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Churchy

In a month 2 years will have past since the loss of Les Harris. He and his family are very down to earth and He has always been one of my hero's

"A MOTORCYCLE display team will sound a throttle roar in memory of a Torquay businessman who resurrected the Triumph Bonneville motorbike and met Margaret Thatcher.

Les Harris, 69 and from Torquay, died at Torbay Hospital on February 17 from a progressive lung condition, which he suffered from for more than 10 years. Mr Harris leaves behind his wife Shirley, his children Carole, Debbie, Angela and Chris, and 10 grandchildren. Mrs Harris said: "Les was a decent, very hardworking man, with an all-encompassing passion for work, life and his family. He had a mischievous sense of humour and an irreverent intolerance for snobbishness. He also had a dress sense all of his own. "Les has left behind a great legacy in our children and grandchildren and our lives have been immensely enriched by his larger than life character and absolute unconditional love for us all."

A motorcycle enthusiast, Mr Harris set up his own business in 1974 manufacturing and selling spare parts for classic motorcycles. As British motorcycle firms Norton Motors, BSA Small Heath and later Triumph collapsed, Mr Harris would pay for and store parts to be delivered straight to customers. As the parts stocked up, L F Harris International Ltd started trading out of a warehouse in Newton Abbot before acquiring an engineering company in Leighton Buzzard and opening a retail shop in Paignton. Mrs Harris said: "With the demise of the Triumph motorcycle factory in Meriden, Les and I made a bid for the rights to the Triumph name in 1983. Unfortunately we were unsuccessful in this; however, we were offered the opportunity to licence the name for five years and so an incredible journey began with the move to a bigger factory and warehouse." Press coverage of their venture was global and resulted in an invitation to Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. In 1987 the Harris' were visited by the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. "Les was so proud of these visits. For years he has been hailed as the saviour of the traditional classic Triumph motorcycle all over the world. He loved this time, making many new friends as he dealt with customers around the globe," Mrs Harris said. In 1988 the couple decided not to re-licence and Les began to design his own motorcycle, producing The Matchless G80. The production of the motorcycle ceased after 1990 in the midst of the recession and the business returned solely to the production of spare parts for classic motorcycles. The family-run company now trades from Pavor Road in Torquay. At his funeral this Saturday, six soldiers from the Royal Corps of Signals White Helmets Motorcycle Display Team will carry the coffin and provide a 'throttle roar' as Mr Harris enters and leaves the church. Mrs Harris explained: "Les was not in the White Helmets, but our company built their bikes and donates motorcycle spare parts to them." Mr Harris' funeral is at 1pm on Saturday at St Matthias Church, Babbacombe Road, Wellswood, Torquay. A wake will follow at the Palace Hotel in Torquay and a private cremation will be held on Monday, March 2 at 2pm."

http://www.musicswapshoppe.com/harris-bonny.html

Above: The White helmets featured on the bikes built & maintained by Les harris

Psycho Steve · 250cc Joined: 02 Jul 2010 Posts: 91 Location: Blue Mtns

Good read
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cheers

Churchy · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:16 am Post subject:

Thanks Steve

A lot of history on the Bonneville mainly, and where Harris fits in, can be found here http://www.musicswapshoppe.com/triumph_bonneville.html
You might also enjoy this page to http://www.musicswapshoppe.com/bonneville.html
Mainly girls (should appeal to you) and nothing on Les Harris. But there is comments re Doug Hele another Meriden Triumph Icon, who knew Les Harris well (scroll to comments at bottom
More comments here http://www.musicswapshoppe.com/club.html
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2002 Scarlet Baby bonneville
1966 Thunderbird 750
Kwaki Serpico 125 & Z250 X 2
Southampton Rule

admin · Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 7:06 am Post subject:

Bump two years now past

Not sure if really fits this section. But at least this section is open to anyone to read.

