There are a few comments suggesting that this is a BSA Victor. I mentioned in response that: “I’m definately NOT an expert on old triumph singles but wasn’t there a trophy 250 that was a common platform with the BSA? I agree that it’s a dead ringer for a BSA but I thought there was some re-badging back along the way especially with the singles. I’m interested in hearing your comments.
WE HAVE AN ANSWER! Form the comments the owner chimes in:
Thanks ya’ll! And it’s not a victor. It’s a Triumph TR5MX Avenger. When BSA closed down in 72 and Norton Villers Triumph took over, they had a bunch of B50′s laying around so they badged them as Triumph’s and put ugly ridiculous twin high pipes on them. The engine is actually stamped B50MX!
Original Post:
Duncan Davis writes in:
Hi, I love your site. I have to get my daily fix along with my coffee. It was a major influence in the resurrection of my late fathers Triumph thumper. My father used this bike in the 70’s to check his cotton fields in South Texas, but when I was born it went into the tractor shed until a few months ago when I turned 21 and decided to bring the old Triumph back to life that I used to sit on as a kid. It may not be a purists favorite bike, but its mine! Almost everything is original with a few exceptions… Norton handlebars, new electrics, headlight and tail light, Harley battery box, roadside reflector side panels. The tank is the original “hunting yellow” but has faded over the last 38 years, but to my surprise, Caterpillar Tractor paint matched the old faded tank perfectly and I feel that It’s true to the bike roots. Just thought I’d share my favorite motorcycle because your site influenced the way it turned out. Cheers!
I love that it wasn’t over restored. Just a great bike with a nice history that you can enjoy the heck out of. You’re a 21 year old who really “gets it” Duncan. Thanks Much for the pics!
Motorcycle Photo Of The Day 
What year / model is it? great looking bike.
The bike is a BSA Victor – not a Triumph
Very cool bike. I love the original “unrestored” approach. However, I wouldn’t blame you if you added little more padding to the seat 🙂
Pretty sure that is a BSA Victor, as another poster has pointed out. But in any case, I prefer bikes in their original, usable state as opposed to museum queens, and that’s a fine example in my honest opinion.
I’m definately NOT an expert on old triumph singles but wasn’t there a trophy 250 that was a common platform with the BSA?
Triumph Blazer SS 250cc .
Same frame with the big scoop tls conical brake.
Mine was bright orange 1971
Thanks ya’ll! And it’s not a victor. It’s a Triumph TR5MX Avenger. When BSA closed down in 72 and Norton Villers Triumph took over, they had a bunch of B50’s laying around so they badged them as Triumph’s and put ugly ridiculous twin high pipes on them. The engine is actually stamped B50MX!
Thanks Duncan. I KNEW it’d be something along those lines.
hey man! great bike. You did one helluva job. Keep it running and come see us. We at the old farts on bikes club are proud of you!
It’s possible that the factory shipped some B50’s with Triumph on the tank, but not very likely. Probably, the tank (or the engine) on that bike is not original. Check the frame number, if it matches the engine, then it’s a B50 with a Triumph tank. If the frame is a TR5MX, then the engine has been replaced.
In 1971, Norton Villiers took over the BSA Group (which included Triumph) from the British government and became Norton Villiers Triumph. NVT discontinued the BSA brand name in ’72, so that was the last year for the B50. Almost every bike in the BSA lineup had a comparable bike in the Triumph lineup, except the B50. NVT built the TR5MX in ’73 and ’74 to fill that gap. I have a ’73 and it is marked TR5MX on both the engine and the frame.
Hi,Triumph and BSA were involved in quite a few rebadge issues,this could be a BSA Victor but badged as a Triumph for what ever reason,,,i have restored a couple of Triumph T65’s ,T65 basically is a BSA code but when BSA went bust NVT was approached by two foreign governmental concerns to supply them with BSA Thunderbolts,so rather than loose the sale (260) bikes or so, the order was fulled with rebadged Triumphs,as BSA’s,some didn’t get sold(maybe a half dozen) and were rebadged as Triumphs,(4) were sold to the Royal Barbados Police Force for use as patrol bikes,2 were destroyed/scrapped and i’ve redone the remaining 2,,So its possible that something like this could have happened to this bike too.
Yep it’s a Triumph. I have an identical one. B50mx with round side number plates in fiberglass. Engine is stamped B50MX. I bought it from original owner.
I did buy one from Upstate NY in 2002, bought from the second owner. Stamped B50MX, yellow, round plates, Triumph tank and title. 2. owner told me the bike was sold new in NY to a couple who was looking for a TR5T as a second bike. TR5T was out of stock, then they bought the TR5MX.