May 15, 2013
On 9th December 2010 Lance Corporal Murray Hambro of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment was going about his duties patrolling Afghanistan on a second tour of duty. Then a case of wrong place, wrong time arose; VERY wrong time. A sizeable roadside bomb went off under their vehicle. Sitting in the turret he was shot up like a cannonball and crumpled to a landing in the distance. Shattered feet, broken neck vertebrae, smashed body. End of story? Not likely for this doughty tankie! During rehab when the docs asked him what his hobbies were and he responded ‘motorcyclin’, they rebutted ‘find another one son’. He’d lost both legs below the knee.
Like some latter day Douglas Bader he’s is back on the saddle, not only riding but racing! And Triumphs at that!
What we have here sir, is a man with an unquenchable spirit. Ride safe son, ride fast, but ride on!
Posted in Military, Racing, Triumph Motorcycle |
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May 15, 2013
Crank the throttle, lift the front wheel and whoop it up! It may be a wee moto but it looks like it deals out grins by the truckload… Well 1/5 of a litre at a time!
The shades are not obligatory, but help notch up the cool factor.
Posted in 60's, Triumph Motorcycle |
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May 13, 2013
In past days when smoking was more widespread one thing that was a bonus with each packet of tabs was cigarette cards. They came in broad ranging themes including motorcycles. Here’s a few from one mid century collection featuring our favorite make…
A close up of an early model on a Lambert & Butler.
Miniature print art collection? You can nearly smell the tobacco on the card stock. Of course it was the icons of the day who kept smoking a popular past time… Cool fellas indeed on the silver screen but known for their two-wheeled interest.
Hey! There was even a fag named after our titular marque…
Got a light pal!
Posted in Film and TV, Graphics, Motorcycle Art, Steve McQueen, Triumph Motorcycle |
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May 12, 2013
Out for a Sunday ride: a wee bit chilly but with the odd peep of sun to brighten the road up. Spring leaves flushing out overhead and early blooms adorning the shrubberies.
Dean kicks his Bonnie into life. Mine had a rough throttle pick-up which I need to see to. Hacky dorty carbs, points to readjust, or even a little electrical hiccup …
Posted in Chicago, Maintenance, Triumph Bonneville |
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May 12, 2013
Yesterday would have been Richard Feynman’s 95th birthday; though he was a theoretical physicist, dealing with the universe at the smallest levels, he had an astounding manner in explaining some of the most complex ideas in the ‘simplest’ terms. His unquenchable thirst for knowledge and understanding comes across in his two autobiographies: ” surely you’re joking Mr Feynman” & “what do you care what other people think!”.
A bongo drummer too! He worked at Los Alamos during WWII working under the greats of nuclear physics: Oppenheimer and Fermi. He won the Nobel Prize for his work on QED quantum electromagnetic dynamics, which when asked by a reporter to explain in a minute what that was replied: “if I could explain that in a minute it wouldn’t be worth the Nobel Prize in Physics”.
His Feynman diagrams are legend: a graphic equation. Seen here daubed on the family transport a ’75 Dodge van.
Apologies to the two-wheeled enthusiasts for this digression but physics is a subject of great interest to me; and indeed it explains how a motorcycle stays up when at speed; whether zooming along in a straight line or careening around a corner. Let’s finish on a thought from Dickie:
Posted in Uncategorized |
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May 10, 2013
POW! Found one at last! The Original TV series Batman, Adam West here seen riding a Triumph Bonneville. Bat Bike…
Quite the look! However I think a dark blue/black would have been a better color to go with the flowing cape.
Nanananananananananananananananananana……BATMAN!
Posted in 60's, Film and TV, Graphics, Superhero, Triumph Bonneville |
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May 9, 2013
Warhawk! The premier fighter aircraft of WW2; typically adorned with tiger teeth for a roaring attack. The Curtis P-40 was the third most manufactured US plane after the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang. But that visual growl.
Could this be a tank paint treatment on a motorcycle? Hmm a wee growl on a Triumph Cub… It works on this street fighter!
Posted in Military, Motorcycle Art |
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May 8, 2013
Today I had my citizenship (or naturalization) interview at the INS . all went well and all I need to do now is go to a swearing-in ceremony. So to commemorate I found this book cover to reflect the idea of a piece if Blighty over here in the colonies….
Posted in Book |
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May 7, 2013
A fluid exercise in ink line brushwork. A sweep here, curl there and swooping execution of a classic motorcycle scene in monochromatic depth. Boy meets girl, boy shows off motorcycle to girl. Boy and girl plan trip across Dorset to the next teashop…
Posted in 50's, Harley Davidson |
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May 6, 2013
Nottingham England, a well known logo emblazoned on the head tube of the many bicycle models offered over the years by Raleigh. Named after the original street the first bikes were manufactured on they went to the far corners of the world as efficient transportation.
The ‘R’ is a very recognizable icon seen on Roadsters, Choppers, Grifters, racers, mountain bikes, folders, trikes and 3-speeds galore. I’ve done thousands of mikes on Raleigh’s from my first racer (see blog entry a few days ago) to a mountain bike I commuted in London on, and toured Ireland with. Good bikes!
Posted in Bicycle, Graphics |
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May 5, 2013
A trip to Indiana yesterday to assist a friend of Dean’s with his Honda; it was to be taken for a tire change. Dean built a nice wide ramp for its transport which made getting it into his truck a doddle.
That Honda dealer and garage was in Merriville and was a neat setup with very friendly staff. the new CB1100 was a particularly nice looking moto: classic retro lines of a seventies superbike. They had a wall of historic photographs showing past bikers and their rides, this included a past incarnation in the sixties as a Triumph dealer. The place to go to pick up your Bonneville.
Proud owners lined up ready for a hare up to the Dunes of Michigan.
Posted in 60's, Honda, Maintenance, Triumph Motorcycle |
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May 4, 2013
“May the Fourth be with you!”
Our pal Ewan takes a break from lightsabre wielding scenes to catch up on Motorcycle News’ offerings whilst leaning against some gaffers moto.
Of course on other times when not filming he spends spare time with bikes: be it globe trekkng or toting around local Hollywood lanes. Here he us with a custom Triumph bobber zooming along some leafy suburban backwater.
…and sitting astride his ride with pup.
Posted in Bobber, Film and TV, Triumph Motorcycle |
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May 2, 2013
A pleasant surprise this afternoon after my midday swim: the postie had dropped of a box, fairly hefty too. My parts search is slowly coming to fruition; and today a plump find arrived. A complete clutch and gearbox for the project. It is in fairly good condition too, but naught a wipe down with oil, renew cush rubbers, new cork on the plates can’t restore to full service. I’m excited!
Now a barrel, cylinder head, tappets and then it’ll be a step-back to evaluate what seals, bearings, bolts, odds, ends and machine work I’ll need for the engine rebuild.
Posted in Photography, Restoration, Triumph Motorcycle |
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May 1, 2013
A smile appears: and, as the song says “the future’s so bright I gotta wear shades!”.
Posted in Clothing, Photography |
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