Anybody know what year Triumph moved the shifter to the left

[flamin lib]

side? Or is it still on the right?

edit to add:

Just looked at the website and it looks like the shifter is still on the right but it's hard to tell if the lever on the right is brake or shifter.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

1. 1975, according to one site

http://www.sorenwinslow.com/Triumph.asp

The site claims the bikes built for the U.S. market had shifters on the left starting in '75.

I had a '68 Bonneville, and just can't remember where the shifter was. And it's only been 30-something years since I drove it. It handled great, fun in the corners, but constantly under the wrench, adjusting valves, chain, etc.

[flamin lib]

2. Thanks, that's what I needed to know.

I rode a Bonneville back in the mid 60's and the shifter was on the right. Switching from the Japanese bikes to the Brit bike was a major pain in the ass. Can't tell you how many times I downshifted w/o benefit of clutch when approaching a stop.

I'm thinking it might be fun to buy an old Turnip and restore it to an everyday rider.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. Shifting shifters

I ran across a pic of the old Triumph, and yes, the shifter was on the right side. It was "one-down, three-up" shift pattern, which is pretty normal. I remember switching bikes for a ride with a friend who had a Norton, I think, and that had a backward pattern - one-up, three down, so you would push dowb to up-shift. It took a little getting used to, but it was a nice fast bike.

Those shift changes seem pretty simple, compared to old Harleys, pre-early-1950's? Then, instead of hand-clutch, foot-shift, they had foot-clutch, hand-shift. That combo just seems bizarre, but I suppose you could get used to it.

At some point, our government stepped in and mandated the shifter location for cycles sold in the U.S.

[Lowell]

4. I had Triumphs and Nortons in the 60s

I believe they were on the right back then. I remember when I got my first Harley it took some serious adjusting. My Harley was a 47 Knucklehead with a stick shift and suicide clutch. It was completely backwards to the British bikes.

I had a 62 Bonneville Triumph and a 65 Norton Commander. Wish I still had them. They were a good ride for small bikes.