1959 Triumph TR6 Trophy
(Page 2 of 5)
July/August 2006
By Roland Brown
High-pipe heaven
For many eager Trophy-bird riders the offroad-style high-level exhaust system was a vital part of the new bike’s specification. The model was also sold with conventional low-mounted twin pipes when it was called the TR6/A, with the high pipe model being the TR6/B.
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But it was out West where the Trophy-bird’s suitability for desert riding made it most popular with riders including McQueen and his pal Bud Ekins, the offroad ace who doubled for the movie star in riding stunts in The Great Escape. The bike got a near perfect start in 1956 when Triumph launched it by entering three completely standard machines (one ridden by Ekins) in the demanding offroad Big Bear Run in Southern California. The Trophy-birds dominated from the start and finished first, second and third, setting a pattern of Triumph desert-racing dominance that would last for the next 10 years.
The TR6 soon became regarded as the ideal basis for the “desert sled” — a big twin-cylinder roadster adapted for flat out charging through hot, desolate places such as the Mojave Desert. Triumph’s twin-cylinder engine had the power to hit 100mph in standard tune, and the torque to kick the back end out and let the rider steer on the throttle on the loose surface.
Most riders kept the engine stock to aid reliability, but made modifications including fitting a better air filter and rewiring the electrics. Lights and exhaust baffles were removed, cut-down seats replaced the original, and offroad tires were fitted, along with a substantial metal skid plate to protect the engine. Some riders also modified their suspension to give more travel, and used custom-made, heavy-duty fenders and brackets.
Riding a TR6 today
This 1959 TR6 is contrastingly standard, and none the worse for that in my view. The nicely restored bike is lean and good-looking in a way that only Triumph seemed to manage, with the compact engine perfectly offset by a shapely gas tank enhanced by its cream and red color scheme, chromed luggage rack, rubber knee-pads and distinctive tank badge. The siamesed, high-level exhaust pipe gives an offroad look from the left side and a slightly empty appearance from the right, but from every angle it’s easy to see why style-conscious riders love the Trophy-bird today and have for years.
Triumph fans appreciated high performance just as much, of course, and the TR6 delivered, even if, more than four decades later, it feels more like a bike for gentle cruising than for blasting across the desert with the throttle wide open.
This bike is impressive at low revs, and it’s very easy to start. With a tickle of its Amal Concentric carburetor when cold, a lazy jab of the kick-start is enough to get the 360-degree twin firing up with an unusually low, rather flat sound pouring from the single muffler behind my left leg.
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