Brian Jones (motorcycle designer)
Encyclopedia
Brian Jones was a motorcycle
designer and engineer born in Gloucester
, UK in 1928. Notable for his contribution to the original design of the Triumph Bonneville
, he died in Coventry, on 4 March 2001.
and began his career in the motorcycle
industry with an apprenticeship with Douglas Motorcycles
in 1951 before moving to the English Midlands to work with the BSA
company who were the biggest motorcycle manufacturers in the world at the time. He also worked at the Norton Motorcycles factory where he decided to become a motorcycle designer. Norton's Managing Director at the time was legendary designer Bert Hopwood
and the company was controlled by Associated Motor Cycles
.
Leaving a struggling AMC/Norton, Jones moved to Triumph where he worked with Doug Hele
on the 650 cc Triumph Bonneville T120
. Watching the Thruxton 500
endurance race for production motorcycles he saw the factory rider Percy Tait
come into the pits after an hour on the track and plunge his blistered hands into a bucket of water. Jones worked with Hele on improvements to the chassis which resulted in a victory in the 750 cc Production Class at the 1969 Isle of Man TT
.
In 1973 the Triumph factory, with a government loan, was taken over by the workers after the new owners, NVT
, had wanted to close it down. Jones had by then left to work for Lockheed
. The then-chairman of the workers' co-operative, Dennis Crowder-Johnson asked him to return to Triumph, however, and Jones came back to help improve their only product, Triumph's 750 cc motorcycle comprising the Triumph Bonneville T140V and Triumph Tiger TR7V models. As Director of Engineering, he ensured the Bonneville's continued export to the vital USA market by making it compliant with ever-stricter emissions laws (the T140E), (finally) introduced electric starting (the T140ES) and, with Bernard Hooper's design, developed an anti-vibration framed model (T140AV).
Jones also developed variants such as the economy 650 cc Triumph TR65 Thunderbird
, the dual-purpose Triumph Tiger Trail
(TR7T) the eight-valve Triumph T140W TSS
with Weslake
and with Triumph Motorcycle America's Wayne Moulton
, the Triumph T140 TSX
. Jones was also involved in the development of the prototype 900 cc water-cooled, double-overhead-cam (DOHC) 'Diana' twin that the struggling co-operative hoped would attract outside investment in a last ditch attempt to save their business. However, by 1983 the co-operative closed and Triumph was then bought by John Bloor
with full motorcycle production of a new range only re-starting in 1991 at Hinckley
.
In the meantime, Les Harris
of Newton Abbot
was licensed by Bloor to build the Bonneville at his works in Devon
and recruited Brian Jones to oversee the new operation. Production was limited by the inability to export to the USA due to prohibitive product liability insurance rates. As well as the Bonneville production, Jones designed a 500 cc Rotax-engined Matchless single-cylinder model that did well in the UK but was never exported in volume. Bonneville production at Newton Abbot ended in 1988 and although the Matchless was successful Jones didn't want to work in Harris's spares business and moved to a new incarnation of the Norton company at Shenstone, Staffordshire
.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
designer and engineer born in Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, UK in 1928. Notable for his contribution to the original design of the Triumph Bonneville
Triumph Bonneville
The Bonneville is a range of British motorcycles, made in three different production runs from 1959 to 1983, and 1985 to 1988, by the now-defunct Triumph Engineering in Meriden; and since 2001, by Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley. It is named after the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, where Triumph and...
, he died in Coventry, on 4 March 2001.
Career
Brian Jones was born in GloucesterGloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
and began his career in the motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
industry with an apprenticeship with Douglas Motorcycles
Douglas (motorcycles)
Douglas was a British motorcycle manufacturer from 1907–1957 based in Kingswood, Bristol, owned by the Douglas family, and especially known for its horizontally opposed twin cylinder engined bikes and as manufacturers of speedway machines...
in 1951 before moving to the English Midlands to work with the BSA
BSA
-Organizations:* Baltimore School for the Arts* Bank Secrecy Act* Bearing Specialists Association* Belarusian Socialist Assembly* Bhutan Scouts Association* Bibliographical Society of America* Birmingham School of Acting...
company who were the biggest motorcycle manufacturers in the world at the time. He also worked at the Norton Motorcycles factory where he decided to become a motorcycle designer. Norton's Managing Director at the time was legendary designer Bert Hopwood
Bert Hopwood
Herbert "Bert" Hopwood was a British motorcycle designer. He helped with some of the most influential designs for the British motorcycle industry and worked for Ariel, Norton, BSA and Triumph.-Motorcycle design career:...
and the company was controlled by Associated Motor Cycles
Associated Motor Cycles
Associated Motor Cycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer founded by the Collier brothers as a parent company for the Matchless and AJS motorcycle companies...
.
Leaving a struggling AMC/Norton, Jones moved to Triumph where he worked with Doug Hele
Doug Hele
Douglas Lionel Hele was a pioneering British motorcycle engineer with Triumph and other firms: BSA, Douglas and Norton. He was born in Birmingham in 1919 and died in Hagley, Worcestershire on the 2 November 2001.-Career:...
on the 650 cc Triumph Bonneville T120
Triumph Bonneville T120
The Triumph Bonneville T120 is a British motorcycle that was designed and built by Triumph Engineering between 1959 and 1975, when the engine size was increased to .-Development:...
