Triumph Heritage Tank Badges
I grew to dislike the plastic Triumph badges that came stock on my 2008 Triumph Bonneville. I wanted a more vintage look and a higher quality feeling to the badges.
I am lucky in that the 2008 model tank (larger 4.2 gal. in US) has the mounting bolt holes already on it (behind the plastic badges) for mounting other styles of higher quality metal tank badges. So, I removed my badges using the technique in the YouTube video below.
After doing some research online, and visiting numerous British motorcycle events, I found what I am looking for. They are called the 68 style, heritage tank badges made of cast metal, and they come in 4 accent colors: black, red, yellow/gold and white.
Sixty-Eight Heritage Triumph Tank Badges
At the 2012 Rockers vs. Mods event in Chicago, I shot a photo of what the black version looks like on a black Bonneville like mine.
Black Sixty-Eight Heritage Tank Badge on Bonneville
Black Sixty-Eight Heritage Tank Badge on Bonneville
You can see that this badge has a rubber gasket between it and the tank and is attached to the tank with 2 threaded security style cap screws.
After additional research with Derek at Motoworks Chicago, we found the parts and numbers that are needed to order the black version of these badges through a Triumph dealer:
The parts are listed under the 2003Â Triumph Thunderbird Sport – Fuel Tank & Fittings:
- 1 – BADGE, FUEL TANK, RH – Part # T3900087 – (Bike Bandit)
- 1 – BADGE, FUEL TANK, LH – Part # T3900086 – (Bike Bandit)
- 2 – GASKET, TANK BADGE, LH – Part #: T3660132 – (Bike Bandit)
- 4 – SCREW, SECURE – Part #: T3330529 – (Bike Bandit)
UPDATE: August 29, 2012
The tank badges became available so I placed my order and put them on last night! Â I did have to buy a set of security screw bits.
Set of 33 security bits
I’m very pleased with the new look! Triumph Heritage Badge on my 2008 Bonneville – Triumph Part # T3900087
Hi
In the video you show how to remove the old badge,but. How do you install the new one ?
Is with some kind of glue or is bolted to the tank?
isent dangerous to screw it to the tank
thanks and sorry for my english O:-)
First, the video is not mine. I just shared it as a resource. Second, I believe the plastic tank badges come with an adhesive backing. If yours do not have that you could search online for the parts, either from a Triumph dealer (try pure-triumph.com) or through sites like BikeBandit.com. You might also try to make your own using the many automotive after market adhesives by 3M and other manufacturers. I hope this is helpful.
Do the screws just screw into the gasket? On the OEM diagram (2wheelspro.com) it shows two holes in the tank for Thunderbird. Obviously on the Bonnie there are no holes. I just want to be sure before I purchase the badges. Thanks.
James,
There ARE screw holes on the 2008 Bonneville under the plastic badges. The Heritage badges use 2 screws each and the screws go through holes in the rubber gaskets.
Hope that helps.
Randy
do you happen to know how to locate the part number of the red heritage badge?
thanks
Scott,
I can’t find any designations that are different for the various colors including red. The Triumph part numbers appear to be T3900086 (LH) and T3900087 (RH).
You may need to just call and talk to your local Triumph dealer parts guy and see if they have something in their system about the colors.
Randy
thank you sir!
Hi, I heard that the Thunderbird badges hav a different curvature than required for the Bonnie.. was that any issue for you?
Thanks for the info you already provided…
Dietmar,
Thanks for your inquiry. I believe your concern is true regarding the newer redesigned Thunderbird twins that happened in 2009. These heritage badges were produced for the 2003 model which was more like a Bonneville.
Randy
Thanks Randal, enjoy your great bike!
Does anyone know if these badges will work on 2013 T-100? I can’t find any info regarding the holes for the badges on the tank. Thank you all in advance.
James,
I believe they stopped making tanks with the mounting holes in 2009. 2008 was the last year with mounting holes behind the plastic badges. You would have to get a different tank to get these badges on your Bonnie.
Randy
why only one part number for the gaskets? left side fits right? Love your blog by the way.
John, Apparently the badge gaskets only come in pairs and so you get both the right and left gasket in this single part number. Thanks for your question and comment! – Randy
Randy, great info/resource. I’ll be getting these (in red) shortly. Kinda adding red “highlights” to my 2008 TB. Will see how it turns out with red http://www.newbonneville.com/html/ngk_ignition_wires.html
Oral,
Red highlights sound awesome! Glad I could be of help.
BTW – I just came in from my garage after working on my Bonneville all day. It’s running again and I actually rode it a few blocks away to a gas station and filled up the tank, then rode it back home. Everything worked fine and I had no problems with my ankle. I think that if the weather is good tomorrow (supposed to be in the 50’s here), I’ll actually suit up and go for a ride!
🙂
Randy
$120 seems like a lot of money for that, and the badges look to my eye a mite big, so on my `03 Bonnie I took the pot-metal badges off (they were screwed to the tank using screw bosses set into the tank that you guys found behind the plastic badges) and then gently pulled the ‘Triumph’ bades off the “harmonica” – that big ugly, fat chrome thing they were attached to. The ‘Triumph’ name is about 2/3rds the size of the high-priced badges in this tread but to my eye they’re just right, and there’s a screw hole in it that can be used to secure one end to the tank with an original screw. I used double-sided foam tape from the auto store under the rest of the badge and pre-bent each a bit to fit the tank and pressed & screwed them on. That left a screw-boss showing with nothing covering it so I took two Canadian dimes and using the same double-stick tape, put them on over the extra screw holes so on one side of the tank Queen Elizabeth is looking ahead at where we’re going and on the other side she’s watching back to see if anybody’s gaining. I’m plenty happy with the results! And it was all free – except for the couple bucks for the double-sided tape. I’ll post a photo if I can figure out how to do that. ~ BT
BT,
Thanks for sharing your idea and experience here on triumphbonneville.org. It sounds great! If you can send me a photo at [email protected], I’ll post it here for you and everyone to see.
