My bike, Trevor, is a 1959 model, 6T Thunderbird 650 and was 60 years old on Saturday 27th October 2018. The new model year started in August of the year before, to coincide with the Earls Court Motorcycle Show in London. I had bought a certificate from the Vintage MotorCycle Club in England, to guarantee it's provenance. They hold copies of all the British motorcycle factory records, so the date is exactly correct.
Frame 021714, Engine 6T 021714 and Gearbox 104219. The three are still together 60 years later.
Many other parts have changed, after having broken or just worn out. I have changed both wheel hubs and rims, barrel and cylinder head, gearbox cluster, nacelle, forks, seat and many more.
I have owned the bike for the last 25 years and it won't be sold in my lifetime.
After the bike was built, 4 days later it was shipped to Williams brothers in Bangkok. This must have been a major dealer in the late fifties. There is an original 1959 T120 Bonneville 650 in Isaan, that was also shipped from the Triumph factory to Williams Brothers, in February 1959.
So, for my bike's birthday, Memsahib and I were going for a ride with the Chiang Rai Triumph Club. We rode down to the super new Triumph showroom on the south side of the city.
It's a huge facility and they always have about 30 new bikes for sale. Plus an extensive workshop area at the back.
The new T120s are a superb bike in the traditional style, with the 1200cc engine.
The Thruxton R's look the dog's bollow's too.
Nigel from Chiang Kham was there on his Street Twin, but he is also considering buying a Bobber as well. Here trying the Speedmaster with his son.
The T100s are the traditional style too, with the 900cc engine.
The showroom manager asked me to bring my bike inside the showroom. Luckily it didn't drip too much oil....
Of course I had to wear the "Spirit of '59" T shirt they had given me earlier.
They had provided drinks, pizza and chips for all going on the ride that day.
Then to my surprise, Khun Kay, the Triumph Showroom manager, produced a birthday cake for my bike!!
How very kind of them indeed..
They are super guys in there and have a fantastic showroom full of quality bikes and top quality accessories.
I may have to buy a Bell helmet there, when my old Davida finally dies.
"Happy 60th Anniversary" for the "Triumph Man" from "Triumph" "Chiang Rai".
Even the cake bike looked like a '61 Bonnie. This whole cake is edible.
Wow, someone went to a lot of work to make that.
We shared the cake around, but I couldn't bring myself to eat the bike, even though it was made of sugar... Fantastic.
Then after a briefing, we rode off in in a very organised convoy. We had a lead rider on a Tiger, another rider on a Tiger was the marshall, another rider as sweep at the back and a support truck. It was all being filmed and I expect they will put a movie on the Triumph Chiang Rai Facebook page, at some stage.
We passed Singha Park on the 1211 and then turned off west at Huai San on the shortcut and newly surfaced road to Doi Chang.
Briefly parked up before doing the water crossing, prior to heading up the mountain.
After the steep road up, you pass over the mountain and then steep drop down the other side into Doi Chang itself.
With the wife on the back, my old bike was on it's limit of power going up and braking limit going down.
We passed the Doi Chang coffee factory and rode on a couple of klms further, to a new coffee shop restaurant.
It was perfect, exactly what my bike wanted for it's birthday. A ride with a group of other Triumphs.
Even though my bike was older than the other 8 bikes all put together. Let's hope they all last as long!
These guys have a great scene going on and do group rides most Saturdays and Sundays.
After coffee, the group was going to ride the 3037 south down to Mae Suai and back to Chiang Rai. They were also going to the big Muay Thai Fight Club night in the city.
Madam and I decided to head west across to Huay Krai on the 3037 and then north up through Wawi to Thaton, then east through Mae Chan and home.
On the road to Wawi, fantastic views all around that area.
So, what a great day, the old bike performed faultlessly for it's birthday and everyone was happy.
Frame 021714, Engine 6T 021714 and Gearbox 104219. The three are still together 60 years later.
Many other parts have changed, after having broken or just worn out. I have changed both wheel hubs and rims, barrel and cylinder head, gearbox cluster, nacelle, forks, seat and many more.
I have owned the bike for the last 25 years and it won't be sold in my lifetime.
After the bike was built, 4 days later it was shipped to Williams brothers in Bangkok. This must have been a major dealer in the late fifties. There is an original 1959 T120 Bonneville 650 in Isaan, that was also shipped from the Triumph factory to Williams Brothers, in February 1959.
So, for my bike's birthday, Memsahib and I were going for a ride with the Chiang Rai Triumph Club. We rode down to the super new Triumph showroom on the south side of the city.
It's a huge facility and they always have about 30 new bikes for sale. Plus an extensive workshop area at the back.
The new T120s are a superb bike in the traditional style, with the 1200cc engine.
The Thruxton R's look the dog's bollow's too.
Nigel from Chiang Kham was there on his Street Twin, but he is also considering buying a Bobber as well. Here trying the Speedmaster with his son.
The T100s are the traditional style too, with the 900cc engine.
The showroom manager asked me to bring my bike inside the showroom. Luckily it didn't drip too much oil....
Of course I had to wear the "Spirit of '59" T shirt they had given me earlier.
They had provided drinks, pizza and chips for all going on the ride that day.
Then to my surprise, Khun Kay, the Triumph Showroom manager, produced a birthday cake for my bike!!
How very kind of them indeed..
They are super guys in there and have a fantastic showroom full of quality bikes and top quality accessories.
I may have to buy a Bell helmet there, when my old Davida finally dies.
"Happy 60th Anniversary" for the "Triumph Man" from "Triumph" "Chiang Rai".
Even the cake bike looked like a '61 Bonnie. This whole cake is edible.
Wow, someone went to a lot of work to make that.
We shared the cake around, but I couldn't bring myself to eat the bike, even though it was made of sugar... Fantastic.
Then after a briefing, we rode off in in a very organised convoy. We had a lead rider on a Tiger, another rider on a Tiger was the marshall, another rider as sweep at the back and a support truck. It was all being filmed and I expect they will put a movie on the Triumph Chiang Rai Facebook page, at some stage.
We passed Singha Park on the 1211 and then turned off west at Huai San on the shortcut and newly surfaced road to Doi Chang.
Briefly parked up before doing the water crossing, prior to heading up the mountain.
After the steep road up, you pass over the mountain and then steep drop down the other side into Doi Chang itself.
With the wife on the back, my old bike was on it's limit of power going up and braking limit going down.
We passed the Doi Chang coffee factory and rode on a couple of klms further, to a new coffee shop restaurant.
It was perfect, exactly what my bike wanted for it's birthday. A ride with a group of other Triumphs.
Even though my bike was older than the other 8 bikes all put together. Let's hope they all last as long!
These guys have a great scene going on and do group rides most Saturdays and Sundays.
After coffee, the group was going to ride the 3037 south down to Mae Suai and back to Chiang Rai. They were also going to the big Muay Thai Fight Club night in the city.
Madam and I decided to head west across to Huay Krai on the 3037 and then north up through Wawi to Thaton, then east through Mae Chan and home.
On the road to Wawi, fantastic views all around that area.
So, what a great day, the old bike performed faultlessly for it's birthday and everyone was happy.
