The Triumph Legend 964cc and Legend 741cc are British motorcycles developed by Les Williams, the former Triumph racing manager.
 Three cylinder Triumph Legend motorcycle at the UK National Motorcycle Museum | |
| Manufacturer | L.P. Williams |
|---|---|
| Production | 1983-1992 |
| Engine | 964 cc (58.8 cu in) and 741 cc (45.2 cu in), triples |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
After the commercial demise by 1975 of Triumph at Meriden Works and Norton Triumph (Andover) together with the closure of the Triumph race shop, L.P. 'Les' Williams established a private business catering for spare parts and performance upgrades for the BSA and Triumph triples.
He also created replicas of Slippery Sam, a road race machine and five-time TT race winner in the production-class which retained road equipment.
Whereas Slippery Sam was race-styled with road equipment, Williams developed a new model with updated equipment, styled as a general sports-tourer with single/dual seat options. The "Legend" models were specials, each based on rebuilt complete donor T160V Triumph Trident machines, using three cylinder pushrod engines with five-speed gearbox and electric start.[1][2][3]
The machines were completely re-made using many new parts, but were based on earlier-registered machines from the factory's pre-1975 production which were older than the appearance suggested. Braking was uprated with a Lockheed hydraulic system using twin discs at the front and single rear.
Many were tuned for maximum performance to specific customer requirements, and between the early 1980s[4] and 1992 a total of sixty Triumph Legends were built - although Les Williams received hundreds of orders following articles in Classic Bike (UK) and Cycle World (USA).[5]
The Triumph Legend name was later resurrected by Triumph Motorcycles Ltd, of Hinckley, England for a version using their three-cylinder 900 cc overhead camshaft engine, entitled Triumph Legend TT.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 1988 Triumph Legend, Vintage Motor Cycle Club, Retrieved 29 March 2016
- ^ 1988 Triumph Legend Bonhams, Retrieved 29 March 2016
- ^ 1990 T160 Legend Historics at Brooklands, Retrieved 29 March 2016
- ^ "Treat yourself...buy a British 3!" Motorcycle Sport, October 1983, p.453. Accessed 18 November 2022
- ^ "Triumph Legend -- Ultimate Classic British Superbike?". Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
- ^ "Triumph Legend 900". Retrieved 31 August 2008.