Triumph Tiger T110
 | |
| Manufacturer | Triumph |
|---|---|
| Production | 1953–1961 |
| Engine | 649 cc parallel twin OHV four-stroke |
| Transmission | 4 speed / chain |
| Wheelbase | 57 inches (140 cm) |
| Seat height | 31 inches (79 cm) |
| Weight | 420 lb (190 kg) (dry) |
| Fuel capacity | 4 imp gal (18 L; 4.8 US gal) |
| Fuel consumption | 70 mpg‑imp (4.0 L/100 km; 58 mpg‑US) at 60 mph (97 km/h) |
The Triumph Tiger 110 was a British sports motorcycle first made by Triumph at their Coventry factory between 1953 and 1961. Developed from the Triumph Thunderbird the T100 first appeared in 1954.[1] Although it was supposed to be the sports model of the Triumph range the Tiger 110 was fitted with the enclosed panels from the smaller twins in 1961 which earned it the nickname 'bathtub' and made it look outdated, so was replaced by the Triumph Bonneville.[2]
Development
The Triumph Tiger 110 650 cc OHV Twin was Triumph's fastest production motorcycle to date, developed for the American market which wanted a higher power output. The T100 first appeared in 1954. Originally produced with a cast iron cylinder block and head, this was quickly replaced with a light alloy cylinder head with special airways to improve cooling and austenitic iron valve seat inserts. The external oil fed pipes were also replaced with internal oilways via the pushrod tubes.[1]
The Triumph Tiger 100 was named because it was capable of 100 mph (160 km/h), so it was an obvious marketing idea to call the new bike the Tiger 110 - although technically the best one way speed obtained by The Motor Cycle magazine in tests was 109 mph (175 km/h) (with a strong tail wind) - but the speedometer was reading 114 mph (183 km/h), so there was a margin of error.[1]
By 1961, the Tiger 110 was being replaced by more modern models, such as the T120 and had acquired the enclosed panels from the Triumph Twenty One which were fashionable at the time but gained it the nickname of the 'bathtub'.[2]
World Speed Record
On 5 September 1962, at Bonneville Salt Flats American racer Bill Johnson secured the world land speed record on a heavily modified Triumph T110 with a top speed of 224.57 mph (361.41 km/h).[3] This success led to the development of the Tiger T110's successor - the Triumph Bonneville.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Currie, Bob (1980). Great British Motorcycles of the Fifties. Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd. ISBN 0 86363 010 3.
- ^ a b Bacon, Roy (1988). British Motorcycles of the 60's. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85648-1662.
- ^ "Two-wheeled Land Speed Record". Retrieved 2009-11-15.
- ^ Kemp, Andrew (2004). Classic British Bikes. Mirco. Bookmart Ltd. ISBN 1-86147-136-X.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)