Were All The Original T100 Bonneville 790cc Bikes Made At Hinckley?

Discussion in 'Bonneville' started by MartyWilson, Jul 6, 2020.

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  1. MartyWilson

    MartyWilson Guest

    #1 MartyWilson, Jul 6, 2020
    Hi all,

    I have recently bought a used 2014 T100 Bonnie that I am waiting to be delivered but I am still interested in getting a real 'Made in Britain' or at least 'Assembled in Britain' one. I understand the 790cc models were originally built in the UK at least up until the fire in 2002. Did they continue to build them there (once the factory was rebuilt) or did they move production to Thailand? If they were produced both in the UK and Thailand how can you tell one from another?
     
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  2. joe mc donald

    joe mc donald Joe
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    #2 joe mc donald, Jul 6, 2020
    MartyWilson
    This was covered over the last year. And if memory serves me right. IT is the frame / vin number. Something like t is for Thailand and I can't remember what the UK was . Someone saner than i will step in soon to rescue you.
    Regards
    Joe.
     
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  3. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

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    #3 Callumity, Jul 6, 2020
    The 790s yes. My 2005 T100 - an early carbureted 865 was a late Hinckley model before Bonneville production fully switched. The ‘ordinary’ Bonnevilles were still 790. The VIN number 11th character identifies the assembly plant. Hinckley is/was J for Jackson (Road) the original factory address? I believe C is Chonburi Thailand.

    The specs tab gives you Year on Year variations
    https://www.triumphtwinpower.com/triumphbonnevillespecs.php

    https://riders.drivemag.com/features/triumph-motorcycles-thailand-factory-visit/
     
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  4. joe mc donald

    joe mc donald Joe
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    #4 joe mc donald, Jul 6, 2020
    MartyWilson
    See told you there would be a rescue party along soon. Thankyou Callumity
    Regards
    Joe.
     
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  5. JtC

    JtC Elite Member

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    #5 JtC, Jul 6, 2020
    Very interesting stuff! My '06 T100 has a "J" for the 11th character in the VIN. I guess that means I can brag that I have a genuine piece of British machinery!:cool:
     
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  6. joe mc donald

    joe mc donald Joe
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    #6 joe mc donald, Jul 6, 2020
    jtc
    We will get your passport sorted soon. True Brit in New Mexico.
    Regards
    Joe.
     
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  7. JtC

    JtC Elite Member

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    #7 JtC, Jul 6, 2020
    Thanks, Joe! I still hold out hope to spend some summer weeks in the Mother Land at least.
     
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  8. Adie P

    Adie P Crème de la Crème

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    #8 Adie P, Jul 6, 2020
    Wouldn't that be JACKNELL Road? That's the address of the first Hinckley factory, I think.
     
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  9. MartyWilson

    MartyWilson Guest

    #9 MartyWilson, Jul 6, 2020
    Thanks for the information, let's me know what I am looking for, should I decide to hunt one down.

    One more question though - They didn't come out of the factory with 'Made in England' on them then? The reason I ask is that there is one currently for sale on ebay at the moment, a 2001 790cc T100 in silver and what I believe is either Meriden Blue or a sort of Turquoise and it appears to have 'Made in England' engraved on the alloy part of the front forks.

    There is also another on there, if you like lucifer orange, which is, according to Wikipedia, a very rare member of a handful of 100th anniversay models that were made before the fire halted production in 2002.
     
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  10. MartyWilson

    MartyWilson Guest

    #10 MartyWilson, Jul 7, 2020
    @Callumity Would you say that the 865cc is better than the 790cc? I had thought that it was only the 790cc that was made at Hinckley. I see there is a black and red 2007 Bonnie for sale in Biggar (near you?) but I am guessing that that would be a Thai built machine.
     
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  11. Hobnail

    Hobnail Senior Member

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    #11 Hobnail, Jul 7, 2020
    Absolutely Fabulous. I score a "J" on my 2006 Bonnie. :):)
     
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  12. joe mc donald

    joe mc donald Joe
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    #12 joe mc donald, Jul 7, 2020
    MartyWilson
    No they didn't have made in England stamped on any of them. Someone has done that. The Lucifer orange is a rare model and if i were near it i would have to buy it. Just love the colour. My 10 plate 865 i love to bits. It is raspy and got character just like the older T140'S. But either bike is just as good and you don't really know the difference. Just over here in the UK the chrome wheels seem to suffer a little. And my Bonnie i put the made in England stickers on the frame like they did on the t140 and people still ask me how have you kept that Bonnie so clean after all these years. Do let us all know what you get.
    Regards
    Joe.
     
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  13. joe mc donald

    joe mc donald Joe
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    #13 joe mc donald, Jul 7, 2020
    JtC
    We will be waiting for you mate.
    Regards
    Joe.
     
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  14. MartyWilson

    MartyWilson Guest

    #14 MartyWilson, Jul 7, 2020
    I take it you have seen it on ebay then @joe mc donald ? I must admit that it is unusual with that orange and black saddle which, according to the seller, is original and it's only got 15k on the clock so not bad miles either. Afraid I don't like orange myself. I have tried and tried to make myself but, nope, no matter what, for some reason Orange just doesn't work for me. There is another one on fleabay as well in a rather fetching blue and white with read pinstripe that caught my eye but the listing says it is absolutely showroom quality immaculate where I am looking for one that's a little more 'lived in'. Immaculate scares me on an older and financially appreciating machine as it deters me from making it do what it's meant to.
     
  15. capt

    capt Elite Member

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    #15 capt, Jul 7, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2020
    The 790 & 865 machines both rated @ ~51 HP rear wheel. But cam profile difference's mean they make their power at different stages in the rpms
     
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  16. MartyWilson

    MartyWilson Guest

    #16 MartyWilson, Jul 10, 2020
    Hmmm, I'm confused, I am looking at a 2005 registered 790cc Carb'ed Bonnie in all over Goodwood green and it's frame number only has a number as the 11th character. It does have a 'J' at the start. It reads: SMTTJ and contains no 'C's at all. Is this a Hinckley model or a Thai one?
     
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  17. Bryn

    Bryn Well-Known Member

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    #17 Bryn, Jul 10, 2020
    Marty, my 2013 SE starts with SMTTJ and has GB in the middle of the numbers ;)
     
  18. MartyWilson

    MartyWilson Guest

    #18 MartyWilson, Jul 10, 2020
    Hmm this is rather frustrating, according to Callumity it's the 11th character that determines the factory where it was made so, if that's true what factory was '5'?
     
  19. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

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    #19 Callumity, Jul 10, 2020
    Jacknell not Jackson!
    This is how the VIN system works...... you could have more than one J. Goodwood Green was a standard but not wildly popular colour from 2005-2007 I believe.

    F55F82A5-D16F-4076-9830-EF529244AA36.png
     
  20. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

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    #20 Callumity, Jul 10, 2020
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