Randy
Excellent blog.
Would you happen to know if the sixty-eight herritage badges would sufficiently cover up the decal-style tank badges on more recent Bonnevilles? I’m referring to the tank decal that is then clear-coated over. Obviously, I’d have to drill holes into the tank…which would be a bit nerve wracking but I’d really like to cover up those soulless decal badges with something more appropriate like the sixty-eight heritage style badges.
Brian,
Thanks for your post comment. Any of the metal “Heritage badge” styles that mount with a rubber backing with 2 security screws will fit the curve of the larger 4.2 gallon Bonneville tanks. However 2008 was the last model year that had the mounting holes pre-installed in the tanks at the factory. I would caution against trying to modify a 2009 or later 4.2 Gal tank to have the mounting holes. You would need to take the tank apart, drill the holes, weld in the threaded receivers in the exact right spots, put the tank back together and test for leaks. I am sure you would also have to repaint the tank. It seems like a massive amount of work for what you gain. I would either look for a proper year tank, or consider an alternative badge or tank graphic that may suit your tastes and needs with less work and expense.
Randy
After droping my 2012 bonnie America had to replace L/H side tank badge yes they are Horid plastic also the scole from leg of the R to the H is not original as it should curve up at the back of the H not the font
Terry, the official Triumph logo has changed over the years. The logo dropped the scroll / swoosh going up to the “H” in 1990.
Do you know if these heritage badges would fit on my 2017 t120 black? The tank comes with mounting holes that are about 12 inches apart.
Liam, No, they will not fit. The heritage badges only fit a limited number of early air-cooled models.
Any idea if this would work for 2006 Bonneville? My bike has the pre-drilled holes, but I wonder if my distance between the holes are the same, and if the curvature of the tank will match. Thanks!
Michael, I believe the 2006 Bonneville has the smaller 3.9 gallon gas tank, which I believe the badges will not fit the curve. If you have the larger 4.2 gallon tank, there is a good chance they will work. What you need is the larger tank AND the threaded holes under the plastic badges.
Hi Randy. Do you know if larger tanks or older tanks will fit my modern classic 2017 street scrambler?
John, There are almost zero parts shared between the 2001-2015 air-cooled Bonneville models and the 2016-present liquid-cooled models. That includes the tanks. Sorry.
I like the bigger tank that can house the screwed in metal badges as well as the tank luggage rack look and practicality vs the small modern classic tank that the street scrambler has
Hey there, did you ever get that image from B. Townes? Curious to try the same thing. Thanks!
(05 T100)
No, I never did get those photos. But, attached are photos I took today based on what I think he was describing.
Hi,
It is exact my the tank badge I search. Normally, its are compatible with my 2019 T120 tank, its can be screwed directly on it.
Where can I found these? Do you got a part number to share?
Excuse my English… I am French
Jean,
Yes, the blog post above lists the Triumph part numbers for these badges. You can buy them through a Triumph dealer, or from authorized online Triumph parts sources. However, I do not think these will fit on a 2019 T-120 tank. These badges only fit the air-cooled Bonneville tanks on a limited number of years from 2001-2008.
Randy
Hello There,
I use to own a 2016 T100 black. Their tank badges were the stick on version without any holes.
I now own a 2017 t120 and I hate their new badges. I also noticed they have 2 screws. I was wondering if I could buy the 2016 version of the tank badge and use it for my t120?
I do know that they have a different version of screw on, including one that they use on the newer T100’s but i still can’t get past them.
I am desperate to get them replaced… Thank you for your work!
Carlos, thanks for visiting the site and posting your question. Unfortunately, I do not have any experience or knowledge of your particular case. The liquid-cooled Bonnevilles are a completely new design and share almost no common parts to the previous air-cooled models from 2001-2015. I have not yet worked on customizing these newer models, so I have not experimented with the badges on these tanks. Good luck in researching and solving your issue. Please feel free to update us here with anything you learn! – Randy
Hi, Carlos.
I’m with you as well. I do not like the tank badges on my 2017 t120. Did you ever find more classic triumph badges like the cast metal badges in this post? If so, what was you experience removing the stock t120 badges and replacing them? Thanks.
Hi,
Bought me a 2012 Thruxton and redesigned the gas tank and coil.
The plastic badges were taken off using a wire cutting into the glue.
Easy work done in a minute, then cleaning the leftovers.
Fixing the vintage metal badges with doubleside tape 3M and put fake screws that were cut short into the badge holes to cover them.
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing it!
Hello. Did you have to do any bending with heat gun?
George, Thanks for your question. The short answer is “no!”. These heritage badges were designed for earlier Triumph models that share the same tank dimensions with a few limited years of the modern classic Bonneville. The Bonneville tanks they will fit are the 16 liter or 4.2 gallon size, not the earlier 3.9 gallon size.
Hi Randall, with all these Triumphs out there im all over the place..lol. My question is , do you have any idea what tank badges will fit my 98 Legend? It currently has the Triumph transfer/decal… which i find a little underwhelming. I also own a 2000 Tbird with the “mouth organ” style.. which i love. Any input would be appreciated.
thanks
Tony
Tony, unfortunately, I am not aware of a solution for your application. One thing is for sure, your tank does not have the threaded holes for mounting the “heritage” badges. Also, I don’t know if they will match the curve of the Legend tank. If they did match, you could potentially mount them using double-sided autobody mounting tape. Good luck!