Had one for 21 years, but sold it in 2006. Bought several vintage bikes with the proceeds.

My FIRST bike was a "Triumph Teneriffe" mum got it for me in 1968 , was heavy and slowwwww, I cried the day it went away ! (I was that happy to see it go ,pmsl)

It's not a Triumph or a bicycle, but it's a close enough cousin of both that I thought I'd post it: My '59 Royal Enfield 700, badged as an Indian Apache for the US market.



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Last night, I purchased a Triumph muscle bike. I have not been able to locate any information or images of one. It appears to have a 3-speed Sturmey Archer hub, which I haven't previously seen linked to a stick shift. I recall that Schwinn Sting Rays and Raleigh Choppers (always wanted of those) were 5-speed derailleur shifted bikes. I was hoping to find some reference information or images that could help me to restore it.

Unfortunately, the forum will not allow me to post photos until I have ten posts,

That sounds like an interesting one! What model did they call it?

Hello Rose.
I had the same concerns. I called the bicycle shop and they wanted a mint to even look at it. A friend recommended I check Youtube. I found 3 videos on youtube that were very helpful with the adjustments for the 3-speed Sturmey Archer hub. Very helpful and easy to follow. I love the Triumph Classic bikes. She rides like a dream. Good luck with yours...I'm currently looking for someone to redo my original Brooks seat. It is quite comfortable but also quite weather cracked.

I haven't evaluated the 3-speed hub and shifter. Tires, pedals, brake pads all appear original and are shot. It has a banana seat, which is in reasonable condition.

I did not see a model name on the bike and I have not located a serial number. I will give it a closer look tonight. Is there any information available regarding serial numbers?

Pic assist:




That, as we could only get away with saying back when we were aprx. 11 years old, is boss.

Thanks!

Yeah I still got one.
Tim

The bottom side of the bottom bracket is stamped 8872. That seems short for a serial number. Does anyone know anything about the numbers Triumph stamped on their frames?

Typically everything can be found on the internet, but I cannot find any information about this bike. The number 8872 is stamped on the bottom of the bottom bracket. There is no model name on the bike, though it may have been badged on a part that is missing. It appears that there is a cover or panel missing from the base of the shifter. It would have included the numbers 1, 2, 3. On eBay, the Raleigh Chopper shifter parts look like they are the same as the shifter on this Triumph. I learned that the Triumph bicycle brand was acquired by Raleigh in 1954.


I will post some more photos once that is permitted.

Check YOU TUBE. That is where I found Triumph info. specifically for 3-speed shifter and adjustment.
Best of luck to you.

I've got vague memories of these from the A.R. Adams Cycle days - the East Side store (the original store) had, at most, 2 or 3 of these in inventory. I assume we're talking a bicycle that is a copy of the Schwinn Sting Ray, middleweight 20" curved frame, ape hanger bars, long saddle. They were definitely an anomaly at the shop, as the Chopper was already out and available for sale. I cannot remember whether these bikes were badged as Triumphs or Raleighs, although badging them as Raleighs wouldn't have made a lick of sense since Raleigh was fully committed to the Chopper.

This Trumph (as I'll assume that how we sold them) was a fair bit cheaper than the Chopper, and didn't have a lot of interest. In fact, my best memory of the bike was dealing with a mother and her absolute spoiled brat 12 year old. Mom brought the daughter into the shop and while looking at bikes the daughter went into a screaming rant about what she didn't want: Pointedly the Sting Ray and the three speed Sports style bicycles. If it didn't have drop handlebars it wasn't acceptable, and the brat wasn't about to have one of those other bikes shoved on her. Meanwhile, mom's looking at ten speeds with a, "Do people actually ride those things?" look on her face, and quietly freaking out at the $100.00 and up price.

The brat ended up with nothing that day.

This is another one of those "why did they make them?" bicycles of the period, along with the Triumph 10-speeds. I never really understood Triumph's (and Dunelt's) position in the Raleigh hierarchy. When you're talking single speed and 3-speed roadsters, they made sense. They were a cheaper bike in the Raleigh lineup. But to bring out this Sting Ray when the Chopper had taken off, and made Raleigh the only company to go up against Schwinn with something that wasn't a copy, and then bring out a 10-speed when they couldn't make enough Records which sold for a higher price never made any sense to me.

Rose with a bike like that you need to be able to pop a wheelie and go off some sweet jumps

Think I found another copy of your muscle bike. Extremely limited information - Triumph Muscle Bike?

That is the bike that I bought. That same photo was used with the ad that I answered. As soon as I am allowed, I will provide more visual information.

Thanks Napoleon.

On marketplace this morning, two Triumph English 3-speeds came up for sale; both looked like they spent their lives in a garage; no visible wear on the Brooks saddles. Unfortunately, both are women's frames.

Is there any information regarding Triumph serial numbers? The bottom side of the bottom bracket is stamped 8872.

I have been looking online at images and auctions to see if I can find any parts of this bike. The Sturmey Archer shifter is similar but different than the SA shifters used on the Raleigh choppers. The sticks on the Raleigh shifters have either two slotted holes or three round holes. And, they have plastic knobs. This shifter stick appears longer, has four round holes, and the knob is wood. Has anyone seen one of these? Thanks

I am disappointed in the lack of information. Anyone have any information or ideas on where I might look?