Triumph T140 Bonneville - Isle of Lewis

Tim's Triumph T140 Bonneville, which he has owned and ridden for 40 years, at the Butt of Lewis lighthouse, the most northerly point of the Outer Hebrides. Where he rode it round the north coast and western isles in August 2023.

The Malone family MSS

The story begins with Jim Malone, father of 12 year old, at the time, Willie Malone, paying a visit to the Ulster Grand Prix in 1967 renewing his interest in motorcycle sport and motorcycles in general. He had been a very keen motorcyclist in his teenage years latterly running a BSA Star twin which was a particular favourite although he did at one time own an ex-USA Military Police Indian Chief during his Army National Service.

Upon his return from Ireland, the stories of the time spent at the races were of the great excitement at the speeds achieved and more importantly the great rivalry between a certain Giacomo Agostini and Mike Hailwood in the 500cc race.

So all this talk and renewed interest in bikes led to the kind of discussions with friends that leads to someone mentioning that they knew where there was an old bike. This is precisely what happened, a good friend had mentioned that his brother had an old 1939 Velocette MSS which had been put off the road in 1952 for repairs to the gearbox, which had never been carried out and at a later date ,due to a house move, the bike had been further dismantled and transported, in an army kitbag of the time, to the new address whereupon it stayed until rescued by Jim in 1968. Jim and the young Willie were off on an adventure to rescue the old Velo. The bike in its “kitbag” was in a garden shed under a work bench which supported some boxes of oozing gelignite. Very scary. The “kit bag” and its contents were removed very carefully and without incident. The MSS was on its way to Strathaven and the younger Malone was now a Velocette fan.

Amazingly, when the bike in kit form was removed from the “kit bag”, it was discovered that only the headlamp and silencer were missing, all the major parts seemed to be there although there was one fly in the ointment, the famous “Map of Africa” timing cover had suffered due to an old battery having decomposed on its bottom half. However, undaunted Jim set off on a two year restoration which produced the machine seen below. Although the miles travelled chasing the whereabouts of a replacement timing cover is another story in itself, but a replacement was eventually found.

The MSS at 30 years old

To complete the machine, tyres, a Lucas 7” headlamp sourced and brand new silencer were fitted replacing the outstanding items from the “kit bag” of bits. In 1970 the machine was finished. Justifiably proud of his work, the machine was a credit to his skills, and although it was never used it on the road, over the next 22 years, it travelled the country to shows where it deservedly won many awards in its class.

It could be said the he had succumbed to the disease we all suffer, that is vintage/classic bikes, for not long after came a 1949 Triumph Speed Twin which stole his attentions for the next couple of years as the pictures below show it was again quite an undertaking, but resulted in a bike which was used to commute to work on and enjoy on club runs and the odd classic show.

No matter how much the Triumph was used and enjoyed, the Velocette was still the bike of choice when it came to shows. Indeed, a more modern Velocette Venom was found and the Triumph was exchanged for it in the late 1970’s . However, it was a disappointing bike and was duly sold, Jim none too happy with the fact that he had parted with his beautiful Triumph.

In 1988, Jim found and was fortunate enough to be able purchase and therefore release a certain 1930 Royal Enfield Model C from its home in a scrap pile. The rest is history as many will know.

This machine, being very rare, piqued Jim’s interest as he set off on the restoration process leaving no stone unturned in his quest for information and spares for the machine many of which, through no longer being available, were hand remanufactured in the workshop. The result, as shown above, was yet another success.

With the successful completion of the Royal Enfield and the benefit of its light weight, Jim had found his new ‘show bike’ although he did enjoy many regular selected rides out on the wee bike. His annual trip to Forres, with their run around Moray being a particular favourite. Given the favouritism shown to the wee Enfield, Jim decided that the Velocette was now getting too heavy for Jim to handle and he didn’t have to look far for its new owner. In September 1992, ownership passed from father to son. It was a proud moment for all concerned in the family. So the day came when the younger Malone took ownership of the MSS with family in tow, not to be outdone.

So it was now time to find out just how good the MSS was to be on the road. Some work was carried out to ensure that it would pass an MOT test which also included sourcing and fitting the correct style of 8” headlamp. Over the next few years, the Velo was used for club nights and runs, and being ridden to and from vehicle shows where runs were a significant part of the event, it was even used on the odd occasion to commute to and from work.

In the latter 90’s and into the 2000’s the runs were becoming longer and events like Stirling Castle Section’s S&T and the Founder’s Day Relay Rally became the regular challenges, where anything up to 450mile days were undertaken without a second thought. The last such long day was the 2008 Relay Rally. It has also been to Ireland to take part in several Antrim Coast Runs.

Having to share the Malone garage with some even older and more modern machinery meant that the use the Velo enjoyed was becoming less than had been the norm, however, there were also another two Velocettes to keep it company in the form of the ‘Mongrel’ and the Model B.

The ‘Mongrel’ being that rare concoction of 1960’s Venom and late 1990’s Yamaha R1. It worked well and looked the part. The 1925 Model B was very much a step back in time but in truth a Velo through and through in terms of quality and engineering, a modern machine of its day and being one of the first models to carry the now infamous Velo clutch. But even with these and other machines, the MSS was and is still the favourite.

For the inaugural Sound of Singles Run the MSS just had to be the bike of choice and was stripped to replicate a vintage racer, no lights, lightweight mudguards etc., and for the day of the run itself sported an open megaphone exhaust. Was it loud!! A great day out was had by all, but earplugs should have been the order of the day. That night the megaphone was replaced by the fishtail.

After years of being used and abused, at roughly 1000miles a year, in it’s former and more recent stripped down form, suffering the worst abuse in the new year runs running on very salty roads and not being thoroughly cleaned immediately, the decision was taken to strip the bike completely and bring it back to its beautiful self.

Obviously a great deal of work over the last couple or three years has transformed not only the way the bike looks, but the way it runs and rides at least on the short proving runs attempted, that it is once again the bike of choice. Although I have to admit that on its first major run after refurbishment at a Velocette club outing, it let me down, the first time in 32 years!

A combination of factors led to this, firstly the brand new “old stock” new piston was not quite right, allowing the engine to behave like a good two stroke. Secondly, the magneto condenser had finally given up the ghost and the carburettor was just too badly worn to work with the new piston and the condition of the magneto.

Suffice to say that these issues have been resolved, the old piston is back in, new condenser fitted in the magneto and a replacement carburettor fitted and tuned. After yet more proving runs, it is once again the bike it always was and should be, hopefully for another 85 years. A real pleasure.

The MSS now at 85 years old