classic motorcycle forum

Glad I found you guys! I am the proud new owner of a Triumph 1955 T110 and I have a lot to learn. Last Bike I owned was a  Suzuki in 1983. I am however not unfamiliar with British engineering, I own a 1965 Jaguar E type. I have ordered some repair manuals from ebay, along with some Whitworth tools, but have a few dumb questions that cant wait to be answered. 1) The bike runs great, but there is no battery, just wires hanging,  lights work only at high revs, is this a 6 volt system ?

Yes, and probably a mag too.

 What kind of Battery do I need. I know that it would be easy to fry something if I don't know what I'm doing.

The largest 6V one you can fit in the space.

 Is there an explanation of the wiring / magneto online somewhere ?

Likely, but a manual is better


 (2) Second dumb question, did this bike have a side stand, if so where can I find a replacement

Should have a lug on the bottom frame tube, if it did. Google "Triumph" and should bring up many suppliers in the US(?) Same for the parts below.


 (3)I need to find the "Triumph" script for the gas tank. (4) Is anyone reproducing the nacelle, I have only a chrome headlight with no speedometer or switches.

Bloke on the left in the second pic could pass for Mr Chumley-Warner.

Yes, and if you want to go to the web-site and actually view and buy something, you'll have to use .co.uk.
Thanks again for the link, and feel free to have the last word, if it's important.

BTW, you can't be "a pedantic". The word is "pedant".

Thanks, I've paid for a tin of sealant remover; hope it does what it says on the tin!
BTW it's .co.uk at the end, not .com

12V every time. Better lights, cheaper (and more choice) batteries, bulbs from any car parts place, solid state rectifiers,etc etc.
The question should be "why NOT convert?" as it's so cheap and easy.

Choppers went out with Donny Osmond and platform shoes.
Boring then and boring now.
People who build custom bikes (Bobbers are in now) tend to build from bits sourced from Ebay or swapmeets, but ripping up an original bike is both crass and expensive.
Far better to sell the bike to a rider who'll use it, then build what you want with the money.

You really have to be realistic. If the machine is not intended as a show-piece but as a useable mode of transport/fun, then why not use whatever is best/easily obtainable.
If a metric nut and bolt can be used where a Whitworth, or whatever was, then use it. Not everyone walks around with a micrometer or vernier guage and is about to pounce on your bike with a thread pitch guage.

It's about doing a "good" job. As the Imperial stuff is readily available there's no excuse for fitting metric fasteners.
As someone else has said, if nothing else it means only one set of spanners needed, and that's apart from the rather obvious metric bolt markings (ie no vernier needed).





If, as some would like, you go for purity, then you should have crappy tyres, crappy lights and ride with goggles and a cork helmet/flat cap or none at all.

That's taking the debate to the ridiculous extreme....

Originality has it's place but practicality and common sense must prevail.

Agreed, but there's STILL no reason to fit metric fasteners......