Donn's Classic Motorcycles

Donn's Classic Motorcycles We specialise in 60's and 70's Norton's Triumph and BSA classic motorcycles. We buy, sell and work on these and also other British makes.

Anybody interested in 1960's Triumph Twins? 1964 TR6SR. Ex USA. Very original including paint. Only 450 made for the '64...
25/08/2026

Anybody interested in 1960's Triumph Twins?
1964 TR6SR. Ex USA. Very original including paint. Only 450 made for the '64 year. Hard to find in this original state and low mileage. $20k plus ORC.
1965 Bonneville. Older restoration. Nice honest straight bike. Registration on Hold. Bike does start and run. Price is "As Traded" $12,500.
1969 TR6R. Ex USA. The best year of the 650's, '69 and '70. Brought this bike in a number of years ago. We have done all the mechanical work, but left it old school looking. Has done very little running on brand new .020 bore, clean sludge trap, all new bearings and valves, guides, instruments professionally serviced, new 7 plate clutch conversion, new stator and rotor, new tyres and wheels bearings. The list goes on. I've got way more into this bike than what I'll ever get back so my loss your gain. Damn cool bike to ride, just has that carefree fun factor appeal. $13,500 + ORC.
Prefer to sell all three bikes as they sit, or you can employ us to service and if needed go through the Compliance process as well.

Just while we are on the subject of Alton electric starters for the Norton Commandos I sold another unit to install onto...
25/08/2026

Just while we are on the subject of Alton electric starters for the Norton Commandos I sold another unit to install onto a very nice original 750 Combat that has just changed hands after a long term relationship. I do like these units for their reliability and also how they blend into the bike and are actually quite inconspicuous. Also you get to retain all the original air cleaner which other bigger bulkier units don't allow.
Have sold over 20 units here now for the Nortons and as you can see in my last post and video they are very efficient starters and have helped the aging riding Norton population to keep riding their bikes for another 10 years at least.
Sent another unit off to Rotorua recently for the owner to install himself. So we can do it here for you or do it yourself, the kits come with full clear instructions and also a 12 month warranty from date of installation.
I sell them for $5500 NZD including GST.
I also stock the Tri Spark ignition units which is recommended to install purely because of the anti kickback that Tri Spark has.
A great product with local back up and support.
There are two starter units in stock, so with Spring just around the corner and a new riding season ahead it just might be time to shout yourself.
Check the Alton website to see the full list of starter units and generators available for various makes of bikes.
I also have a starter unit here in stock for the Velocette.

Hope not to bore you guys, and this is the uncut version of my amateur attempt of video recording. Recently completed do...
14/08/2026

Hope not to bore you guys, and this is the uncut version of my amateur attempt of video recording. Recently completed doing the owner requested upgrades on this 1970 Roadster that he purchased from me. Bike was very original but after 56 years there was a little "patina" which could have been left but the new owner wanted to sparkle her up a little so the rims, guards and few other things got rechromed. We also installed MK3 vernier type engine isolastics, Alton electric starter, Tri Spark electronic ignition and after checking charging output installed the Tri Spark Mosfit voltage regulator which gives a 14.2 volt reading with headlight on.
Indicators were adapted as per new owners request and now we just need to go through the on road legality compliance with the VTNZ and it will be all set to head off to Christchurch.

Had these two 1974 Triumph Trident T150's sitting side by side for a while now in the show room. Purchased separately ou...
29/07/2026

Had these two 1974 Triumph Trident T150's sitting side by side for a while now in the show room. Purchased separately out of the USA. Never gave it much thought until recently when having them both in workshop and decided to check on their numbers. Blow me down, only 163 numbers about. GJ42564 and GJ 42727.
Both very original preserved examples, so good to look at two identical bikes that must have been insight of each other way back in the factory before being shipped off to the USA. I wonder if they went in the same shipment and who they were dispatched to?
Anyhow, GJ42727 has 11,599 miles on it and came with its original Title issued back in February 1975 when it was first sold, so only one original owner. This one is has been sold "as imported" so will need a full recommission such as brake service, all fluids, tyres, pushrod tube seals but at least its all nice and an easy one to bring back to life. It is on its way to Timaru right now.
GJ42564 has only 4334 original miles on it. It is of collectors condition now. I will endeavour to run this one around the block before coming to market.

Tuesdays seem to have turned into a gathering for various locals to have morning tea and a BS session. And you just don'...
06/05/2026

Tuesdays seem to have turned into a gathering for various locals to have morning tea and a BS session.
And you just don't know what they are going to turn up in or on.
On this particular day it was a day for the classic 4 wheelers to come out. Pretty cool line up.

