September 12, 2012
A comment from Mr Bill Ferry, Carlisle UK yesterday in regards to the image of the fine example of a late sixties Bonneville, considered by many to be the best of the bunch, I noted that if that was the 60’s icon Audrey Hepburn of motorcycles then my early 70’s Bonnie could be another actress of that latter decade: Charlotte Rampling. the demure, mysterious lady of such movies as The Night Porter and Farewell my lovely among others.
Yes, yes, Lynn Redgrave was the titular protagonist in that classic British drama film from the late sixties but Charlotte was the flat mate Meredith in that movie which became a launching point for her career. But, hey! Geordie Biker meets Georgy Girl!
“Hey there, Georgy girl
Swingin’ down the street so fancy-free…”
Posted in 60's, 70's, Gals, Movie |
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September 11, 2012
Mostly there, ran when put away some years ago. Battery flat… and in a barn somewhere. Kicks over when it feels like it… but need to put your weight behind it. Tires hold air.. for 45 seconds… cracked rubber in some areas. Tank rust free… behind badges. Titled … when bought 40 years ago; can’t find now. Handlebars upside down.. looks like cafe racer… be a hipster! Original seat… from another model. No chain… lying on a road somewhere. No lights… so it was raced like a beaten mule. Would make a good project. Buy it, strip it down, dunk all parts in WD-40 for 18 months, crate up, move house several time toting crates around with you, finally get around to restoration, pull hair out, cry, bleed, spend too much money….
Then one day…
Posted in Maintenance, Triumph Motorcycle |
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September 10, 2012
Reckless? Not our road racer mate Guy Martin. A couple of years back he came a cropper when nailing it at Ballagarey the notorious stretch at the Isle of Man TT. His Honda burst into flames hurtling him along the road. With bruised lungs and fractured backbone, a hospital stay assured he was okay. he enjoyed plenty of tea and fan support whilst recuperating
Racers wear their gear for a reason. Leathers, gloves, boots, a lid and all. Nuff said!
Guy spent some time that following winter convalescing by restoring an old narrowboat and touring the heart of the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. The Boat That Guy Built is the result: a great BBC show; ‘Chief’ Guy gave an enthusiastic survey of Blighty’s important role of Victorian Empire’s global spread until the ‘Sun never set’.
Posted in Guy Martin, Racing |
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September 9, 2012
Glorious Weather: seventies, blue skies with the odd fluffy cloud. Clear air and a breeze of the perfectly coloured chop of Lake Michigan. No better way to charge batteries up than a quick dash up the leaf lined meanders of Sheridan Road as it wanders through the affluent North Shore. You can keep yer oversized dwellings – a moto and a windy lane is all I need for a feeling of sucess! The owld gel is still runnin’ well.
Posted in Uncategorized |
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September 8, 2012
We’re off downstate to a colleagues wedding today… so I dug out this drawing from the interweb of a newly ‘knot-tied’ couple astride a speeding Triumph heading off on their honeymoon… or is it a runaway bride? Nevertheless; Happy Wedding Day Emily & Matt!
Illustration courtesy of Bob Boze Bell. An evocative little doodle indeed.
Posted in Motorcycle Art, Triumph Motorcycle |
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September 7, 2012
Yesterday Perfection; today Speechless!
An Egli Vincent unearthed by Chris Hunter.
Posted in Vincent |
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September 6, 2012
1. Boots? Sticky Dunlop Sportmax spooned onto Sun alloys – CHECK
2. Anchors? Kevlar wrapped lines, 6 pot Brembos on +12″∅ rotor – CHECK
3. Roadholding? Flat-track billet Tripletree holding beefy Buell forks – CHECK
4. Back end? Mule/Race Tech twin shocks… Nuff said! CHECK
5. Trim lines? Shorter Thruxton front fender and scalped rear ‘mudguard’. CHECK
6. Speedo? Naw! Just a tachometer. At Any speed this bike will handle. CHECK
7. Where’s the oil cooler? Neat integrated motor mount and cooler niftyness. CHECK
8. Riders perch? Superbike bars (Go Eddie Lawson!) stepped bumstop seat. CHECK
9. Engine? Lightly modded and carefully sweetened: rejetted; airbox eliminated; smidgen more ignition advance; bellowing high piped exhaust with barking mufflers. CHECK
10. Orange??? Yup! CHECK
Thanks to Richard Pollock of Mule Motorcycles for building this fabulous Triumph Bonneville for some lucky bastard. Thanks to Chris Hunter for posting this on his wonderfully inexhaustible Moto related website today.
bikeExif
Posted in Triumph Bonneville |
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September 5, 2012
Line ’em up: the guttering flame of the British motorcycle industry had a few brief flashes of warmth as the seventies ticked on. The Beatles were no more, glam rock came and went, punk gave rise to a new wave and disenchanted youth attitude. Norton Villiers Triumph group gave us the posterchild Triple and a plumper 750 Bonnie. Keep on Rolling! The Tories got in with the Iron Lady, the Sex Pistols were history and MTV switched on: the kids had a new distraction. Video, Space Invaders and a Ford Escort XR3i with spoilers as standard, alloy wheel and bucket seats. “Go on, giz a job!”.
Though the flame died the embers stayed warm with a meager glede in its core…
Who says history is Boring?
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September 4, 2012
The latest Icon Moto apparel catalogue came through the mail slot today. All nice stuff. But what caught my eye was this ‘prop’ bike: a Well Sorted Tiger 800. The new dual purpose machine from those blokes at Hinkley. This has been given a tasty colour scheme which must cover all sorts of exciting engine fanagling. That paddle back tire will make sand hauling a little easier. However you still have to pin the throttle on the big dunes and hope the front end doesn’t bury itself down. S.McQ. Would be on one of these for sure.
A Tiger in Flight!
Posted in Triumph Motorcycle |
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September 3, 2012
Finally got some distance under the Bonnie’s belt. A nice long ride into Lake and McHenry counties (nearly Wisconsin!). Running ever so well now: engine purring, brakes biting, corners careened with aplomb. Dean was wingman on roads travelled; his ’68 Bonnie looking the part.
Posted in Triumph Motorcycle |
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September 2, 2012
Spied this superb black litre Ninja whilst out and about today. Looks like the perfect all rounder… 
Posted in Kawasaki |
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September 1, 2012
Tic-tac-toe: the Bonnies components make a nontych montage of form.
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