1974 onward

POST 1974 DEVELOPMENTS

Nearly the end but not quite:

1983 saw the Meriden co-operative announce a twin carb short stroke version of the Bonnie. There is only one 600cc Daytona known to be assembled before Triumph went bankrupt.

1974 was the last model year of the Meriden Daytonas & very few were produced; it wasn't quite meant to be because the factory had the disc-braked T100D waiting in the wings. But the workers blockade would sound the death knell for this lovely little bike. The last Daytona was a T100D assembled in August 1973.

For the T100R the factory produced what it could with the parts around. So some special non-standard (but factory assembled) bikes hit the dealers; eg conical rear hub, crankcases with an extra bulge on the timing side. But generally the specification would be as 1973, with T140 style silencers & the argosy blue & ice white paintwork on the fuel tank.

Mid Season modifications:

Some TR5T Trophy Trail were converted to road specification: lower front mudguard, K70 rear tyre, Avon front tyre, sprocket change.

T100D DAYTONA WITH FRONT DISC BRAKE

The T100D looked aesthetically the same as the 1974 T100R but with the disc-brake front end from the T150 trident combining a frame change for the top head lug. However this was just one of a host of small but significant changes which included conical rear brake with changes to the swinging arm, new handlebars, new oil tank, change to the engine rocker feed system combined with the 750 twin oil pump & crankcase mods to accommodate, an option of 7.5:1 or 9:1 pistons, cylinder head with fin damping rubbers. Most of the part changes were intended to commonise with the bigger bikes so many parts from the 750s could be used as replacements. Unfortunately only a maximum of 27 T100D were assembled from a pre-production run (today nine (9) are known to survive).

Since production of the Daytona ceased only a few specialised upgrades have been produced specifically for these bikes, the after market dealers preferring to concentrate on the big bikes. Where parts are common then upgraded 650/750 parts can be fitted; in addition to the following:

• • Quaife 5 speed gearbox (unfortunately the kickstart has to be removed to accomodate this conversion).

  • Big-bore kit 512cc & 530cc: using T140 pistons

  • Aluminium alloy barrels: weightsaving mod developed for off-road variants & available from Avery Products of Eastleigh, Hampshire, UK

  • Mushroom head tappet adjusters which have their own unique thread to suit the C range rocker arms.