Triumph T140 TSX - Specification

Specification

Essentially a re-styled Triumph Bonneville, the 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-coated engine casings, black finished engine with polished fins, re-styled passenger grabrail, shortened front and rear painted mudguards, the latter having a black plastic mount for the vehicle numberplate, mirror-polished alloy, short megaphone exhausts, Morris alloy wheels (then made by Performance Machine) and 'retro' stick on graphics. 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. Chromed Lucas turn indicators returned in place of the black plastic ULO items that had replaced them on other Triumph models from 1981. 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 pedal was only an optional extra on the production TSX. The standard TSX engine was a T140ES (electric start) 748 cc 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 chainguard. The TSX fuel tank was a unique design for the model having only one Paioli 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.

Fewer than 300 were produced and production ended with the demise of Triumph at Meriden in 1983. The factory, upon request, produced TSX with a pre-1975 right foot gear change/ left foot rear brake assembly and an example of this can be seen at the London Motorcycle Museum. The TSX illustrated is from the UK National Motorcycle Museum.