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{{short description|Hybrid motorcycle combining parts of different manufacturers}}
[[ImageFile:Triton.jpg|thumb|right|[[Pre-unit construction]] 650 cc Triumph twin-cylinder engine in a Norton 'wideline' Featherbed frame]]
{{Refimprove|date=July 2009}}▼
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'''Triton''' motorcycles were not factory models but were hybrid bikes built in the 1960s and 1970s. Many were privately constructed but some [[London]] dealers offered complete bikes.{{citation needed|date=January 2014}} The builders fitted [[Triumph Engineering Co Ltd|Triumph]] engines into [[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton]] frames, and the aim was to combine the best elements of each marque and thus gain a bike superior to either. Many Tritons were configured as single-seater [[café racer]]s.<ref >{{Cite web
▲{{RefimproveMore citations needed|date=July 2009}}
|title=Cafe Racers
{{Original research|date=April 2020}}
|publisher=[[Ace Cafe]], London
}}
|url=http://www.ace-cafe-london.com/cafe-racers.aspx
{{Use dmy dates|date=OctoberJune 20102020}}▼
}}{{better source needed|date=January 2014}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=January 2014}} The name 'Triton' is a contraction of '''Tri'''umph and Nor'''ton'''; and 'Triton' was the name of a mythological [[Triton (mythology)|Greek God]].
 
'''Triton''' motorcycles were hybrid motor cycles built from the 1950s to the 1970s{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} that involved fitting [[Triumph Engineering|Triumph]] engines into [[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton]] frames. Because no factory offered Triton motorcycles, they were typically privately built. However, some UK dealers offered complete bikes.<ref>{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Roland |title=The original Dresda Triton is a loveable mongrel with race-winning pedigree |work= |publisher=Hagerty International Limited |date=15 September 2022 |url=https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/motorcycles/the-original-dresda-triton-is-a-loveable-mongrel-with-race-winning-pedigree/ |access-date=22 May 2024 }}</ref> The aim was to combine the best elements of each marque and thus gain a bike superior to either. The name 'Triton' is a contraction of '''Tri'''umph and Nor'''ton'''; 'Triton' was the name of an ancient [[Triton (mythology)|Greek god]].
The Norton [[Featherbed frame]] was regarded as the best handling item of the day,<ref> Motorcycle handling and chassis design: the art and science by Tony Foale. 2006</ref><ref>The Café Racer Phenomenon by A Walker. 2009</ref> and the Triton rationale was to combine the "best engine" with the "best frame" by replacing the standard Norton engine with Triumph [[parallel-twin]] engine. A popular engine choice was the [[Triumph Bonneville]] unit with twin [[carburettor]]s and twin camshafts. This [[pushrod]] engine gave good performance and reliability and could be more easily tuned for greater power using high-profile [[camshaft]]s, high compression [[piston]]s and twin carburettors. In due course, a [[Weslake]] 8-valve head became available for the Triumph motor.▼
 
▲TheDuring the period in which Triton motorcycles were constructed, the Norton [[Featherbedfeatherbed frame]] was regarded as the best handling item of the day,frame.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Foale |first1=Tony |title=Motorcycle handlingHandling and chassisChassis designDesign: theThe artArt and scienceScience by|date=2006 |publisher=Tony Foale |isbn=9788493328634 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=84hF-qoR5I8C 2006|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Walker |first1=Alastair |title=The CaféCafe Racer Phenomenon by|date=2009 A|publisher=Veloce WalkerPublishing Ltd |isbn=9781845842642 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RBVOriZ3cYQC 2009|language=en}}</ref> and the Triton rationalebikes wasaimed to combine the "best engine" with the "best frame" by replacing the standard Norton engine with a Triumph [[parallel-twin]] engine. Although "best" is subjective, Aa popular engine choice was the [[Triumph Bonneville]] unit with twin [[carburettor]]s and twin camshafts. This [[pushrod]] engine gave good performance and reliability and could be more easily tuned for greater power using high-profile [[camshaft]]s, high compression [[piston]]s and twin carburettors. In due course, a [[Weslake]] 8-valve head became available for the Triumph motor.
The Norton 650 and 750 vertical twin engines had a reliability problem. At about 7000 rpm the piston exceeds the engineering limit for piston speed, so over-revving soon destroys the engines. The BSA 650 had a bronze bush main bearing on the right hand side, doubling as the crank oil feed, with a lack of effective crankshaft end play control, that all had difficulty staying together when ridden hard, even though the rest of the design was possibly more robust than the Triumph. The Triumph vertical twin used a ball on the timing side, and a roller on the other, with the oil feeding through a separate bronze bush in the outer right hand engine side cover.▼
 