One of my bikes came back in for service a couple weeks back and a fifty year old factory warranty repair on behalf of D...
05/05/2026

One of my bikes came back in for service a couple weeks back and a fifty year old factory warranty repair on behalf of Donn's Classic Motorcycles.
Purchased this bike as a low mileage original MK3 out of the USA with 250 genuine miles on it. I've always wanted a brand new Mk3 to put into my collection and I guess this was the closest I'd got to one a few years back so secured it.
Bike was eventually brought onto the bench in the DCM workshop to go over recommission. Upon starting there was an oil leak coming front of cylinders. Thinking it may be coming from one of the mounting studs, but no, further investigation was coming from a pin hole in the cylinder itself. A fault in the casting.
Only cure for this was to lift head and cylinder and "pinpoint" exactly where it was coming from. Blocking off tappet or, cam follower for some, and filling with white spirits and using air gun from outside revealed air bubbles inside the tunnel. A repair was performed and motor put back together and bike ridden around the block and put away. Problem solved.
Then sometime later it was spotted in the corner of the showroom by a customer who came to look at other MK3's. A deal was reluctantly struck as it really wasn't for sale.
However full disclosure was made of the oil leak and subsequent repair.
Off goes proud new owner with a virtually brand new mk3 with less than 270 miles on it.
Time passes and bike is sparingly used slowly clocking up mileage, leak free. Bike was ridden to the New Zealand Norton Owners Club rally where the same oil leak started to appear once again. The bike still gains the Best Overall Norton prize.
But this stage it was due for a service, oil change, valve clearance check etc.
We investigated and yes, it was confirmed. Off with its head and cylinder. Options were looked and with its inaccessibility to perform a peace of mind permanent fix I opted to replace the cylinder and pistons with a NOS set I had here tucked away. No more leaks, and I can rest easy.
It was also decided to gear up as only had a 20 tooth front sprocket.
We went to a 23 and it has totally transformed the bike. I've run 23's for years on my own personal Interstate and love them. The 850's have the torque and helps eat up the miles without revving the guts out of the engine. Happy bike and happy customer.
So a couple of messages here.
Sometimes, Theres a reason why old bikes have very low miles on them.
Also, a genuine low mileage bike has tell tale signs that mileage is accurate as photos show. Theres o build up of chain l**e grease or muck build up on the inner cases and no spanner marks anywhere.
We've certainly seen some low mileage speedos but the bike itself n say otherwise.
This one is the real though. It had just over 1700 miles when it left the shop being ridden back home.

Where does the time go? I'm getting reminders that I should post something as it's 46 days since last. I didn't make it ...
04/05/2026

Where does the time go? I'm getting reminders that I should post something as it's 46 days since last.
I didn't make it to the last Catalina Point market day and I see the next is end of next month. Maybe I'll see y'all there next time.
Always a constant stream of happenings going on here. Where to start.
Maybe a mention to all my customers that have shipped their bikes to us from all over the country. We've got a '79 T140E that arrived from Invercargill for an engine rebuild and a general sort out. Photos attached.
Another customer drove up from Levin way to deliver his MK3 Norton inherited from his dad for a full going over. Another Norton arrived last week from the Waiarapa, more info on that one coming soon, and also bikes coming in from the Bay of Plenty for work.
It's nice to know people have that trust in us to work on their pride and joys from all over the country and I do appreciate all of you very much.
I'll keep the posts rolling.
Photos attached is of the Invercargill bike. Owner shipped up a few boxes of parts accumulated to get us started. Main issue with this bike, blown hole in top of piston.
Will go into more details as rebuild progresses.

It's that time again. This Sunday morning, head on down to Catalina Bay on your Classic or Post Classic Motorcycle. I ma...
19/03/2026

It's that time again. This Sunday morning, head on down to Catalina Bay on your Classic or Post Classic Motorcycle. I may not be able to make it again this time as have a couple of very full days ahead of me. Just depends on how many fish we catch on the Saturday!!
Weather is looking good so make the most of this Autumn sunshine and head on down to Catalina Bay, Hobsonville Point.

The New Zealand Tiger Moth club held their annual rally locally at the Kaipara Airfield. Over a dozen great Moths that h...
08/03/2026

The New Zealand Tiger Moth club held their annual rally locally at the Kaipara Airfield. Over a dozen great Moths that had flown in from all over New Zealand and was great to talk with some of the owners who were very forthcoming answering lots of questions. I'm now an expert on Tiger Moths, na just joking, but I learnt a lot as my general knowledge on these was virtually nothing. It's been a long time dream to go for a ride in one of these, certainly on the bucket list.

Something a little different. Took the T160, which is up for sale, for a ride yesterday, 8/2/26, to Waipu for the Classi...
08/02/2026

Something a little different. Took the T160, which is up for sale, for a ride yesterday, 8/2/26, to Waipu for the Classic car and Motorcycle show which was a fund raiser for the Northland Rescue Helicopter. Lots and lots of all sorts of classic cars and quite a line up of bikes, more modern than Classic but still good to see. So instead of bombing the post with bike photos here are some cars. I should have taken a lot more photos so this is a tease.
The Trident did just on 100 miles, going up SH1 to get there and then the scenic coastal route on way home through Waipu Cove, Langs Cove, Mangawhai and via Matakana Hill to Matakana before heading back to Warkworth. Great weather and the T160 is oil tight and running nicely.
Get in touch if you're interested in it, the last one I have available. $26,750.

Address

Warkworth

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+64274077719

Website

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