Triumph Tiger Cub T20 Detailed Inspection

I have just bought this 1962 Triumph Tiger Cub T20 and so I am giving it a good look over to see what I have bought.
Watch until the end, as I start the bike and you can hear it running
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[@mechcavandy986]

When I was a kid in the late 60s, I rode with a guy who had one of these. It kept up with the 500s and 650s that rode with us. They were grown men about 10 years older than me. I had to have a HD Sportster. 🙀🏍️💨🏁

[@RisingSun0203]

One of the first bikes I rode back in 67. Set up for off road. 200cc of fun. Would like to have one now.

[@westho7314]

Everything a moto should be and more,the square barrel, better suspension and a couple more main bearings addd to the bottom end are the major changes i remember about the Cub in late years.

[@philmuskett265]

Leave the tank, mate. Distinctive.

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

Too late Phil. It's now blue and silver

[@highdownmartin]

Your front brake lever should be at 90degrees to the cable when it’s on. You’re losing lots of efficiency as it’s over centred. Take the arm off the brake and reset it.

[@nightster6378]

If you're into Cubs in any way take a look at this channel. www.youtube.com/@paulbrodie He's a perfectionist. It's a lovely bike, I agree with you about the colour and I think I would remove the paint from the silencer or renew it for a stainless or chrome one. As you say will be a fair amount of work to turn it into a trial bike, wheel's, a sump plate, and many more mods. As for the brake, I would try positioning the brake arm another notch away from 90 deg for better leverage also when you adjusted the cable the chaffing didn't change much, therefore, I think maybe the side of the shoes are rubbing with the hub. Witness maks will show this. Nice.

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

Yes I have been following Paul Brodies for quite some time. Always excellent. Many thanks for your tips and suggestions.

[@john-wq8kf]

Well sorry to say my earlier 1960’s biking days where filled with my unreliable bikes the worst was my BSA c15 ( green colour and unreliable) my best friends Triumph 200cc tiger cub also junk we set off for Scarborough and got 10 miles before it ( the tiger 200) broke down so I’m sorry to say, the only fun we had was with girls not Brit bikes ( the only good one was my brothers Velo Venom 500) I was glad a few years later to get a Honda. Sorry to be honest but I can’t think I have any nostalgia for that era bikes.

[@MISSION315]

Great video very nostalgic for myself as my first bike in 1971 , I was just 16 yrs old so it was great to have a 200 cc engine, it had Alfa roller big end bearings instead of the original bronze ones, thanks for the video baz.😊

[@markj8068]

Love the Tiger cub, out of interest what model are the yokes and forks from Simon? , they look like ones fitted to a trials cub eather than the road model.

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

Hi Mark. I think the yokes and forks are off a Honda. Not sure which bike.

[@minimilo25]

Good video 👍 The position of the front brake actuating lever looks wrong to me. Also, the cable stop does not look factory. You may be losing some front braking efficiency because of those two things. There is Haynes manual for these that is pretty good.

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

Thanks for your helpful comments. I'm on with changing the front end and brake setup - hopefully I'll get it sorted soon. One or two other projects to finish first!

[@kopynd1]

a think everyone had a tiger cub or c15 in the early seventies, love another pot on it make a 400 v twin, look class it would look like a harley scrambler , get another pot on it look class in line split con rod not off set like the Japanese engines, if triumph did that it would of been onto a winner its that sloping front cylinder would have to be a distributor model with twin cylinder

[@trevortrevortsr2]

They don't take the same oil - The engine takes 30w the gearbox 50w gear oil and the clutch light 10w oil - I guess with today's multi-grades you could but it's not as they were designed - early engines had bush mains on the cam side and ball race on the drive side - on early bikes the big end was a bit suspect if thrashed - I had an Alfa bearing conversion - I ran a Terrier for over a decade and even took it touring.

[@classicrider5274]

I hope you enjoy our Tiger Cub, I had one a few years ago kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYKTqZ5mdp2SbZY and really had a great time on it. I noticed that there is no insulating spacer between carburettor and inlet manifold, so the carb could get very hot without, sometimes boiling fuel. Also I cannot see washers between carb and manifold or manifold and head, they really help spread the pressure to prevent distortion and well worth adding. Possible part of the front brake poor performance problem is because the forks are from another bike and the angle of the cable and lever/arm are not set up perfectly, for greater efficiency you must have the angle inside these to be under 90 degrees, over 90 degrees and you get more cable travel but less braking. Also check bar levers as the distance from centre of fixing bolt to centre of nipple should be 7/8” and if greater, this also will reduce brake performance. Sorry if it’s a bit of a lecture but as an ex Cub rider, I would like you to get the best out of your new bike.

