A Swap Meet at Woodstock IL today allowed a plethora of vintage bikes, parts, and ‘cyclists to be regarded. I’ll spend the next few days going over the finds I saw: obviously some British Iron was represented, as was a LOT of Harley Davidson, but a few 70’s Japanese gems was seen too. Starting today with some of the Triumph findings…
This trailer has a whole early seventies Bonneville, a rolling chassis pats bike and was fresh out of the barn; a project for the taking only $2500. Go on! Haggle!
Lying askew on the grass at the estimable Ed Zenders (Morries Place) spot was this forlorn 650cc engine. A little rough around the edges, but all seemed to be there; internals would be a secret only to be revealed upon cracking this nut. Then the fun would begin!
Tiger T-Shirt: sharp claws, teeth and stripes. The Tiger has the power to Roar. The logo for Triumph T100 built from the early forties through the seventies.
Either a Prom or Debutante; either way this ’55 racing Triumph is a worthy suitor! Comes with floral bouquet and a shelf-load of trophies. If you look closer at this speed modified T100R, a “Special” Tiger; the handlebars are placed at the lower triple tree, the rear-sets at waaay back and no front brake. This velocity beast was owned by John Melniczuk, owner of J&M Enterprises. That 2 into 1 into 2 pipe setup looks smashing too.
A tad claggy underfoot can lead to getting hampered in the muddy bottoms. Here some marra’s help out a Thunderbird rider when the clarts clog up the goings on. Howay lads put yer back intae it!
The newest edition of The Bonnie certainly looks picture perfect under a bright Mediterranean sun. The rough age-worn stucco wall and centuries-old doorway contrast sharply with the crisp yet classic likes of this moto. I’d certainly be happy walking out through this door after a morning coffee for a cavort along the Cote d’Azur.
Pack the tent, food hamper and don’t forget the missus. Enjoy life on the open road with: fresh air, countryside and nature as your companions. As well as a dripping canvas fly sheet. “pass the pork pie pet and crack open the bottle of stout will you?”
Not so much a muddy hillside; more an urban, potholed, cobbled, taxi-caddeb cityscape. The knobbly shod Triumph Scrambler is a true city mount ready for anything a metropoilis can throw at it: high stance, wide bars, and eye-catching classic look; this is a solid performer to get you down through Tribeca or up along the Upper East Side. This one was seen and photographed in the Big Apple.
Ferdinand Alexander ‘Butzi’ Porsche (1935-2012), son of Ferry Porsche, and grandson of Ferdinand Porsche and who established the Porsche Design House passed away today in Austria. His most important creation was the perfect lines of the 911. Arguably one of the greatest cars of all time.
This was also a car that the speed-hungry Steve McQueen owned. The classic 1972 911S model. Which incidentally was sold last year for $1.25m. The sublime grey colour scheme enhances the timeless form. All aspects of it are perfection of curved lines (The Marilyn Monroe of autos?)
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The old way of forming the visually tactile lines of a car: clay modelling: the designer himself at work.
Ebay win! A box arrived at work today with six of these toy motorcycles neatly wrapped up in tissue and bubble-wrap. A great deal at $15 for all of them; four of which are the much sought after Britain’s from my youth. A couple of repeats; one of which I will revise as an AA bike in yellow. A bonus was a Kawasaki KZ1000R (the Ebay listing only had five bikes!); the square fairing’d grey superbike a precursor to the big liter naked streetbikes of the eighties and nineties. Also included was a Triumph racing bike, a Honda, Norton and a BMW. The collection grows. Still trying to nab the Speedway bikes though…
Mechanical Beauty: the motorcycle is an astounding vehicle and when looking at its parts there is a nice balance of purpose and aesthetics. None more-so than the classic Triumph twin. Both music to the ears and eyes!
“Royal is my Race” so proclaims the Clan McGregor’s motto! Here clansman Ewan races his latter-day Triumph Bonneville along damp lanes and across the odd burn. Lookin’ like he’s set up for a trip what with the leather pannier satchels and a big duffel. Roper gloves, denim, and a worn leather jacket round off this road ready look. A Davida open-face with what look like Naninni goggles.
Trying a spot of fly fishing brother? River crossing made to look easy: careful with that throttle! However he’s an old hand at this having made countless arduous such crossings when travelling through Asia in his and Charley Boorman’s epic adventure Long Way Round.
When the Krazy Boyz stunt folk who tear up the highways wheelying their Ninjas, Gixxers or CBR’s were but a twinkle in their grandpappy’s eyes; this bloke, Kenny Brown, was touring the drag strips doing wild shenanigans on Brit Iron. Steel soles essential…
The forecast was to be a record-breaking eighties warmth and sun… instead chilly overcast typically April weather. But still manages to get out. Put the thermals on had a warming coffee half way on the ride.
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