model having only one Paioli left hand petrol tap situated ahead to accommodate the larger Bing carburettors. This tank also had a centralised filler hole with optional locking cap and a balance pipe situated on the front of the tank's underside.
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