Britbike forum Forums British Motorcycle specific Brands Triumph bulletin board 3TA v 5TA Weight, etc.

I had a 3TA once and wouldn't mind one again but is a 5TA much more powerful? Is it the same weight? They look identical. I like the 1966 models best.

I am thinking that they might be a fair bit lighter than my 1967 650.

Dave

They ARE somewhat lighter than a 650.

The main weight differences are a smaller frame and the physical size of the engine.

On unit construction Triumphs built in the 1960s, forks, seat, oil tank, wheels and fenders will interchange between 350/500 bikes and 650 ones.

I have a few 350's here at the shop, I would say the difference from a 5TA and a 3TA would be very small in terms of weight

Only difference is smaller pistons and barrel

500 vs 350 - there is a pretty big power difference there

Dave,
The unladen weight of a 3ta/5ta are 340 lb (155 Kgm) the engine weight for the 5ta is 106 lb and the 3ta is 104 lb.

I got this info from the Haynes Manual. 😎

Regards,

Ian

Thanks for the answers.

I guess they are about 50lbs lighter than my 650. 50lbs is the weight of a typical UK sack of potatoes which feels pretty heavy. A 650 isn't a particularly large bike but feels heavy to move on a slope. In fact mine seems to be getting heavier and heavier!

I did have a 3TA when I was19 and it went quite well and was dead smooth . It had quite sunken valves and I was worried because it would only go 70mph but more recently I was reading about them and the best most people could get was 75mph. I hardly ever ride the 650 over 60mph but Ilike the acceleration which is good even with low comp. pistons.

Dave

I'd go for the 5TA - my old man had one (1964 engine and frame numbers, but registered as a 'D' in 1966, but with a slightly earlier (?) front end and tank (probably crash damage), and some nice aftermarket stuff like a John Tickle TLS front brake and alloy rims.

I think the pistons, carb etc. were to T100 spec and it went really well. It had whatever the prevailing version of the Boyer ignition was about at the time (mid-80s), which never sulked or did anything daft because of battery voltage.

Nick

Thanks, Nick.

Dave