Les Harris Bonneville In 1984 the T140 production rights were licensed by the new owner of Triumph, John Bloor, to Devon-based engineer Les Harris who produced 1,300 complete motorcycles at his Newton Abbot factory between 1985 and 1988 when the licence was not renewed . These machines were distinct from the Meriden product having as standard, German Magura switchgear with Italian Paioli front and rear suspension and Lafranconi silencers.

(Source wiki)
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& http://www.musicswapshoppe.com/triumph_bonneville.html

AKA Music

Orange Street · posty Joined: 11 Jan 2011 Posts: 71 Location: NSW OZ

This guy had an interesting life!
Also from wiki
The Matchless G80
In 1988 Les decided not to re-licence the rights to the Triumph and began to design his own motorcycle, the Matchless G80. Fitted with a Rotax 494 cc air-cooled engine, there was also a Harris Matchless G80 built with a twin front disc brake and an electric starter. These were produced until the recession of 1990 when the business returned to the producing much sought after spare parts for classic motorcycles. Les also built 8 Matchless G80 for trial with the White Helmets Display Team. However, these were not taken on and were returned to the factory where six were supposedly dismantled and reassembled as road bikes. However two were supposedly presented to the Colonel and Adjutant of the Royal Signals regiment. One is known to exist in Northern England, the other is in the Salisbury area.
Rock on

debs77 · Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 7:12 pm Post subject: Les Harris

This was a really great read. I love reading tributes like this and learning the history of things! I really loved the picture of the 1981 blue Bonneville with the shaped seat!

I still love Mikey's bike but I can now see why you love them so much Dave!

The symbol on the Matchless looks familiar. Is it used anywhere else?

Thanks for the history lesson. I enjoyed it! Smile

Churchy · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 4:00 am Post subject:

Churchy · Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:47 am Post subject:

I normally only resurrect this thread when february 17th comes around. But out of the blue, I got a very late reply from Chris who is Les Harris's son and thought would share

Orange Street · posty Joined: 11 Jan 2011 Posts: 71 Location: NSW OZ

Is it known how many G80's were produced from 1988 to 1990 ?

looking forward to pics

Boof · Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 4:05 pm Post subject:

Has anybody ever seen one for sale Question

Are there any in Aus Question

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With the award winning T100

cheekygreeky · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 8:01 am Post subject:

did no realise what an important person les was for triumph, he realy mad his mark in the life that he led,

also a good thing that you have contact with his family,

wouldn't it be fab if this sons started building bikes again

a lot of research was put into this David, great job
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CheekyGreeky ( Benny )
I Just Want To RIDE

rat · posty Joined: 19 Aug 2011 Posts: 58

Boof · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 5:12 pm Post subject:

And pretty sure was only one son and two daughters

The son will need someone to clean up , sisters may as well do it Rolling Eyes

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With the award winning T100

Churchy · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 8:33 am Post subject:

Devon motors for COBBA

Source Bonneville T120/T140/Hinckley - Steve Wilson

After the Co op had gone into liquidation, building magnate John Bloor picked up the Triumph name and manufacturing rights. Les harris, a prominant manufacturer and supplier of Triumph patern spares, was granted a licence to manufacture T140 Bonnevilles to Meriden specifications, at his factory near Newton Abbot in Devon.

The first of some 1200 of these appeared nearly 2 years later, in June 1985, the delay being partly due to Bloor's insistence that these bonnevilles conform strictly to the Meriden product, when Harris had been hoping to use the stronger TSS crank and German - made Mikasil alloy barrels.

But in fact , so He later put it " members of the staff might have inadvertently let some out with the alloy barrels or TSS cranks held in stock". - So some owners of Harris - built machines got lucky.

lots more BTW and an Interesting read Well worth buying as new edition also includes the Hinckleys

http://www.tomcc.org/ProfilePage.aspx?id=7
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2002 Scarlet Baby bonneville
1966 Thunderbird 750
Kwaki Serpico 125 & Z250 X 2
Southampton Rule

Orange Street · posty Joined: 11 Jan 2011 Posts: 71 Location: NSW OZ