[[Image:Triton Peter Ritzen.jpg|thumb|right|650&nbsp;cc Triumph twin-cylinder engine in a Norton 'slimline' Featherbed frame]]▼
▲The Triumph engine was seen as an upgrade because the Norton 650 and 750 vertical twin engines hadwere aknown to have reliability problemproblems.{{Citation needed|date=February 2020}} At about 7000 rpm the piston exceeds the engineering limit for piston speed, so over-revving soon destroys the engines. The BSA 650 had a bronze bush main bearing on the right hand side, doubling as the crank oil feed, with a lack of effective crankshaft end play control, that all had difficulty staying together when ridden hard, even though the rest of the design was possibly more robust than the Triumph. The Triumph vertical twin used a ball on the timing side, and a roller on the other, with the oil feeding through a separate bronze bush in the outer right hand engine side cover.
 
▲[[ImageFile:Triton Peter Ritzen.jpg|thumb|right|650&nbsp;cc Triumph twin-cylinder engine in a Norton '"slimline'" Featherbedfeatherbed frame]]
Whereas the Norton 650SS 646.44 cc had a bore and stroke of 68 x 89&nbsp;mm giving {{convert|49|bhp|abbr=on}} @ 6,800 rpm, the Triumph T120 Bonneville 649.31 cc had a bore and stroke of 71 x 82&nbsp;mm giving {{convert|46|bhp|abbr=on}} @ 6,500 rpm. However the mean piston speed of the Norton was 3,971&nbsp;ft/min (almost at the, then accepted, limit of 4,000&nbsp;ft/min). The Triumph, with its shorter stroke, had a mean piston speed of only 3,497&nbsp;ft/min, had much less vibration and was much stronger and reliable. Road tests showed that the Norton had a higher top speed due to its {{convert|3|bhp|abbr=on}} advantage. In spite of this, the Triumph was the much preferred engine. The Norton featherbed was the preferred frame, hence the Triton.
 
Tritons with a [[Pre-unit construction|pre-unit]] Triumph motor sometimes retained the post-1960 Norton AMC gearbox, which was thought superior to the equivalent Triumph gearbox. A Quaife five speed gearbox was sometimes used. More modern Tritons use a Triumph unit construction twin in a Featherbed frame.
 
Several motorcycle dealers made equipment for Triton conversions, some would do the complete job for customers while others sold complete Tritons. The most important part required are the engine mounting plates and several different designs exist that can affect the engine placement and therefore the handling. The lower the engine is mounted the better the handling achieved from the Norton frame.
 
==Other hybrids==
[[File:BSA Commando Worcester Street right.jpg|thumb|A "Norbsa" with a BSA chassis and Norton Commando 850cc engine]]
The Triton was probably the most common hybrid motorcycle,British butmotorcycle. anotherOthers wasinclude the [[Tribsa]], with a Triumph engine in a [[Birmingham Small Arms Company|BSA]] frame. Other frame/engine combinations included; the 'Norbsa'Norvin, which hadwith a BSA engine in the Norton featherbed frame. [[Vincent Motorcycles|Vincent]] [[V-twin]] motorsengine have on occasion been fitted into Featherbed frames to makein a hybridNorton calledfeatherbed a ''Norvin''.frame;<ref >[http://www.thevincent.com/NorvinTechSection.html Norvin technical section] thevincent.com (retrieved 18 November 2007)</ref> and a Trifield with a Triumph engine in a [[Royal Enfield]] frame. A "Norbsa" may be either a BSA engine in the Norton featherbed frame, or a Norton engine in a BSA frame.
 
==References==
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==External links==
*[https://archive.istoday/20130203114437/http://www.supernaturale.com/articles.html?id=79 Building a Triton in your kitchen]
*[httphttps://www.realclassic.coclassicbikehub.uk/Reviews/article/triton04120100.html Realclassic 1959 T100 Triton built in 2003]
*[http://www.inventivestudios.co.uk/thebikeshed/1955triton.htm the Bike Shed's 1955 Triton]
*[https://archive.istoday/20121220175021/http://search.dmoz.org/cgi-bin/search?search=cafe+racer Cafe racer] at the [[Open Directory Project]]
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▲{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2010}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Triton Motorcycle}}
[[Category:BritishMotorcycles motorcyclesof the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Triumph Motorcycles LtdEngineering motorcycles]]
[[Category:Custom motorcycles]]
[[Category:Motorcycles introduced in the 1960s]]
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