classic motorcycle forum

My experience of modern day "rebuilders" would  lead me to surmise there are no bloody rings in it

thats looking on the bright side.

But its off with the top if you ask me, sound like too much blowback past pistons, like Rex says Triumphs do not usually wet sump.
Could be a bad bore, too much ring gap, even wrong size pistons[don't laugh,seen it].

If you find the slightest thing wrong or cocked up, Iadvise taking the whole lot down and start over again.

but everyone's interpretation of a "rebuild" is different.

you hit the nail on the head.

Good luck, these Triumphs are not a hard engine to work on, I used to be able,when younger, to get the engine in bits before lunch and have it reassembled and running by supper.

Being promoted above their ability seems to be  the norm these days.

firms are obcessed with managing.

It was pointed out to me as a lad, that if you promote the blokes who are excellent at the job,then all you got left is the dross that can't do it. So they promote the dross.

At least, that was how it was in the days of Nationalised industry, now it applies to politicians.

Funny things bike prices,thats a nice useable bike but for near £12 thousand quid I would have expected a lot more period detail to be correct; levers, head and rear lamp, tank finish, wheel rim lining,  wrong carb, no chainguard, poor wiring detail, wrong horn, and who put that 16H fuel cap on it?

 I could go on,far too many nits to pick.

5k max in my opinion,and thats considering its rarity.

Am I being too picky or is £12k worth a lot less these days?

You need to get a proper older British bike,  1950's or earlier.

One thing I learned is the  pleasure of riding slowly or slower than the modern stuff. I had to come to terms with the fact I was no longer able to ride fast, for many reasons;  my pre war 500 enables me to plod along at a steady pace letting the world overtake me, with the ability to open it up if I feel the need.

Whenever I stop, for fuel, grub or a pee almost everytime I'll get 10mins of natter from someone coming up to me. I have not met with the attitudes you describe for many years.

Having learnt not to ride faster than my guardian angel, I don't feel the need to go on courses; 53 years on the road this year;  If I can go on in the same way for another 10 I'll be happy. You need to change your motorcycling somehow.

I am unsure why you post these here? Just send them as is to the editor of whatever magazine you are thinking of.

On a second reading I'm  baffled again, you must live in a very uncongenial place. Where I live its very rural, with a range of house prices starting at Half a million.[I've been here a long time, and look like the local totter, a cross between Darling Buds of May and Steptoes yard] yet I get none of that and withing 1/4 mile of me here are 3 other motorcycle riders, not counting the ride to work scooter types in the nearest village.

My old bikes cause nothing but positive remarks, and a trip to Hungerford is guaranteed to be a lot of chinwagging; one of the biggest antique dealers their is in fact a bike rider. I don't know when you were last there but the only deli closed some years ago.

Are you getting something off your chest?

Having just seen your last post, I contributed to the motorcycle press every month for many years, as well as a number of articles in club mags and outside bikes on another subject close to my heart,and am a published author. So I am pulling a little rank here.

That's the only way to ride 'em over bumps.

Yet another thing the youngsters have to be taught Rex

Choked up because you couldn't keep up   

spot on, exactly.