. Watching the Thruxton 500
Thruxton 500
The Thruxton 500 is a 500 mile motorcycle endurance race held at Thruxton Circuit, near Andover in Hampshire, United Kingdom, which is the fastest racetrack in the country...
endurance race for production motorcycles he saw the factory rider Percy Tait
Percy Tait
Percy Tait is a former professional motorcycle road racer and senior road tester for Triumph motorcycles, where he was estimated to have clocked over a million miles of road testing...
come into the pits after an hour on the track and plunge his blistered hands into a bucket of water. Jones worked with Hele on improvements to the chassis which resulted in a victory in the 750 cc Production Class at the 1969 Isle of Man TT
1969 Isle of Man TT
-1969 Isle of Man Production 750 cc TT final standings:3 Laps Mountain Course.-1969 Isle of Man Production 500 cc TT final standings:3 Laps Mountain Course.-1969 Isle of Man Production 250 cc TT final standings:...
.
In 1973 the Triumph factory, with a government loan, was taken over by the workers after the new owners, NVT
Norton Villiers Triumph
Norton Villiers Triumph was a British motorcycle manufacturer, formed by the British Government to continue the UK motorcycling industry, but the company eventually failed.-Formation:...
, had wanted to close it down. Jones had by then left to work for Lockheed
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
. The then-chairman of the workers' co-operative, Dennis Crowder-Johnson asked him to return to Triumph, however, and Jones came back to help improve their only product, Triumph's 750 cc motorcycle comprising the Triumph Bonneville T140V and Triumph Tiger TR7V models. As Director of Engineering, he ensured the Bonneville's continued export to the vital USA market by making it compliant with ever-stricter emissions laws (the T140E), (finally) introduced electric starting (the T140ES) and, with Bernard Hooper's design, developed an anti-vibration framed model (T140AV).
Jones also developed variants such as the economy 650 cc Triumph TR65 Thunderbird
Triumph TR65 Thunderbird
The Triumph TR65 Thunderbird is a British motorcycle that was made by Triumph Motorcycles at the Triumph worker's co-operative at the Meriden factory, when they re-introduced the Triumph Thunderbird model name to their range in April 1981.-Development:...
, the dual-purpose Triumph Tiger Trail
Triumph Tiger Trail
The Triumph Tiger Trail was a motorcycle model manufactured by Triumph Motorcycles at the Meriden factory. The Tiger Trail was made from 1981 to 1982 in both 750 cc and 650 cc capacities, and under 180 models were built...
(TR7T) the eight-valve Triumph T140W TSS
Triumph T140W TSS
The T140W TSS was the last motorcycle model made by Triumph Engineering at their Meriden factory.- Development history :Designed to appeal to the US market, the TSS had an eight valve Weslake Engineering cylinder head developed by American racer Jack Wilson from a design originally commissioned by...
with Weslake
Weslake
Weslake Research and Development was founded by Harry Weslake, with premises in Rye, East Sussex, England. Weslake was a cylinder head specialist who had been instrumental in modifying the side valve standard engine used in the first SS sports car. He also worked on the larger SS engine: "The...
and with Triumph Motorcycle America's Wayne Moulton
Wayne Moulton
Wayne LaVar Moulton was a motorcycle designer called "the father of the Japanese cruiser." after introducing specific designs for importers to the lucrative US motorcycle market...
, the Triumph T140 TSX
Triumph T140 TSX
The Triumph TSX was a British motorcycle credited by the factory as being designed in 1981–1982 by Triumph Motorcycles America , the factory's American arm...
. Jones was also involved in the development of the prototype 900 cc water-cooled, double-overhead-cam (DOHC) 'Diana' twin that the struggling co-operative hoped would attract outside investment in a last ditch attempt to save their business. However, by 1983 the co-operative closed and Triumph was then bought by John Bloor
John Bloor
John Stuart Bloor OBE, is an English business magnate.Having built Derbyshire based Bloor Holdings into a leading housebuilding organisation, Bloor bought and revived Triumph Motorcycles.-Early life:...
with full motorcycle production of a new range only re-starting in 1991 at Hinckley
Hinckley
Hinckley is a town in southwest Leicestershire, England. It has a population of 43,246 . It is administered by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council...
.
In the meantime, Les Harris
Les Harris (businessman)
Leslie Frederick Harris was a Torquay businessman and motorcycle enthusiast who resurrected the Triumph Bonneville. Born in 1939, he was described as the "saviour of the British motorcycle industry". Invited to Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, in 1987 he was visited by the then...
of Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parish in the Teignbridge District of Devon, England on the River Teign, with a population of 23,580....
was licensed by Bloor to build the Bonneville at his works in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and recruited Brian Jones to oversee the new operation. Production was limited by the inability to export to the USA due to prohibitive product liability insurance rates. As well as the Bonneville production, Jones designed a 500 cc Rotax-engined Matchless single-cylinder model that did well in the UK but was never exported in volume. Bonneville production at Newton Abbot ended in 1988 and although the Matchless was successful Jones didn't want to work in Harris's spares business and moved to a new incarnation of the Norton company at Shenstone, Staffordshire
Shenstone, Staffordshire
Shenstone is a village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England, close to Stonnall and between Lichfield and Birmingham. In a recent survey Shenstone was found to be one of the ten worst places in England for finding single women....
.