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

Many thanks for your very helpful observations. Much appreciated!

[@phillipsharpe6459]

Nice bike pal , keep it on the blackstuff, 😁👍

[@peterford9369]

Yeah, you really look conservative, HA! I like the color. It shows the distinct shape of the tank. And you must admit there's not much other color on her. Plus unless the dude that built her had only yellow to choose from, he is like the Van Gogh of the paint scheme. And would you dare desecrate a Van Gogh? I don't think so. My first bike was a 70 Suzuki T 500. Back in 79. I rode it for about 17 years. All drum brakes, a 2 stroke twin. No electric start but would start on 1 kick almost every time. So I am familiar with basics in a bike. You are obviously better off financially that I. Bikes aren't cheap to maintain if you ride them and sounds like you have a few. But do actually like the bike u just acquired in this video and hope u cherish her antique charms. Color and all 😄. Ride safe Merry Christmas to you.

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

Hi Peter. yes the Tiger Cub is a great bike. I'm doing a bit of work on it over the winter, but hope to put some miles on it next year.

[@colindowd3892]

Just a thought about the yellow, slap an AA badge on it and you won't feel so bad. PS sound good.

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

🤣🤣🤣 I should have seen that one coming!

[@colindowd3892]

The switches may not be authentic but I bet there water resistant carrier bags were my favourite for riding to and from work in winter. Never had the luxury of indicators. I had the earlier type points setup which sometimes would advace the timing all on its own.

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

I bet this brought back a few memories for you Colin.

[@colindowd3892]

Mostly good ones I have to say, the advent of the Japanese motorcycle was pure alchemy at the time.

[@freemenofengland2880]

I got offered a Tiger Cub when I was still at Primary School. Someone had taken it apart and was struggling to put it back together again. I think it was going for £10, a lot more than £5 I'd paid for a Lambretta. Lol. 😂

[@jaratt85]

I can't help but wonder how hard it'd be to install a 500 piston and up it from 63X64 to 69X64.. I'm a natural hot rodder, I can't leave anything alone.. stock is boring. An easy mod I figured out last night is to change over to the 500 brakes, they are all on 19 inch rims (at least that's what they were from the factory) so it's not hard at all to just swap them over and attach the cable/rod and instantly have better brakes. That one also appears to have the heavyweight forks which literally are just off of a 500 so it'll bolt right up. (There's a cub near me that I want seriously bad, and so being autistic I've done a ton of research over the last couple days.. can't help it.) Something I don't get is why no one has ever upgraded the rocker oil feed lines over to modern banjo bolts with flexible AN lines.. it's such a better design and FAR less fragile. (that's for all brit bikes btw)

[@johnhalvorsen1383]

Nice bike.I learned to ride on my brothers Tiger Cub when I was 13 (1973) , so much fun, it was in trials form as well. I bought it off him when I was 17, wish, I still owned it. Now I have a 1970 Bonnie

[@garywhiteman8798]

Love it ❤

[@trevormartin5459]

Hi there,I just discovered your channel a few days ago and am now working my way through many of your videos.I think the Cub looks terrific and personally I love the yellow colour.Thanks for taking the time.😀

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

Thanks Trevor. I hope you are enjoying my other videos too.

[@johnmckay5711]

I like the yellow tank

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

The jury is still out on that one.....

[@MegaTubescreamer]

it has to be black and silver ! and the bars ? 🤔

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

😁 If you are wanting stock setup, this is not your bike!

[@bobmurphy9380]

Hi, is yours a T20 made to look like a T20M

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

Yes. It's a bitza bike. (Made from bitza this and bitza that)

[@garywhiteman8798]

What’s happening with this one ?

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

Just enjoying owning it at the moment. It will no doubt appear in future videos

[@roysmith4716]

Bit of a bitsa you’ve got there.

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

Actually, that's what appealed to me most about it.

[@highdownmartin]

@@SongsFromTheSaddleif it was a good price who cares

[@umeshjangidworldrecordholder]

V nice

[@umeshjangidworldrecordholder]

I have this model

[@enhancesoutheast5964]

Are the front forks Triumph?? Great overview ❤

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

I think they are Honda

[@markotuomas672]

I have been looking a 63 Tiger Cub that is on sale. 750€, but it has a 125cc Kymco engine 🤔

[@SongsFromTheSaddle]

Mmm. Not a Tiger Cub then. It's all in the engine!

[@markotuomas672]

@@SongsFromTheSaddle True. I thought that, if I buy it, I will try to find a proper engine for it.

[@markotuomas672]

Well, I bought a 1966 BSA C15.